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Tribune News Network
Doha
Unavailability of retail point of sale (POS) machines at many shops and restaurants is making customers see red as they are forced to pay the bills in cash, which sometimes run into several thousand riyals.
Expressing their dismay over the matter, several citizens and residents said that on many occasions they were forced to pay bills in cash even as huge sums were involved. They said many a time they even don’t find an ATM nearby.
They demanded a financial ceiling that obliges shops to use POS machines if they sell goods worth more than QR5,000 or QR10,000.
They said shops selling tyres, mobile phones or labour recruitment offices sometimes charge up to QR16,000 for their services. However, many of them still refuse to deal with POS machine.
Khalid Jassim, presenter of Majlis programme in Al-Kass TV, said recently he ordered several meals from one of the popular restaurants in Al-Waab Street, which seems to be very sophisticated, but he was surprised to find that the restaurant does not accept payment by bank card.
Former member of the Central Municipal Council Hamad Lahadan al Muhannadi said this issue has been discussed many times.
He said there are many instances when the bill runs into several thousand riyals and yet you are asked to pay in cash, which is regrettable.
For example, he said, most of the recruitment offices still require payment in cash, which some times amounts to QR15,000.
Muhannadi called on the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to study the issue and try to find a solution.
However, one shop owner said on his Twitter account that some shops avoid using bank cards because of the commission charged by banks for each transaction.
“I hope the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar Central Bank and banks to accelerate the adoption of mobile payment applications to switch to cashless transactions,” he said.
“Some furniture shops and spare parts stores refuse to deal with bank cards. Is it possible to go buy an iPhone with accessories for QR6,000 and then get asked by the seller to pay in cash?” he said.
A Twitter user said, “One quick-fix solution to the problem is to compel banks to reduce the interest they charge for purchases through POS machines. It will encourage all shops and commercial institutions to use them, especially as Qatar is on the threshold of hosting the most important sporting event in the history of the region.”
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21/08/2019
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