Santo Domingo.– The announcement by the National Association of Gasoline Retailers (Anadegas) to progressively remove card terminals from gas stations has met with a largely negative response from users, who believe the measure would complicate fuel payments and directly affect consumers.
During a tour of several service stations, the majority of drivers consulted expressed their disagreement with the provision and asserted that, currently, the use of debit and credit cards has become a necessity. Citizens warned that eliminating that payment option would force them to carry cash or search for ATMs, causing a waste of time and inconvenience.
“Nowadays almost no one carries cash. If I arrive at a gas station and they don’t accept cards, I would have to look for an ATM and waste time. That measure harms the customer, not the banks,” expressed José Ramírez, a driver.
Similarly, Pamela Mora, who refuels several times a week, indicated that eliminating verifones would especially affect those who use cards as a method of expense control.
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“I handle all my payments with a card. It would be inconvenient to have to look for cash every time I need fuel. I do not agree with that decision,” he maintained.
While Luis Gómez considered that the conflict over commissions should be resolved through dialogue between financial entities and retailers, without passing the consequences on to consumers.
“They have the right to protest, but the user should not pay the consequences. They must reach an agreement without affecting the service,” he stated.
Verifones continue to operate
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During the tour carried out this Monday, it was verified that at several fuel stations the card terminals continued to function and payments with debit and credit cards were being made normally, despite the announcement made by Anadegas.
The presence of these teams coincides with the union’s decision to accept mediation from the Government and consumer protection authorities to seek a negotiated solution to the conflict, which is why it instructed its members to keep electronic payments enabled while talks continue.
Anadegas had reported that it would begin the progressive withdrawal of card terminals as a protest against the commissions charged for card transactions, asserting that these costs significantly reduce the profit margins of fuel stations. Among their proposals is to replace the current scheme with a fixed fee per transaction.
However, following the mediation of the authorities, the guild decided to temporarily maintain the card payment service while negotiations with financial entities and competent bodies are underway.
