Belgian shops, cafes, and restaurants cannot refuse cash payments, even if, for a few years, some restaurants, food trucks, and thrift shops have only accepted cards or other means of payment that are not cash.
What else do you need to know?
New legislation confirms that traders cannot refuse cash payments in Belgium.
Public
Belgium
Author: Kristina Dosen
Category:
Fiscal subject related
Views:
169
Content accuracy validation date:
13.03.2024
Content accuracy validation time:
08:00h
Content
The federal government has approved a bill to that effect proposed almost a year ago, in April 2023, by Economy Minister P. Dermagne.
According to EU regulations, customers in the European Union should be able to freely choose whether to pay in cash or electronically. However, the number of stores where this is not possible continues to increase. More and more merchants are refusing cash payments. The new law aims to change that and allow for more choices.
To punish infringements against the rules, a law in Belgium was also needed. This means that from now on, shopkeepers can be sanctioned if they refuse cash payments from customers.
The bill of the Minister of the Economy has just been approved by the Chamber. This bill protects those customers who are less comfortable with electronic payments or online banking, such as people who don't have a bank account or simply don’t want to use cards or similar non-cash means of payment.
In general, the group said that if a customer is not allowed to pay with cash, he or she should complain to the Economy Ministry.
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