Consumer complaints about refusal to accept card payments, illegal price lists in restaurants and other businesses in Crete.
Consumer complaints about business practices in Crete
People on the island are complaining about unlawful charges and businesses ignoring price listing rules. Lately, a lot of shops refuse to take card payments, even though the law says they have to.
Small shops like kiosks and mini-markets sometimes won’t let you pay for phone cards with a card. Others might take your card but tack on a fee—sometimes over €2.
Cafés, restaurants, and fast-food places are supposed to accept cards through POS systems. Still, they often brush people off, blaming “technical issues.”
Another problem: many eateries don’t bother with proper printed price lists. Instead, they tell you to scan a QR code for the menu, which leaves out folks who aren’t tech-savvy or just don’t like fiddling with their phones.
The law tries to keep things clear. Restaurants and similar spots must show all “à la carte” items with the final prices, VAT included, plus any extra charges.
Menus also need to say “Prices include all legal charges”. They can’t charge for bread or a cover, either.
Key obligations for food establishments include:
- Menus have to be easy to spot.
- Everything on offer, with prices (including VAT and any extras), needs to be listed clearly.
- They can’t hike prices after showing them.
- No cover charge or bread fees allowed.
- If a portion is sold by weight, they must say so; otherwise, it’s by the dish.
Here are the most common complaints recently:
– Refusal of card payments in kiosks and markets
– Circumvention of POS obligations in the catering industry
– Missing or inadmissible menus in restaurants and pubs
– Unfair additional fees for card payments
The local consumer protection association steps in by collecting complaints, giving advice, and pushing businesses to follow the law. They keep both the public and the authorities in the loop about what’s going on.
Some complaints also point at the banks, especially when it comes to card payment refusals. Both merchants and regulators need to work harder to make sure card payments go through smoothly.
If you want more details on card payment disputes, the consumer union in Crete is tracking this closely.
