Cash, cheque, bank cards: what payment types can a shop legally refuse in france?

THERE ARE CLEAR RULES ON HOW, WHEN AND WHY BUSINESSES CAN REFUSE TO ACCEPT PAYMENT Businesses in France have the right to refuse payments from customers via certain methods, provided that

they clearly state this somewhere visible before accepting or beginning the transaction. As stated on this official government website, businesses can choose to refuse payment by: * Cheque,

and/or bank card They cannot (unless under certain conditions, see below), refuse payment by: There are some exceptions depending on the type of transaction or business. For example, taxi

and ride-sharing drivers (eg. Uber, Lyft) are obliged to accept payment in cash and by credit card. CHEQUES AND CARDS: CLEARLY SIGNPOSTED A business can decide whether to accept or decline

cheques and/or cards, providing they display this clearly in advance of any transaction.  They can also require a payment of a minimum or maximum amount for a type of payment - e.g. a €5 or

more transaction requirement for the use of a card, or a maximum amount of €1,000 - providing that this is clearly stated to potential customers. It means a shopkeeper can display a sign at

the checkout saying: * [Payment type, e.g. cheque or card] is not accepted  * [Payment type] is accepted from an amount of… * [Payment type] is accepted up to... Shopkeepers can also request

to see proof of identity (e.g. a national identity card, driving licence or passport) before accepting a cheque. A customer is required to sign the receipt for card payments over €1,500.

CASH PAYMENTS Businesses are generally required to accept cash payments, and face a fine of €150 if they refuse for no good reason. However, they are allowed to refuse cash in the following

cases: * Foreign currencies: Any currency other than the euro can be refused. * Damaged cash: Torn or illegible notes can be refused, as a bank may decline them when deposited. * Too many

coins: Any payment made with more than 50 coins can be refused. * Counterfeit money: If the business has a genuine reason to believe a note is counterfeit, it can refuse it, identify the

customer, and report the person to police. * Change: Businesses can refuse a cash payment if the customer does not have the exact amount, and the shopkeeper does not have the right change.

Businesses must also decline cash payments of more than €1,000, unless the customer has no other means of payment (e.g. they have no bank account or bank card). In some cases, this amount

can be raised to as much as €15,000, in the case of foreign tourists making a significant personal expenditure (e.g. payment for a vehicle), states the Service Public website.  The full list

of legal articles stating each of these laws can be found on the same site (click ‘Textes de loi et références’ at the bottom of the page). PENALTIES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE Retailers face

penalties if they break the law on accepting payments.  For example: * Any retailer who refuses to accept a cash payment without justification faces a fine of €150. * A professional who

refuses a payment method without informing customers by displaying a notice is liable to a fine of €3,000 in the case of a sole trader, and €15,000 in the case of a company. * Any

professional who overcharges customers because of their payment method is liable to a fine of €75,000 if they are a sole trader, and €375,000 if they are a company. * Any professional who

discriminates against customers, such as because of their place of residence or age, as a way to refuse their payment method risks up to three years' in prison, and a €45,000 fine.

Banks must always pay out for cheques for an amount of €15 or less, even if there are insufficient funds.  This means that any shopkeeper who tries to circumvent this system - for example,

by submitting several separate cheques for an amount less than or equal to €15 to pay a sum higher than this - is liable to a fine of €1,500 for a sole trader, and €7,500 in the case of a

company. If you believe that a shopkeeper has broken the law on payment acceptance, you are invited to contact the Commissaire de Justice.  This authority can act for individuals, companies

or local councils to, among other tasks, regulate debts and offer legal advice. It can also serve and enforce court decisions.