Card Payments in Rome: Your Rights When a Merchant Refuses
The obligation to accept cards has been law since 2014, but the automatic fine was scrapped in 2023. Here's what you can do, who to report to, and what you should never pay.
In a nutshell
In Italy, every merchant, professional, or tradesperson who sells to the public must accept debit and credit card payments. This obligation has been in force since 30 June 2014 (DL 179/2012, art. 15) and has never been repealed. Since 1 January 2023, however, the automatic fine for merchants who refuse has been abolished by the 2023 Budget Law (L. 197/2022). The obligation still stands — but enforcing it now requires you to file a report.
At a glance
| Cost | Free for the consumer. No surcharges on card payments are permitted. |
| Timeline | AGCM report: online in 30 minutes. AGCM response: 60–180 days. |
| Where in Rome | AGCM (Italy's competition and consumer authority): Piazza Giuseppe Verdi 6/A. Guardia di Finanza (financial police): Via Marmorata 90. Comune (SUAR office): Via dei Cerchi 6. |
| What you need | Receipt, photo of any "cash only" sign, description of what happened. |
What the law actually says today
The obligation to accept electronic payments was phased in gradually: from 2014 for transactions above €30, then with no minimum threshold at all. From 1 July 2022, specific fines applied (€30 plus 4% of the transaction value), but from 1 January 2023 those fines were scrapped.
That does not mean merchants can freely refuse. A merchant who won't take cards still risks:
- Unfair commercial practice under the Codice del Consumo (Italy's Consumer Code), reportable to AGCM
- Tax investigations by the Guardia di Finanza (financial police), because refusing traceable payment is a red flag for suspected IVA (Italian VAT) evasion
- Administrative sanctions for businesses holding a public licence (bars, restaurants, B&Bs)
Bottom line: the obligation still exists, but today you have to report it to make it stick.
Your rights as a consumer
Beyond the right to pay by card, the law protects you on several other specific points.
No surcharges on your bill. Legge 27/2012 (art. 12) and D.Lgs. 11/2010 (art. 3) prohibit merchants from charging you extra for paying by card. Phrases like "card payments add €1", "debit cards only from €10 upwards", or "there's a 2% card surcharge" are all illegal. If this happens, report it to AGCM immediately. The only exception is high-commission cards such as American Express or Diners Club, where merchants may apply a surcharge capped at their actual processing cost.
The terminal must work. The POS device must be active and operational. If staff tell you "it's broken" but then accept cash from the next customer, that's a violation.
You're always entitled to a receipt. Paying by card doesn't replace the scontrino fiscale (Italian fiscal receipt) or electronic invoice. You're entitled to both.
The cash limit is €5,000. Since 1 January 2023, cash payments are permitted up to €5,000. Above that threshold, a traceable payment method (card, bank transfer, cheque) is legally required.
What to do if a merchant refuses your card
First response. Calmly say: "Italian law requires you to accept card payments." Many refusals come from habit or irritation at processing fees, not bad faith. If they still refuse, you have two options: pay cash if you have it and want the product, or walk away.
Gather evidence. If you want to file a report, you'll need: a photo of any "cash only" sign (those signs are themselves illegal), the receipt if one was issued, the business address, and the date and time.
File a report. You can approach several bodies depending on the type of violation:
- AGCM — consumer complaints: for unfair commercial practice. Fill in the SEGN-PRA form online and attach your evidence. Possible fine of up to €5 million.
- Guardia di Finanza — 117: for suspected tax evasion. Call for free or use the GdF app.
- Comune di Roma — SUAR: for bars, restaurants, and accommodation businesses with a public licence. Email sportellounico.attivitaproduttive@comune.roma.it or call 060606.
- Camera di Commercio Roma: for unfair commercial practices. Tel. 06 52082.1.
Mistakes to avoid
- Paying a card surcharge without objecting. Surcharges are banned under Legge 27/2012. You are not obliged to accept one — refuse it, report it, keep the receipt.
- Handing your card to the cashier so they can "go and fetch the POS". Always keep your card in your own hand. Card-skimming is a real risk.
- Not checking the amount shown before you confirm. Always look at the POS display and cover the keypad when entering your PIN.
- Ignoring the "POS has been broken for weeks" excuse. A persistently non-functional terminal is a choice, not a malfunction. Report it to the Guardia di Finanza.
- Discarding the POS receipt. The fiscal receipt and the POS payment slip are two separate documents — keep both.
Special cases
Bar or restaurant: "card minimum €10". There is no legal minimum threshold. You can pay €1 by card if you want. Refusing is unlawful.
Taxis in Rome. All Rome taxis must have an active POS terminal under a resolution by Roma Capitale (the City of Rome). If a driver refuses, note the licence number from the door panel and report to the Comune's mobility office: Centro Mobilità Locale, Via Marsala 39, tel. 06 67103.
Unstaffed petrol stations at night. Petrol stations open 24/7 must accept card payments at all hours, including overnight.
Doctors and lawyers. Professionals have been obliged to accept cards since 1 July 2020. Medical payments must also be traceable to qualify for tax deductions in Modello 730 (Italy's simplified annual tax return for employees) — above €77: so you have two reasons to insist on card.
The POS doesn't accept your foreign card. A merchant can choose which card networks to support. If the POS displays the Visa logo but rejects your Visa card, that is a violation. If it only accepts Pagobancomat (Italy's domestic debit network) and you have a foreign card, the refusal is technically permissible.
Alternatives to POS. If the merchant has no card terminal, you can offer an instant SEPA transfer (credited within 10 seconds and fully traceable). Satispay and PayPal are further alternatives where the merchant accepts them.
Official sources
- AGCM — Consumer protection
- AGCM — Consumer complaint form
- Banca d'Italia — Payment systems
- Guardia di Finanza — 117 public helpline
- Comune di Roma — SUAR
- Consumer Code — normattiva full text
- Camera di Commercio Roma
Legal references: DL 18/10/2012 n. 179 art. 15 (POS obligation); Legge 30/12/2022 n. 197 art. 1 c. 385 (repeal of POS fines); Legge 24/03/2012 n. 27 art. 12 (card surcharge ban); D.Lgs. 27/01/2010 n. 11 art. 3; D.Lgs. 06/09/2005 n. 206 (Consumer Code); EU Directive 2015/2366 (PSD2).