AGCM

The company has failed to comply with the Authority's November 2023 prohibition against adding a surcharge for paying by credit card for the fuel provided.

The activity of the Italian Competition Authority in the area of credit card surcharge continues. The Authority ascertained the non-compliance of the company Blupark S.r.l. with the prohibition ordered by its resolution No. 31000 of 28 November 2023. A fine of €20,000 was imposed on the company, pursuant to Article 27 of the Consumer Code.  The ban pertained to the imposition of a price surcharge on consumers who paid by credit card (credit card surcharge) for fuel supplied by the company. Thanks to the complaints and documentation received through the Special Antitrust Unit of the Italian Financial Police (Guardia di Finanza), it was possible to ascertain that Blupark continued to apply price surcharges of €0.02/litre for fuel payments made by credit card, in violation of Article 62 of the Consumer Code, at its service station located in Loreo (RO).

The Authority reiterates that the regulation applied in these proceedings aims to protect consumers' contractual rights and, in conjunction with other legal measures prohibiting the imposition of surcharges, strives to fulfil the European Union's objective of creating a unified payment system free from discrimination among financial instruments.

Rome, 11 October 2024