The Dutch Office for Statistics has released an article that states that in 2001 the number of automated teller machines in the Netherlands has increased, while quite a few bank branches were closed. A similar trend is visible in Belgium, Germany, Austria, the United Kingdom and France. In the other countries of the European Union, both the number of bank branches and automated teller machines is increasing.....
Monday, January 20, 2003
Thursday, January 16, 2003
Visa warns retailers about surcharging: a boomerang?
Australian website The Age reports that Visa is about to send 250,000 retailers information on the credit card surcharge and will tell them that 80 per cent of consumers oppose the fee. This information campaign should be viewed as the part of a larger discussion on reforming the payments landscape.
The funny thing is that whenever credit-card companies chose to enter foreign markets, they always started with rules that had a anti-competitive component. The no-surcharge rule is such an example. It stipulates that a retailer is not allowed to distinguish the price of the good when paid for in cash or by credit-card. It is a very understandable rule from the point of view of a system that is new on the market and requires acceptance by the public. Yet, in the long run it doesn't make sense. Retailers should be allowed to determine their own pricing policy and to include the cost of different means of payments as a part of the total transaction price. This allows consumers to choose between the more efficient/convenient payment mechanism.
In the Netherlands, we've had the no-surcharge rule and it has been abolished. Not that it made a lot of difference. In practice the credit-card acceptance over here is limited to industries/retailers with a considerable margin. And the credit-card itself is not as widely used (60 million trx) as the debit-card (1 billion). So the issue is not top-of-mind and practices differ between retailers. For debit-cards surcharging is even a common practice for those payments below a certain value (mostly 10 Euro). Being out of cash, I bought some lunch refreshments today for 7 Euro and paid the surcharge fee of 10 Eurocent. And in the weekend I often do a cash-back at the local supermarket (that charges me as well). Do I care? In practice I don't, but when interviewed I say I do.
So when I look at the Visa information campaign I wonder: this can't really be an issue ? I may be seeing things upside down from here in the Netherlands, but it looks to me as if Visa abuses the no surcharge rule to influence public opinion. And I'm not sure if that is the proper way to proceed. Would'nt this campaign be viewed by consumers as a waste of obviously abundant resources by card companies that have a quarrel with the RBA? And wouldn't they think that by the looks of it RBA may have been right?
That would then be a fine example of the boomerang-effect.
The funny thing is that whenever credit-card companies chose to enter foreign markets, they always started with rules that had a anti-competitive component. The no-surcharge rule is such an example. It stipulates that a retailer is not allowed to distinguish the price of the good when paid for in cash or by credit-card. It is a very understandable rule from the point of view of a system that is new on the market and requires acceptance by the public. Yet, in the long run it doesn't make sense. Retailers should be allowed to determine their own pricing policy and to include the cost of different means of payments as a part of the total transaction price. This allows consumers to choose between the more efficient/convenient payment mechanism.
In the Netherlands, we've had the no-surcharge rule and it has been abolished. Not that it made a lot of difference. In practice the credit-card acceptance over here is limited to industries/retailers with a considerable margin. And the credit-card itself is not as widely used (60 million trx) as the debit-card (1 billion). So the issue is not top-of-mind and practices differ between retailers. For debit-cards surcharging is even a common practice for those payments below a certain value (mostly 10 Euro). Being out of cash, I bought some lunch refreshments today for 7 Euro and paid the surcharge fee of 10 Eurocent. And in the weekend I often do a cash-back at the local supermarket (that charges me as well). Do I care? In practice I don't, but when interviewed I say I do.
So when I look at the Visa information campaign I wonder: this can't really be an issue ? I may be seeing things upside down from here in the Netherlands, but it looks to me as if Visa abuses the no surcharge rule to influence public opinion. And I'm not sure if that is the proper way to proceed. Would'nt this campaign be viewed by consumers as a waste of obviously abundant resources by card companies that have a quarrel with the RBA? And wouldn't they think that by the looks of it RBA may have been right?
