The Plenary Session of the Chamber of Deputies approved reforms to prohibit and sanction the charging of commissions for the use of credit or debit cards in the payment of various services and items.

With 446 votes in favor, a reform to the Federal Consumer Protection Law was approved.

The reform went to the Senate for review and eventual approval.

The addition of a new article 7 Ter reads, “It is prohibited for suppliers of goods, products or services to charge commissions, amounts, additional or equivalent charges to consumers when they use a debit card, credit card or means of physical disposal of resources as a means of payment.”

In Article 127 of the same law, the inclusion of Article 7 Ter was added in the application of sanctions, in the event that consumer fees are charged for the use of credit or debit cards.

The sanctions that will be applied may vary from 701.15 pesos to 2,243,671 pesos.

The opinion presented by the Economy Commission argues that, according to the National Commission for the Protection and Defense of Users of Financial Services (Condusef), nothing justifies that an establishment charges for the use of cards and violates contracts that are established with financial institutions, not to pass on to consumers the cost of using the point of sale terminal.

Although commercial establishments pay a commission for the use of the terminals, the benefits they obtain are greater, such as: potential increase in sales, reduction in costs for the transfer of cash, and greater security due to the handling of less cash, indicates the Chamber.

PAN deputy René Figueroa indicated that the commission assessed that the ban implies risks for consumers, but that it was more important to protect consumers from abuse in the collection of commissions.

Editor’s note: This means that a beauty salon, for instance, must not charge you extra for using a credit or debit card than for paying by cash (after the Senate approves the bill.).