A provision that would have banned cash payments on delivery for online orders handled by courier companies has been removed from the Ministry of National Economy and Finance’s omnibus bill following objections from representatives of the retail and courier sectors.
The original proposal would have required all orders to be paid for exclusively by card or another electronic payment method, regardless of the amount. The ban would have applied even to low-value transactions, creating different payment rules for online and physical stores.
The original proposal would have required all orders to be paid for exclusively by card or another electronic payment method, regardless of the amount.
With the provision withdrawn, the existing rules remain in place, allowing consumers to pay in cash upon delivery, subject to the legal limit of €500 for retail transactions. The issue could, however, be reconsidered in the future.
The issue is particularly significant for Greece’s e-commerce market, where cash on delivery remains a popular payment option. According to figures cited by industry representatives, it accounts for more than 40% of online purchases, with an annual transaction value of €3–5 billion. An estimated 70–75% of these transactions are paid for in cash.
Objections centred on the potential impact on small and medium-sized businesses, regional retailers and consumers who prefer to pay upon delivery, as well as the risk of a decline in online sales.
Source: News24/7
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