That would then be a fine example of the boomerang-effect.
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
Jupiter Research discover weblog as a media tool
Planet Multimedia reports that Jupiter Research has decided to create weblogs for its analists. These Jupiter Research Analyst Weblogs unfortunately don't go with a news feed in RSS-XML. The current postings appear to be quite politically correct and not so much a personal point of view/opinion but a Jupiter point of view.
It will be interesting to see where this development will lead. In my opinion weblogs are a useful tool to record developments in a subject area. As such they could also be used more intensively in the university domain. If science is all about monitoring/investigating developments, the first logical step would be to log these developments. Having logged all kinds of events, a pattern may occur that may be the basis for further research/investigation.
It will be interesting to see where this development will lead. In my opinion weblogs are a useful tool to record developments in a subject area. As such they could also be used more intensively in the university domain. If science is all about monitoring/investigating developments, the first logical step would be to log these developments. Having logged all kinds of events, a pattern may occur that may be the basis for further research/investigation.
European Parliamentary Financial Services Forum (EPFSF)
Today I accidentally ran into this very informative link:
The European Parliamentary Financial Services Forum (EPFSF) facilitates and strengthens the exchange of information on financial services and Europe's financial markets between the financial industry and Members of the European Parliament.
The European Parliamentary Financial Services Forum (EPFSF) facilitates and strengthens the exchange of information on financial services and Europe's financial markets between the financial industry and Members of the European Parliament.
Testing the SMS-possibilities
E-merce reports about a test of Partyscene.nl and CMG, that use SMS messages to send visitors to a dance events mobile tickets. The bar-code in the SMS will be scanned and serves as the entry ticket to the event. In 2003 Moxmo will arrange for the payment of these tickets.
Another article notes that the Bijenkorf, a large luxury department store is testing SMS as a means to send advertisements. Customers that also have access to the payment product of Mobile2Pay (a Paybox-like payment mechanism for the mobile phone), can immediately pay for the goods offered.
The experiments show that before exploiting the 3G capabilities, operators will use the mobile phone and SMS as the basic means for transactions. The experience will also be helpful as a basis for further development of 3G-services.
Another article notes that the Bijenkorf, a large luxury department store is testing SMS as a means to send advertisements. Customers that also have access to the payment product of Mobile2Pay (a Paybox-like payment mechanism for the mobile phone), can immediately pay for the goods offered.
The experiments show that before exploiting the 3G capabilities, operators will use the mobile phone and SMS as the basic means for transactions. The experience will also be helpful as a basis for further development of 3G-services.
Monday, January 13, 2003
Internetbanking is growing: off-line banks preferred
Planet Multimedia links to an interesting research study by Nielsen.
The study shows that on-line banking in Europe grew from 15 to 25 million users. The top 5 countries are:
1. Sweden (51,3 % of on-line population does e-banking),
2. Australia (39,6 %),
3. France (38,7 %),
4. Netherlands (38,5 %),
5. Brasil (36,2 %).
The study shows that on-line banking in Europe grew from 15 to 25 million users. The top 5 countries are:
1. Sweden (51,3 % of on-line population does e-banking),
2. Australia (39,6 %),
3. France (38,7 %),
4. Netherlands (38,5 %),
5. Brasil (36,2 %).
Introduction of fees for ATM-service: a deadlock prisoners' dilemma
Leo van Hove has today pointed out to me that in December 2002, Austria has experienced what is about to become the next new phenomenon in retail payments. I would label this the deadlock-prisoner's dilemma. A brief summary of what has happened, with links to the original Austrian newspaper (in German):
-One bank started the introduction of fees for getting cash at the ATM machine and pointed out that this move was necessary due to the EU-regulation that stipulates equal prices for the same payment service, regardless of its location (domestic or not),
-There was a lot of resistance from the consumer protectors at the labour union, with the threat of a complaint at the competition authority,
-The bank withdrew its pricing plan.
