End to minimum spend on a card

SHOPS in France could soon scrap their minimum spending limits for using a debit or credit card.

Finance minister Michel Sapin wants to abolish the fixed-rate commission that banks charge each other to process card payments, which apply regardless of the transaction amount.

Only the variable commission, based on a percentage of the purchase amount, will remain.

The commission fee discourages shopkeepers from accepting cards for small amounts. Many stores apply limits such as €15 before a card can be used.

Mr Sapin said: "I don't want there to be any obstacles any more to paying by card. We will pass a law."

He also announced plans for a new independent price comparison site for banking fees, which will compare 11 day-to-day banking operations such as withdrawals from another bank's cash machine.