Minister of Economy: Individual and limited cases of small outlets
A member of “NBK” pledges to reveal the parties that collect “illegal” fees when paying with the “card”
Five questions will be directed to government representatives in the National Assembly session tomorrow.
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Hamad Al Rahoumi: “I had many complaints about charging fees for card payments, and after asking the question, I received more of them.”
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The First Deputy Speaker of the Federal National Council, Hamad Ahmed Al-Rahoumi, pledged to disclose a number of commercial establishments and non-commercial entities that obligate their customers to pay additional “illegal” fees for their use of credit cards when purchasing a commodity or performing a service, during a parliamentary question directed to the Minister of Economy, Abdullah Bin Touq, in the Federal National Council session, scheduled for tomorrow, stressing that "this procedure has become an increasing phenomenon, which requires strict government measures."
Meanwhile, the Minister of Economy confirmed, in a previous written response to the question, that “the ministry monitors and follows up on the markets on an ongoing basis, and takes the necessary measures in the event of any violation,” pointing to the possibility of “individual and limited cases related to the behavior of small-sized outlets that adopt this approach.” .
The Council will hold its session headed by Saqr Ghobash, to discuss the topic of “The Ministry of Justice’s policy regarding family guidance”, in the presence of the Ministers of Justice, Abdullah bin Sultan bin Awad Al-Nuaimi, the Economy, Abdullah bin Touq Al-Marri, and Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, President of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, Ohoud Daughter of Khalfan Al Roumi.
Four members of the Council direct five parliamentary questions to government representatives, including three questions to the Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, the first from the member Shatha Saeed Al-Naqbi about “showing an unreal percentage of Emiratisation”, the second from the member Naama Abdul Rahman Al-Mansoori, about “the accompaniment license”, and the third from the member Afra Bakhit Bin Hindi Al-Alili, on “Reliance on field training, practical experience for job seekers.”
The First Deputy Speaker of the Council, Hamad Ahmed Al-Rahoumi, directs two questions to the Minister of Economy, the first about “increasing the electricity bill in an exaggerated manner for citizen farmers,” and the second about “some outlets charging additional fees to the consumer when paying using credit cards.”
Al-Rahoumi told "Emirates Today" that his second question aims to confront the increase in this "illegal" phenomenon, and urged the ministry to implement deterrent measures against those who apply this system because of the real harm that it entails on consumers, including citizens, residents and tourists inside the country.
Al Rahoumi said: “When I addressed the parliamentary question to the minister two sessions ago, I had many complaints and bad experiences about many shops and commercial establishments charging additional fees to customers who pay using credit cards, but as soon as the question was announced, I received more information and related complaints. The connection from customers who were obligated by other major “non-commercial” institutions as well, to charge additional fees for their use of credit cards, which reflects the increase in this legally unjustified phenomenon,” stressing that during the session, he will present a large number of cases and situations that monitor the collection of additional fees in exchange for credit card payments when Performing some important services.
Al Rahoumi asked: “How do these illegal practices exist at a time when we are talking about the UAE’s leadership regionally and globally in smart transformation in transactions of all kinds, including of course dealing with credit cards, which have recently become a necessity in light of the global outbreak of the (Covid) pandemic. -19)”, considering that commercial and non-commercial entities that collect fees for using credit cards, adopt the principle of bargaining with customers, and push them to go back by encouraging them to carry cash to use in purchases, otherwise they will lose large amounts of incomprehensible fees.
He explained that "this measure would negatively affect the state's reputation among the millions of tourists who come for shopping and picnics, and they pay these fees unjustly, and therefore they also need protection from such practices," noting that he had received a written response from the Minister of Economy to The question, but he considered it necessary for the minister to come to the council to discuss it closely, and to provide what he had of information and field monitoring, in order to clarify the whole picture in front of him.
On the other hand, the Minister of Economy, Abdullah bin Touq, confirmed that there are no cases related to the imposition of additional fees on dealers by sales outlets when paying with credit cards, pointing to the possibility of the existence of “individual, limited cases, related to the behavior of some small outlets, and they are dealt with with the outlet.” ».
The minister said, in a written response to Al-Rahoumi’s question: “The ministry is working to monitor consumer complaints in coordination with the economic development departments and business partners in the country, classifying these complaints, and researching if there is a complaint from any consumer or customer that bears any additional fees by sales outlets upon payment. using credit cards.
He added: "The markets are monitored and followed up on an ongoing basis by the Ministry's Monitoring Department, and the necessary measures are taken in the event of any violation related to additional fees charged to the consumer when paying with credit cards," noting that the ministry has a plan to reduce fees related to credit cards from 1.35%. to 1%, then 0.7% of the transaction value.
Bin Touq explained that the Ministry of Economy, during the past two years, coordinated and followed up with the Central Bank, as it is the competent authority with regard to regulating the affairs of the financial sector, including international payment companies using debit cards and credit cards and the fees related to these cards, and the coordination resulted in preparing a joint plan that the Central Bank will implement And it has a positive impact on the markets, merchants and consumers, and is related to the reduction of fees for credit cards of all kinds, starting from the end of 2021.
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