MPs debate EU plans to tackle credit card, direct debit charges

DutchNews.nl, Thursday 30 January 2014

(Nos/ANP)

European Commission plans to make sure credit card companies do not charge shopkeepers excessive fees are being debated in the Dutch parliament on Thursday.

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.