Since the introduction of an obligation for retailers to offer alternatives to cash payments, the Economic Inspectorate has registered 458 offences for refusing payment in cash or by electronic means.
This was reported by Secretary of State for Consumers Alexia Bertrand in response to a written question from Open Vld parliamentarian Tania De Jonge.
The obligation to offer an electronic payment option came into force on 1 July 2022. Between that date and 1 August this year, the Economic Inspectorate received 443 reports of cash-payment refusals, and 2,295 reports of electronic-payment refusals.
Over the same period, inspectors carried out 3,961 checks, during which 458 infringements were detected. These led to more than 400 warnings and 37 penalty notices.
In 2022, checks were carried out following alerts. This year, there have also been spot checks.
