suze

For some place like a flea market or farmers market, wouldn't it be easier to just have cash?

Traveler_Nick

Easier isn't the point. Sellers are obligated to take cards. Now the fine is only €30 or something so they may feel the fine is cheaper than taking cards but they're required.

bvlenci

It's certainly easy for the vendor, especially if he's trying to avoid declaring his true income. That's exactly the point of the law.

dreamon

I understand the reason for this new law but if any stall holder at a local market has to get a merchant id (not always easy) and an EFTPOS machine, that's quite a burden if they are not regular stall holders.

I 100% think that everyone should pay the taxes they owe (especially big corporations and the privately wealthy too) but I still like paying cash for small items, especially when travelling. Having to have my credit card on hand instead of tucked away safely bothers me, as does the increased opportunity for the card to be compromised.

It seems like just a breath ago that there was a minimum card payment value, and now you can put any small amount on your card. One thing that really annoys me is when a place won't accept cash (isn't it legal tender?) but then charges a credit/debit card transaction fee on the bill. Card transaction fees have only become widespread here since Covid. Is this happening in Italy (or Europe)?

Traveler_Nick

Card payments are much more common in Italy after Covid. In the rest of Europe I think it'll depend on the country just like anything else. Last numbers I saw the UK had passed 90% card use. That has led to ATMs being removed and even bank branches closing.

Like anything else it ends up being a political issue. The people most hurt by the loss of ATMs and cash payments aren't tourists or the well off. It'll be interesting when/if any Italian politician notices that.

chartley

I don't know about Italy, but certainly in Britain portable card readers can now be bought very cheaply, and transaction fees are quite low. For many businesses, cash is an encumbrance, needing to be counted and banked, and accounting is easier with electronic payments. The number of banks is shrinking fast, with som small towns having no banks at all, which makes paying in cash very difficult. Handling cash can work out more expensive than paying transaction fees.

bvlenci

There are now apps that accept card payments. I don't know what they usually cost, but I saw one for €29. There may also be a per-transaction fee.

In Italy, you need a Partita IVA (a commercial taxpayer id) for any sort of self-employment, even if it's occasional, so that would apply to any sort of market activity. It's not allowed to attach a card transaction fee.

ATMs are on their way out. They're still common in Italy, but when we were in the Netherlands a few years ago, it was very difficult to find one. A lot of elderly people here go to the bank or post office to withdraw cash; they never learned to use an ATM. If you're worried about exposing your credit card, use an debit card which requires a PIN, preferably attached to an account with a low monthly limit. Or you could use a prepaid card, although they are not the economically convenient choice.