DutchNews.nl,
Thursday 30 January 2014
(Nos/ANP)
|
Credit
cards are not widely accepted in the Netherlands because shopkeepers are
angered by the high fees they have to pay. For example, the fee on a €600 suit
bought by credit card can mount up to €15, Nos television reports.
The Dutch
retailers' association Detailhandel Nederland has called on politicians to try
to end the dominant position held by MasterCard and Visa.
Limits
'The most
important benefit of the Brussels proposals is putting limits on the sky-high
fees,' said spokesman Tom Ponjee. 'A customer who pays by credit card costs a
shop 40 times as much as one who uses a direct debit card.'
Brussels is
proposing a limit of up to 0.3% of the purchase price for credit card payments.
Currently
just 2% of Dutch shoppers make regular use of credit cards. 'In the US, half of
them use credit cards,' Ponjee told the broadcaster. 'We would not exactly be
cheering if that was the case here.'
Direct
debit
During the
debate MPs from the Liberal democratic party D66 said they are concerned the
Brussels' proposals will push up direct debit (pincard) payments by imposing a
maximum charge.
'That
sounds good but it is not,' MP Wouter Koolmees told website nu.nl. The Brussels
plan envisages a 0.2% ceiling which in many cases will be higher than the
current five or six cent fees charged in the Netherlands.
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