Rules on the side of customers and merchants. If paying with notes and coins seems to be the easiest way – no middleman and no waiting, nor risk of bugs – it is also a system governed by many rules, which are not always respected. . Paying for a cash purchase may be refused, capped or even prohibited, recalls the Public Service website. In principle, taking out coins at the checkout can never be refused, unlike payment by credit card or check. In certain situations, we can nevertheless give you an end of inadmissibility.
Some of these situations may have already occurred to you and, contrary to what one might think at the time, the trader is within his rights. However, some stores refuse cash payments a little too easily and several consumers have made reports to the Banque de France. This is, for example, the case of customers who wanted to pay for their purchases in cash on a Sunday. Can you be forced to pay by card at certain times or on certain days of the week? The Banque de France has just given its answer and it will not please everyone…
A merchant can refuse your payment in cash at certain times, explains the Public Service website: “For example, merchants in night hours can refuse payment in cash as a security measure. Parking meters can also refuse payment in cash by protective measure against acts of vandalism”.
In a press release consulted by Planet, the National Committee for Means of Payment recalled “the freedom of choice of users in the means of payment they wish to use, in any place and in any circumstance”. He also recalls that “cash is legal tender in France”, while he was informed “of specific cases of refusal of cash by businesses open on Sundays”. However, Sunday seems to be an exception in some shops, especially supermarkets…
Cash “must be accepted by merchants, every day including Sunday”, explains the CNMP in its press release. They must also be accepted “during events such as festivals or sporting events”, it is recalled. You therefore have the right to pay for your purchases in cash on Sundays and a merchant cannot refuse you this, unless security reasons apply.
In the event of a dispute, you can report the refusal to the departmental directorate for the protection of populations or to the defender of rights. You can contact the latter by telephone on 09 69 39 00 00 from Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can also send a free mail, without postage, or do it online on the dedicated site. By refusing, the merchant is liable to a fine of 150 euros.
