Greece drops mandatory electronic payment rule for courier deliveries, cash remains

Greece’s Ministry of National Economy and Finance has withdrawn a provision that would have made electronic payment mandatory for all courier deliveries paid on delivery, regardless of amount. The measure was removed from the omnibus bill submitted to parliament after market operators reacted during public consultation.

The withdrawn rule would have ended cash payments for cash-on-delivery purchases, even for orders worth only 10, 20 or 30 euros. Consumers would have been forced to pay by card or another electronic means upon receipt of the product.

“Cash remains in the game of cash-on-delivery even for low-value purchases.”

Courier companies had warned that the rule created two different payment systems for the same market: one for physical stores and another for online sales with cash-on-delivery delivery. Under current rules, consumers can already pay cash for purchases of up to 500 euros in physical stores.

Cash remains available for cash-on-delivery online purchases of smaller value. For goods or services worth 500 euros or more, payment must still be made by card or another electronic means.

Industry data presented during consultation showed that more than four in ten online purchases are made by cash on delivery, with annual transaction value between 3 and 5 billion euros. About 70 to 75 percent of cash-on-delivery payments are made in cash.

The two controversial articles were withdrawn, leaving delivery payment rules unchanged. Consumers can continue to pay either in cash or by card or another electronic means, depending on the options offered by the online store and courier company.