• UOKiK checked whether the “cards for PLN 0” really cost nothing.
• The cards were free only when a bank posted the operation, even though the consumer made payments in the required quantity or value.
• UOKiK reviewed the practices of 18 banks.

UOKiK received complaints that banks charge fees for a debit card, even though in a given settlement period, a consumer made card payments on the required number or value of transactions. Due to these signals, UOKiK reviewed the practices of 18 banks, of which 13 arose concerns.

UOKiK challenged:

• advertisements informing that debit cards are free if a consumer makes payments on a specified number or value of transactions in a given settlement period,
• vague information on websites,
• debit card fee charging model.

As it turned out, fees were cancelled actually if a purchase had been posted by the bank. - Posting a transaction is not synonymous to its execution; moreover, the consumer has no control on the time in which the operation is posted. As a result, when a consumer paid for their purchases with a card at the end of the month, the transaction was settled at the beginning of the next month. Thus they had to pay card handling fees - says Marek Niechciał, the President of UOKiK.

Summary of UOKiK activities

• Five banks did not raise any doubts in the eyes of UOKiK: BGŻ, BPH, Deutsche Bank, Idea Bank, Pekao.

• Six banks have voluntarily changed their practices as a result of the so-called UOKiK’s soft calls, i.e. without initiating of proceedings: BZ WBK, EuroBank, Getin Noble Bank, ING Bank Śląski, Millennium Bank, Plus Bank.
• UOKiK issued six decisions concerning: mBank, BOŚ Bank, Bank Pocztowy, Credit Agricole, PKO BP, T-Mobile Usługi Bankowe. The banks have committed to refund the card fees to the consumers and to change the transaction settlement models. More details on the fee refund can be found in the UOKiK's decision.
• One proceeding is in progress - against Alior Bank.

Additional information for the media:

UOKiK Press Office
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warsaw
Phone: 695 902 088
Email: biuroprasowe@uokik.gov.pl
Twitter: @UOKiKgovPL