If we look at this situation from a game-theoretic point of view we see a prisoners' dilemma. All banks individually can do the calculation that introduction of this fee is beneficial and necessary from a business point of view. Even from a more broad perspective (efficient allocation of cost/benefits of cash) the introduction of the fee will benefit society. Yet, being the first to introduce the fee will be detrimental to the image of the first mover. So all banks sit back and wait; thus ending up with a more costly situation.
The theoretical solution for this dillemma is coordination; by moving together and cooperating, the banks can end up in the optimal game situation from the viewpoint of all players. Yet, this optimum cannot be attained due to regulatory constraints (anti-competition rules). And apparently neither the central bank nor the Ministry of Finance have stepped in to overcome these constraints.
In the Netherlands we have also witnessed a similar situation; yet it occured at the end of June, 2002. Due to a complex interaction between reporters adn bank spokesmen, banks called of the planned introduction of ATM-fees (not many consumers where aware of this fact as it occured largely behind closed doors). And they are now still deliberating how to resolve the current situation: which I would call: deadlock-prisoner's dilemma
Will this be the end ?
Well, a poll at the Standard's website reveals that 72,2 % of the readers believe the fees will somehow, sometime be introduced, with only 20,9 % that think it is the end of the discussion. The remaining 6,9 % has no opinion.
And as for the Netherlands, we've seen a more general further introduction of fees in both the consumer and business segments of the market. Most probably banks will seek to recoup expenses through indirect fees rather than direct fees.
-One bank started the introduction of fees for getting cash at the ATM machine and pointed out that this move was necessary due to the EU-regulation that stipulates equal prices for the same payment service, regardless of its location (domestic or not),
-There was a lot of resistance from the consumer protectors at the labour union, with the threat of a complaint at the competition authority,
-The bank withdrew its pricing plan.
If we look at this situation from a game-theoretic point of view we see a prisoners' dilemma. All banks individually can do the calculation that introduction of this fee is beneficial and necessary from a business point of view. Even from a more broad perspective (efficient allocation of cost/benefits of cash) the introduction of the fee will benefit society. Yet, being the first to introduce the fee will be detrimental to the image of the first mover. So all banks sit back and wait; thus ending up with a more costly situation.
The theoretical solution for this dillemma is coordination; by moving together and cooperating, the banks can end up in the optimal game situation from the viewpoint of all players. Yet, this optimum cannot be attained due to regulatory constraints (anti-competition rules). And apparently neither the central bank nor the Ministry of Finance have stepped in to overcome these constraints.
In the Netherlands we have also witnessed a similar situation; yet it occured at the end of June, 2002. Due to a complex interaction between reporters adn bank spokesmen, banks called of the planned introduction of ATM-fees (not many consumers where aware of this fact as it occured largely behind closed doors). And they are now still deliberating how to resolve the current situation: which I would call: deadlock-prisoner's dilemma
Will this be the end ?
Well, a poll at the Standard's website reveals that 72,2 % of the readers believe the fees will somehow, sometime be introduced, with only 20,9 % that think it is the end of the discussion. The remaining 6,9 % has no opinion.
And as for the Netherlands, we've seen a more general further introduction of fees in both the consumer and business segments of the market. Most probably banks will seek to recoup expenses through indirect fees rather than direct fees.
Wednesday, January 08, 2003
Change in financial supervision in France
Financieel Dagblad reports this morning that France will consolidate its supervision on the Financial Sector. The 'Commission des opérations de Bourse' (COB), the 'Conseil des Marchés Financiers' (CMF) and the 'Conseil de discipline de la gestion financière', will merge into: Autorité des Marchés Financiers (AFM). This new supervisor will get a lot of legal competences en will also have member of the financial community in its board of directors. Most interesting however is that the new supervisor will be paid for by the companies it supervises.
