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eu_investigation_to_probe_mastercard_fees [2013/04/24 09:21] (aktualna) talaha utworzono |
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+ | Mastercard is being investigated by the [http://vienne.co/tui-xach vienne] over fees charged for card transactions made by people visiting Europe. | ||
+ | The Commission said some of the firm's inter-bank fees and related practices may be anti-competitive. | ||
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+ | The commission is already investigating rival Visa over similar practices. | ||
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+ | Mastercard, which said it would fully co-operate with regulators, could be fined up to $740m, or 10% of its 2012 revenue, if found guilty. | ||
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+ | The credit card firm said that it always aimed to balance the interests of both consumers and retailers. | ||
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+ | 'Crucial importance'The investigation will examine payments made by people from outside the European Economic Authority (EEA) - the EU's 27-member states as well as Norway, Liechtenstein and Iceland - who use their credit and debit cards when inside the area. | ||
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+ | The EU said the main aim of its probe was to ensure consumers were not harmed. | ||
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+ | When a US tourist uses a Mastercard to make a purchase in [the European Economic Area], these fees can be quite high, generally much higher than those paid in Europe, European Commission spokesman Antoine Colombani said. | ||
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+ | In 2007, a similar probe led to the Commission banning Mastercard from charging cross-border fees within the European Economic Area. | ||
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+ | The Commission said payment cards were of crucial importance for cross-border and internet payments. | ||
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+ | It is therefore a priority for the European Commission to prevent competition distortions in inter-bank arrangements on fees, it said. | ||
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+ | As well as inter-bank fees paid by cardholders from non-EEA countries, the Commission said the probe would look at rules that obliged merchants to accept all types of Mastercard cards, even if some of them incur higher charges. | ||
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+ | The probe will also look at Mastercard's restrictions on merchants who wish to use banks outside their own country, which could be cheaper. | ||
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+ | Ultimately, such behaviour is liable to slow down cross-border business and harm EU consumers, it said. | ||
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+ | The Commission said it would submit proposed regulation by the middle of the year on inter-bank fees aimed at ensuring a level playing field for all card providers. |