The French have always been very attached to money. According to the 2018 data from the Banque de France, 68% of purchases from merchants are thus made in cash.
While those under 40 frequently use their bank cards, the use of cash increases with age. And precisely, this type of payment is regulated in France.
Agreement in principle
As soon as you wish to pay for your purchases with euro coins and banknotes, your contact person has, in principle, no right to prevent you. A merchant displaying a sign on his front window warning that he only accepts payment by credit card is in violation and may be penalized for this. Article R.642-3 of the Penal Code thus punishes a 2nd class ticket, ie 150 euros maximum, any refusal of payment in cash.
Only certain very specific situations authorize a professional to reject your cash. The most classic case is that of backup. The seller is in fact not required to give change and can legitimately refuse to accept more than 50 pieces when paying in cash. Similarly, payments are limited to a ceiling of 1,000 euros in cash between private and professional. Apart from these questions of amounts, stores also have the right to reject counterfeit banknotes and coins, in very poor condition or in foreign currency.
A security measure?
The Ministry of the Interior also specifies that it is possible to refuse payment in cash for "reasons of public or technical order". And take the example of traders and parking meters in night hours who can legitimately impose the use of a CB as a security measure. But can this provision apply in the context of the Covid-19 epidemic?
The question was recently raised to the association 60 Millions de consommateurs, which received several testimonies from users who were refused to use their currency to pay for their purchases. When you know that 5% of the national population does not have a bank card, accepting cash seems essential. In view of the legislation in force, these traders are not within their rights. Especially since the Ministry of Health indicated in early March on Twitter that "the risk of being infected by Covid-19 by touching coins, banknotes or credit cards, is very low". The Defender of Rights reaffirmed on April 6 that "cash payment cannot be refused".
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