Dáil Éireann Debate, Friday - 16 September 2016
1871. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on the practice of retail outlets which charge a fee per transaction when selling Bord Gáis pre-pay top-up cards; and if there is regulation in regard to such surcharges, for example, a maximum fee amount that can be charged per transaction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24931/16]
View answerMy responsibility for the regulation of payment surcharges relates solely to the provisions of general application to such surcharges in the European Union (Consumer Information, Cancellation and Other Rights) Regulations 2013 (S.I. No. 484 of 2013). Regulation 25 of the Regulations provides that a trader shall not charge a consumer, in respect of the use of a given means of payment, fees that exceed the cost borne by the trader for the use of that means of payment. Enforcement of the Regulations is the responsibility of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission which is fully independent in the exercise of its enforcement functions.
The pre-pay top-up cards referred to in the Deputy’s question apply in connection with the Pay as You Go Metering System developed by the Commission for Energy Regulation and which is governed by codes of practice based on guidance from the Commission. Questions specific to payment charges for top-ups to gas or electricity pre-pay cards should be addressed to the Commission for Energy Regulation or the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment.
