OCU launches action against illegal surcharges for bank card payments

Madrid September 12. The Organization of Consumers and Users (OCU) reports that despite the prohibition of collecting surcharges for card payments, in force since September 1, there are still companies that illegally charge consumers a surcharge for credit card payments.

On September 1 an express prohibition to charge for credit card payment took effect as established in the Royal Decree Law 8/2014 on urgent measures for growth, competitiveness and efficiency approved by the Spanish government last July.  

However OCU has confirmed that the decree is worthless for many consumers because in practice many companies still collect these charges. Specifically IBERIA applies an additional charge of 5 € per passenger to users who purchase a ticket on its website if they choose to pay using a credit card. A surcharge clearly illegal and which IBERIA and other airlines impose abusively on their customers.

OCU has denounced this practice to the consumption authorities and calls for an immediate cease of this practice that today is already illegal. OCU calls on the authorities to initiate an inspection to punish offending companies and eradicate any surcharge for the use of credit card.

OCU reminds consumers affected, whether airline customers or any other type of service, they should not pay any additional charge for choosing credit card as payment. Should be obliged to, OCU asks consumers to report to the consumption authorities and demand repayment of the amounts improperly charged.

For more information (media) Eva Jimenez Tel: 917 226 061  prensa@ocu.org