Following the regulation that mandates payments for purchases of 7,000 TL and above to be made via card or bank to reduce the informal economy, some tradespeople have turned the crisis into an opportunity.
It is alleged that some tradespeople have increased commission rates for card transactions below this limit.
It has been reported that businesses demanding cash payments for transactions under 7,000 TL have raised credit card commission rates to as high as 20 percent. Consumer associations have deemed this situation illegal and have called on citizens to file complaints.
A carpet cleaning company in Istanbul increased a 3,200 TL cash payment amount to 3,860 TL when paid by credit card, while at an optical store, glasses priced at 52,000 TL for cash payments are being sold for 64,000 TL when paid by credit card.
Another example occurred at an optical store in Istanbul. Glasses that cost 52,000 TL in cash rise to 64,000 TL when purchased with a credit card. Similarly, a citizen who had work done at an auto repair shop was told that while the fee was 4,500 TL for cash payment, it would be 6,000 TL if paid by credit card.
While citizens have expressed their outrage over this situation on social media, complaints have flooded into CİMER.
CONSUMERS SHOULD FILE COMPLAINTS
Consumer associations emphasized that demanding additional commissions for purchases made with credit cards is prohibited, stating, "Some businesses are trying to make this practice appear legal. However, our consumers should report such situations to the relevant authorities. The commission rates demanded for credit card purchases result in penal sanctions for businesses."
News Source: 12punto
