Sign up for the editor's
weekly newsletter
- Sweden edition
- Change edition:
- France |
- Germany |
- Norway |
- Switzerland
Reader Offer
May 26, 2012
Sweden to outlaw card payment charges
Published: 6 Mar 10 12:08 CET | Double click on a word to get a translation
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/25382/20100306/
Charges for using credit and debit cards for small purchases will be abolished under new proposals from the government.
While not all card companies charge for card transactions at the moment, there is no law against the practice and many stores and cafes currently charge customers extra for smaller purchases.
"I believe the biggest cost [to retailers] comes from handling cash. Any transaction over 70 kronor ($10) is cheaper to handle by card," financial markets minister Mats Odell told the Swedish television channel SVT.
"We're proposing that all card charges simply disappear."
Although a number of card companies forbid retailers from passing on charges to customers, many still set a threshold of 100 kronor or less for card payments.
According to the government more incentives need to be introduced to encourage purchases by card as transporting and handling cash costs Sweden up to 11 billion kronor per year.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Fark It!
Digg This
Share everywhere
Send to a friend
Printable version
Twitter ThisToday's headlines
Woman jailed for fatal love-triangle stabbing
A jealous Swedish woman who murdered her ex-boyfriend’s new partner in September has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. READ (13 COMMENTS) »
'Retard doll' shocks Swedish shoppers
A doll billed as a "real retard" found its way into stores in Gothenburg in western Sweden on Thursday, prompting strong reactions about a campaign meant to draw attention to the treatment of people with disabilities. READ (10 COMMENTS) »
THE LOCAL LIST
Ten signs that you've 'gone native' in Sweden
After having lived in Sweden for a certain number of years, many ex-pats start asking, “Am I going native or what?” Check out The Local's guide to tell-tale signs that you may be more integrated into Swedish society than you first realized. READ (12 COMMENTS) »
EUROVISION SONG CONTEST
UK wildlife park animals catch ‘Euphoria’ fever
The Paradise Wildlife Park in the UK has pledged their allegiance to Sweden in the Eurovision song contest by making their own film version of Loreen’s “Euphoria” – complete with dancing animals. READ »
Swedish school reported over 'holy' yoga lessons
The "om" chant featured in yoga lessons at a Stockholm school has prompted a complaint calling for them to be banned because of the term's ties to the Hindu religion. READ (20 COMMENTS) »
Swedish police 'worst' in Scandinavia
Swedish police are the worst in Scandinavia when it comes to clearing up home break-ins, a crime which has increased dramatically in Sweden in recent years. READ (14 COMMENTS) »
Stockholmers stranded as outage stops trains
Thousands of Stockholm-area residents had their morning commutes disrupted on Friday after a power outage left trains at a standstill. By midday, however, trains were back in operation. READ (3 COMMENTS) »
Fire engines delayed by giant flower pots
Three fire engines trying to get to a fire in central Gothenburg on Wednesday were delayed after large flower pots placed in the street proved to be immovable. READ (3 COMMENTS) »
More National
- 25/05 Woman jailed for fatal love-triangle stabbing (13 comments) »
- 25/05 Swedish police 'worst' in Scandinavia (14 comments) »
- 25/05 Stockholmers stranded as outage stops trains (3 comments) »
- 25/05 Fire engines delayed by giant flower pots (3 comments) »
- 24/05 'Remember my face': murder suspect (9 comments) »
- 24/05 Man found dead in Malmö after 'noisy brawl' »
- 24/05 Swedish rapper reported for Twitter death threat (8 comments) »
- 24/05 One dead in foreign worker car crash »
- 24/05 Sweden moves to outlaw forced marriages (32 comments) »
- 23/05 'I was forced to eat manure': ex-student (6 comments) »
Meet Sanna, 9 years old
Sanna is one of 2 million people in Sweden under the age of 18. Sweden is seen as a good place to grow up. The law makes sure children are well-protected and defends their rights and any organizations work with children's well-being. Read more »
Strindberg, king of drama
August Strindberg's plays shocked society, dazzled audiences and revolutionized drama. A century after his death, Strindberg, with his powerful, timeless themes, is celebrated around the world. Read more »
Blog Update: The Local's Blog
Prime Minister Reinfeldt chats with The Local »
"If you missed it yesterday, here’s The Local’s editor David Landes snagging Prime Minister Reinfeldt for a chat before Princess Estelle’s baptism. Always nice to know the PM has time for TL!" READ »
- 20/5 17:38 The story of K Composite Magazine (Snuggling With the Enemy)
- 18/5 10:55 The answer is in the seed bag (Julie's Nordic Island)
- 11/5 20:19 Back in Stockholm (They Call Me Sweden)
Highlights
|
|
Swedish word of the day
lång
adjective
Lång means long, tall and can be used for height, distance or time.