With the move to direct taxation of supervision to the supervised entities, the Franch government copies a model that is already in place in a number of Anglo-Saxon countries. It is a sensible move towards more direct cost allocation and tax payment for public services. Yet, it is remarkable that in these times of governance-issues, no one questions whether it is wise to combine the hierarchical supervision relationship with a billing relationship that generally suggest that the paying company has a hierarchical influence over the provider of the services.
See also the page of the Paris Chamber of Commerce (in French), the early project proposal of the government and an article in LeMonde.
With the move to direct taxation of supervision to the supervised entities, the Franch government copies a model that is already in place in a number of Anglo-Saxon countries. It is a sensible move towards more direct cost allocation and tax payment for public services. Yet, it is remarkable that in these times of governance-issues, no one questions whether it is wise to combine the hierarchical supervision relationship with a billing relationship that generally suggest that the paying company has a hierarchical influence over the provider of the services.
See also the page of the Paris Chamber of Commerce (in French), the early project proposal of the government and an article in LeMonde.
Tuesday, January 07, 2003
The cost of cash: robbery...
Yesterday evening a pump station was raided resulting in the murder of a female employee. The police have not disclosed any information on the robbery, except that they have not yet found the criminals. The public discussion here in the Netherlands is now all about securing pump stations.
A similar discussion occurs with respect to the transport and delivery of cash. One of the major companies in this market, Brinks, has announced that changes in their delivery schedules have been made, following a violent attempt to stop one of their deliveries. As a result they now only do daytime transport and delivery.
Today J. Schraven, the chairman of Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (known as VNO-NCW), suggested to ask the army to accompany cash transports in the future. Reactions to this suggestion are, unfortunately, lukewarm.
Although we could speak of incidents, we need to realise that this security problem is exactly where central banks come into play. Central banks issue cash and use the proceeds to finance and subsidize their operations. Improvements and security measures for bank notes are thus financed from the revenue stream of cash. In my opinion, the concept of security measures should not be taken too strictly (limiting the measures to physical adaptations of bank notes). By stretching the concept to safe transport, delivery and handling of cash, we can see that the current revenue flow of cash needs to be redistributed. A part of the revenue stream of cash should therefore be used to ensure both trust in cash and a safe usage environment. Practically speaking: central banks should fund/pay the army, police and perhaps even retailers to reimburse costs/efforts related to ensuring the safe availability of cash in their countries.
Of course, this redistribution of revenue may negatively impact the balance sheet of central banks. But it is one of the most urgent policy issues for central banks all around the world to deal with. Perhaps that is why it has been defined as 'out of scope' by the central bankers that are contemplating policy issues in retail payments. And although I understand and respect the scoping decision made by my former colleagues in the BIS-working group, I would strongly suggest they reconsider their scope.
A similar discussion occurs with respect to the transport and delivery of cash. One of the major companies in this market, Brinks, has announced that changes in their delivery schedules have been made, following a violent attempt to stop one of their deliveries. As a result they now only do daytime transport and delivery.
Today J. Schraven, the chairman of Confederation of Netherlands Industry and Employers (known as VNO-NCW), suggested to ask the army to accompany cash transports in the future. Reactions to this suggestion are, unfortunately, lukewarm.
Although we could speak of incidents, we need to realise that this security problem is exactly where central banks come into play. Central banks issue cash and use the proceeds to finance and subsidize their operations. Improvements and security measures for bank notes are thus financed from the revenue stream of cash. In my opinion, the concept of security measures should not be taken too strictly (limiting the measures to physical adaptations of bank notes). By stretching the concept to safe transport, delivery and handling of cash, we can see that the current revenue flow of cash needs to be redistributed. A part of the revenue stream of cash should therefore be used to ensure both trust in cash and a safe usage environment. Practically speaking: central banks should fund/pay the army, police and perhaps even retailers to reimburse costs/efforts related to ensuring the safe availability of cash in their countries.
Of course, this redistribution of revenue may negatively impact the balance sheet of central banks. But it is one of the most urgent policy issues for central banks all around the world to deal with. Perhaps that is why it has been defined as 'out of scope' by the central bankers that are contemplating policy issues in retail payments. And although I understand and respect the scoping decision made by my former colleagues in the BIS-working group, I would strongly suggest they reconsider their scope.
