AGCM

PRESS RELEASE

Greater transparency in online prices: the ICA imposes a fine for charging extra fees in payments carried out via credit card

INCREASINGLY TRANSPARENT prices for online purchases: for the first time the ICA implemented article 62 of the Consumer Code regulating, as of 13 June 2014, the absolute prohibition to impose charges on Italian consumers for using specific payment methods.

It is the ICA’s first result in this scope of action. In fact, the low cost airline companies Norwegian Air and Blue Air were fined 250,000 and 300,000 euros, respectively, for not complying with the new rule introduced with the transposition of directive 2011/83/EU on Consumer Rights into the Italian legislation: to charge extra fees - connected and corresponding to the consumers’ use of a specific payment method - is a clear infringement of the mentioned art. 62 of the Consumer Code. It is important to highlight that the regulation concerns not only the use of credit cards, but also other forms of payment such as bank transfers and purchases with cash on delivery.

The introduction of this prohibition in the Italian market concerns all economic sectors and not only air transportation. Therefore, all considerations on the modalities related to charging consumers with extra fees at the moment of paying via credit card are superfluous. This practice has nonetheless been fined within the same provisions, with reference to the period prior to the entering into force of the new regulation.

Before the conclusion of the respective proceedings, and with different timings, the two companies implemented all necessary measures for removing the unfair practices.

Rome, 14 October 2016