A Finance Ministry bill that would effectively end cash-on-delivery payments for online purchases has been open for public consultation since Wednesday, according to Kathimerini.
The proposed change concerns cash-on-delivery transactions, in which customers pay for their orders upon delivery by a courier company. An estimated 30%–40% of online purchases are made using this method.
Exemptions include food, over-the-counter medicines, people over 70, small settlements and island areas.
Payments for parcels delivered by courier companies would have to be made electronically, by card or through online banking.
A ministerial decision is also expected to specify the exemptions and clarify how the measure will be implemented.
Food delivery platforms would therefore be exempt from the ban, as their main activity falls under the food exemption.
Different rules would apply to pharmacies. Payments for prescription medicines would have to be made by card or another electronic method, as these medicines are not covered by the exemption.
In their initial response, courier companies and online retail platforms have described the proposed measure as disproportionate and expressed concerns about its potential impact on their operations.
Source: Kathimerini