Latest news from The Local in Germany
- 25/05 Special Olympics deliver pure gold in Munich »
- 25/05 'Homeless billionaire' to rescue drugstore chain »
More news from Germany at thelocal.de
Latest news from The Local in Switzerland
- 26/03 Swiss customs seize Roman sarcophagus »
- 26/03 Roche extends hostile $5.7 billion Illumina bid »
More news from Switzerland at thelocal.ch
Latest news from The Local in France
- 26/03 Sarkozy bans controversial cleric »
- 26/03 Toulouse gunman divorces wife hours before assault »
More news from France at thelocal.fr
Latest news from The Local in Norway
More news from Norway at thelocal.no
Blog
New book about Sweden – get to know the country
Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth is a book about Sweden today. A country of natural beauty and open space, and a society focused on equality, human rights and sustainability. Meet regular and astonishing Swedes, supercars and indie rock bands, vampires and royalties.
Buy your copy of Sweden – Up North, Down to Earth from Sweden Bookshop
In cooperation with DoToday
Register
Register now for:
> Free use of noticeboard
> Special discounts
> Weekly news roundup
> Unlimited use of discuss
Noticeboard
- 23/05 piano lessons
- 23/05 Seeking helper for Posting parcels at postal office
- 22/05 Coffee-maker
- 22/05 Pet sitter available in Gotene and Lidkoping
- 22/05 apartment in Lund wanted
- 22/05 Musicians wanted
Discuss
- 02:48 Swedish property market
- 02:47 Help...Any Amusement Arcade in Stockholm?
- 02:33 Am I in trouble? Or did I miss to do something?
- 02:30 Rosetta Stone Opinions
- 21:42 Football in Stockholm?
- 21:11 In a nutshell, My weight is my problem?
- 21:10 Tax/working holiday visa
- 20:50 Culture differences - Britain-Sweden
- 20:49 Good-High End restaraunts in Gothenburg
- 19:54 Eyebrow threading in Malmö!
QUALITY ACCOMMODATION ON SWEDISH HIGH COAST
Comfortable Fully Serviced Apartments for Leisure or Business Travel Beautiful surroundings. Internet & Sat TV
www.oldriverhouse.se
Comfortable Fully Serviced Apartments for Leisure or Business Travel Beautiful surroundings. Internet & Sat TV
www.oldriverhouse.se
Volunteer Venture
Volunteer Venture is dedicated to promoting community tourism by welcoming volunteers and travelers to discover the cultural differences in Nepal as English teaching volunteers, orphanage volunteers, Monk teachers and many more
www.volunteerventure.org/
Volunteer Venture is dedicated to promoting community tourism by welcoming volunteers and travelers to discover the cultural differences in Nepal as English teaching volunteers, orphanage volunteers, Monk teachers and many more
www.volunteerventure.org/
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
English Speaking Therapist Stockholm
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
British-Australian Male Counsellor. Counselling Therapy for Depression, Mental Health, Sex, Relationship & Expat Issues
08-559 22 636 or CLICK HERE
Doctor of Psychology
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Therapy in English in Stockholm Trained in California Individuals & Couples (08) 93 81 48 FREE phone consultation
Visit anxiousorblue.se
Turning Point Counseling
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Turning Point Counselling centre offers the international community of Stockholm a safe space for personal development, counselling and coaching.
http://www.turning-point.se/show.asp
Swedish Down Town
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the Swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
Swedish Down Town PR Consulting and Productions is an innovative business company which provides valuable assistance with Public Relations and Communications in the Swedish and the international market.
www.swedishdowntown.com
Your comments about this article:
The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.
This will help small business´s a lot.
On a more conspiracy-theoretical note, some would say that the progressive attempts at eliminating cash make it for much easier privacy invasion and control of the money supply in order to allow the government to "fix" the economy as they wish.
The end result will be higher prices for everyone and cash payers will suffer. This has been the way in the United States for years. I remember reading somewhere that the average convenient store (7'11) in a major US city pays about 200,000USD a year in those fee's to Visa, etc... PS the cut they take, depends on things, like whether it's a rewards card, debit card...both of which cost more for the retailer.
At Davey-jo, people do not need to use cash, and most use plastic these days. Whether it is fair or not...I do not really know. I feel like it's just the way of doing business and the convenience of using a card. It will save the State a lot of money (from printing and destroying old bills etc..) Plus they'll probably see revenue from the tax increase from the windfall card companies will reap, ha ha...I say windfall in a country of 9 million...Visa doesn't really care.
Know what you mean. Don't ya just wanna slap them folk up the side of the head and show em a debit card.