on retailers weigh up to 11% for purchase – Repubblica.it

And if in some cases these estimates are inflated and different institutions offer "package" services that allow retailers to save, an Altroconsumo survey has shown that commission costs can weigh heavily on each individual purchase. Not on the consumer, in this case, but on the operator.

In fact, comparing the information sheets of three major banks operating in Italy (Unicredit, Intesa Sanpaolo and Monte dei Paschi), the consumer association has calculated that in some cases these costs can reach 11% of the amount. It must be said that these are the maximum fees and it is possible, therefore, that we can get something better from the bank.

To make the idea better Altroconsumo has given two concrete examples. A hot chocolate that costs the customer 4.50 euros can cost the operator 50 cents with Intesa Sanpaolo: 11% of the collection. Monte dei Paschi charges up to 36 cents while Unicredit pays 17 cents. These are the figures applied to credit or debit card payments. While the Pagobancomat circuit is much cheaper: 4 cents with Intesa, 15 with Monte dei Paschi and 10 with Unicredit.

The maximum applicable percentage decreases with increasing amount. For a hairdresser's session that includes cutting, color and fold, Altroconsumo has estimated a cost of 90 euros. And in this case the commissions do not exceed 8% applied by Monte dei Paschi, a percentage that in absolute terms is equal to 7.20 euros. Immediately after, but at a distance, Unicredit follows with 3.51 euros and then Intesa with 2.34 euros. In the case of Banca Intesa the Pagobancomat circuit costs more: 3.62 euros, while Montepaschi applies half compared to the commission due with credit or debit cards (3.15%) and also Unicredit is more affordable with 2.07 euros.

In a letter to the government, Altroconsumo presented a series of proposals to encourage the use of cash in Italy. Between these:

• The deduction of medical expenses paid by card up to a maximum of 500 euros per year;
• Irpef deduction of 10% for food-related expenses. According to the association's estimates, the measure would give each family 510 euros a year;
• Alternatively, the deduction could only be applied to the expenses made in small grocery stores, including greengrocers, bars and pastry shops. A measure that could give new life to a sector today suffocated by large retailers.

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