Can Spanish Shops Really Refuse Your Card? The Truth Behind The Payment Rules

You drawback a speedy coffee, manus complete your paper and perceive nan dreaded words: “Sorry, paper payments from €10.” Sound familiar? It’s thing you’ll spot each complete Spain, from mini cafés to mini area shops – and it ever sparks nan aforesaid question: is that moreover legal?

The truth is, it’s a spot much analyzable than a elemental yes aliases no. As much group ditch rate for cards and mobile payments, mini businesses are still trying to support up – and to enactment afloat. Every paper costs comes pinch a fee, and for shops trading low-cost items, those costs quickly adhd up.

But does that mean they tin group their ain rules? Not entirely. Spanish rule does let it – but only if it’s done nan correct way.

Yes, they tin group a minimum – but they person to show you first

Under Spain’s Law connected Payment Services, which came into unit successful November 2018, shops are allowed to group a minimum magnitude for paper payments. But they can’t conscionable outpouring it connected you astatine nan antagonistic – nan norm has to beryllium intelligibly displayed.

So, if a bakery says ‘Card payments from €5’ and you tin spot it adjacent nan till, that’s legal. If they abruptly garbage your paper without warning, it’s not.

What’s decidedly not allowed is charging you much conscionable because you’re utilizing a card. Adding a ‘card fee’ is wholly illegal, nary matter really mini nan business.

The rule besides gives shops a small flexibility: for purchases nether €30, they tin inquire for cash. Once nan magnitude is higher, they person to judge paper payments.

It’s each meant to find a mediate crushed – letting mini shops negociate their costs without leaving customers stuck pinch nary measurement to pay.

What astir ‘cash only’ shops?

You’ve astir apt seen nan signs – ‘Solo efectivo’ aliases ‘Cash only.’ They’re communal successful family-run bars, bakeries and mini neighbourhood stores. And yes, they’re ineligible too, arsenic agelong arsenic nan norm is intelligibly visible earlier you bargain anything.

If you only find retired erstwhile it’s clip to pay, that’s erstwhile it becomes a problem. Not telling customers successful beforehand tin beryllium considered misleading nether Spain’s user protection laws.

Many mini business owners opportunity it’s not astir being difficult – it’s astir survival. Card scholar fees, monthly charges, and slow costs processing tin make a large quality erstwhile you’re trading items that costs a mates of euros. Cash, for them, is still simpler and cheaper.

Cash mightiness beryllium fading, but it’s still protected by law

It’s nary concealed that Spain is becoming much digital. Contactless payments are everywhere, and for a batch of people, carrying coins and notes feels old-fashioned. But not everyone’s fresh to springiness up rate — and they don’t person to.

By law, rate remains a valid shape of costs crossed Spain. Shops can’t garbage it unless they’ve intelligibly said truthful beforehand. That intends if there’s nary motion saying “card only”, you’re wrong your authorities to salary successful cash.

It’s a reminder that arsenic overmuch arsenic exertion changes really we spend, nan rule still protects prime – for some businesses and consumers.

So adjacent clip a café tells you “card from €10 only”, conscionable cheque nan sign. If it’s there, adjacent enough. If it’s not, you tin politely punctual them what nan rule says.

Spain’s costs laws aren’t astir making life difficult – they’re astir making it clear. Because astatine nan extremity of nan day, whether you’re paying pinch coins aliases a pat of your phone, nan only point that really matters is knowing wherever you stand.

Stay tuned pinch Euro Weekly News for much news from Spain