Bruton to target card handling charges

The Government is to crack down on contentious handling charges imposed when consumers purchase airline and concert tickets.

An EU consumer protection directive designed to ensure payment charges are not used as an additional revenue source by traders but must reflect the real cost of processing the transaction, must be transposed into Irish law by Dec 13, and must be applied from Jun 13, 2014.

Government officials claim the average service charge for small businesses in Ireland for credit card transactions is between 1.5% and 2.5% of the total charge, and 15c-50c for Laser and other debit card transactions. It is believed large businesses pay even lower rates.