I’ve just moved to Spain and recently noticed something in smaller shops, especially local food stores or variety stores: if you pay by card, the owner often asks for a small extra fee, usually a few dozen cents. It seemed strange at first, as I’ve never encountered this in large supermarket chains or big shopping malls. So I wanted to start a discussion here—is this a common practice or just an isolated thing?
After chatting with some local friends and doing some research, I finally got to the bottom of it. In short, Spanish law prohibits merchants from charging customers extra for using a specific type of bank card. This means, in theory, businesses cannot pass on the POS terminal fees charged by the bank to the consumer.
But reality is often different. So why do we still encounter these surcharges? The main reason lies with small, independently-run businesses. Although the POS fees banks charge merchants aren’t high, every transaction has a cost. For a small shop with thin profit margins, having a portion of a several-euro sale taken by the bank can really sting. This is also related to Spanish bank card limits, so some owners choose to create their own ‘unofficial’ rules, like setting a minimum spending amount for card payments or adding a small fee to cover their costs. While this practice isn’t strictly compliant, considering the challenges of running a small business, most people tend to accept it.
To make things clearer, I’ve put together a summary of the POS terminal rates that major banks charge merchants. You can check out more details about these [card transaction fees] for reference. It’s important to note that these are fees charged to the business, not to us as consumers.
Major Banks’ POS Fee Rates
| Bank | Fixed/Mobile TPV Rate Reference | Notes |
|---|
| BBVA | Approx. 0.40% - 1.00% | Varies with transaction volume |
| Santander | Offers flat-rate plans | Suitable for small businesses with high transaction counts |
| CaixaBank | Approx. 0.38% - 0.80% | High market share, flexible plans |
| Sabadell | Offers various plans with different rates | Also a popular choice for merchants |
So, the next time you’re asked to pay extra for using a card, you’ll know what’s going on. If the amount is small and you want to support a local shop, paying in cash or accepting this ‘unwritten rule’ is fine. However, if you’re asked for a surcharge at a large chain store, gas station, or similar establishment, it’s definitely not right. You have the right to refuse and point out that it’s against the rules. In short, understanding the regulations helps you be a smarter consumer. Hope this post was helpful!
