Charging a customer who pays by Twint is not permitted in principle.

Paying with Twint or by card eats into merchants' profits. Electronic payment providers tax transactions (see below) and the turnover collected decreases . In Switzerland, we are well aware of the "no less than 10 or 20 francs" limit requested by some vendors and restaurateurs. SRF television has noted at several village festivals that stalls now tend to charge a 1 franc surcharge to customers who do not pay in cash.

Although these practices are not illegal, as no law governs these transactions, they are not permitted. This is stipulated in the contract between merchants and banks. The general terms and conditions of payment providers often specify that the tax cannot be passed on to consumers. The reason: no payment method should be disadvantaged over another. Imposing a minimum purchase amount is also problematic, the SRF points out.

The Swiss Market Association does not say it is "in favor of such surcharges" and confirms that the cases noted by German-speaking television are not isolated. But the organization shows understanding toward small businesses: "The fees represent a considerable burden," says its president, Peter Hutter.

Those who violate payment service providers' rules are subject to sanctions. Twint remains diplomatic in issuing the SRF and says that if a violation is detected, the company seeks to engage with merchants. A recent study by the Swiss National Bank showed that customers were largely unaware of the financial consequences of these taxes on businesses.