The importance of the back-office...
.. is immense. With automated througput (Straight Through Processing) one can reduce costs and errors. And a good back-office also allows for flexibility in product development. No wonder that both VISA and Mastercard have been working hard to upgrade their autorisation and clearing and settlement infrastructure. Read more about this "Clash of the Titans' in this article.
Shopping online becomes a habit
E-merce reports huge increases in shopping on the web. The numbers vary from 30 to 70 % and appear to be more than the incidental end-of-year increases. The increase also suggests that until now, the volume of sales has still been quite moderate.
Monday, January 06, 2003
EU infringement procedure for e-money and E-commerce
AFX Press and Online Ireland report that the EU Commission has started infringement procedures on a number of issues, amongst which the implementation of the e-commerce and the e-money directive.
As AFX Press noted:
BRUSSELS (AFX) - The European Commission said it is pursuing infringement proceedings against 13 member states for their failure to transpose EU internal market directives into national law.
The commission said it has asked Belgium, Denmark, Greece, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Finland and the UK to implement quickly legislation concerning motor insurance, cultural goods, electronic commerce and the issuing of electronic money.
See also the EU press release on e-commerce and the EU press release on e-money. The latter states:
The Commission will send reasoned opinions to Belgium, Finland, France and Greece for failing to adopt the measures necessary to comply with Directives 2000/28/EC and 2000/46/EC on the taking up, pursuit of and prudential supervision of the business of electronic money institutions (see IP/98/727).
As AFX Press noted:
BRUSSELS (AFX) - The European Commission said it is pursuing infringement proceedings against 13 member states for their failure to transpose EU internal market directives into national law.
The commission said it has asked Belgium, Denmark, Greece, France, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Finland and the UK to implement quickly legislation concerning motor insurance, cultural goods, electronic commerce and the issuing of electronic money.
See also the EU press release on e-commerce and the EU press release on e-money. The latter states:
The Commission will send reasoned opinions to Belgium, Finland, France and Greece for failing to adopt the measures necessary to comply with Directives 2000/28/EC and 2000/46/EC on the taking up, pursuit of and prudential supervision of the business of electronic money institutions (see IP/98/727).
Friday, January 03, 2003
Trust in on-line payments is on the rise...
Automatiseringsgids reports that the public is gaining confidence in the safety and privacy of payments over the Internet. A joint study by NFO WorldGroup, Forrester en The Conference Board shows that more than one third of the US citizens trust their on-line payments to be safe. This figure has risen from 27,5 % at the end of 2001.
Thursday, January 02, 2003
Western Union pays $8 million fine...
... for not complying with regulatory instructions.
Other than that business is fine. Business Review Albany reports:
First Data has four main business segments — payment, merchant, credit-card issuing and emerging payments services. Western Union belongs to the company's payment services area.
For 2002's first three quarters, First Data reported a 14 percent increase in revenue to $5.6 billion. Net income increased 51 percent to $885 million.
Those results reflect strong increases in global money transfers, better operating margins and the addition of merchant services company TASQ Technology Inc.
Other than that business is fine. Business Review Albany reports:
First Data has four main business segments — payment, merchant, credit-card issuing and emerging payments services. Western Union belongs to the company's payment services area.
For 2002's first three quarters, First Data reported a 14 percent increase in revenue to $5.6 billion. Net income increased 51 percent to $885 million.
Those results reflect strong increases in global money transfers, better operating margins and the addition of merchant services company TASQ Technology Inc.
New structure of law on supervision for financial sector
Just at the end of last year, the Ministry of Finance announced its intention to redesign the current financial supervision laws. The goal is now to have a single financial supervision law as of January 1, 2005. This law ('Wet op het financieel toezicht') will be made up of four parts:
- general framework/definitions
- prudential supervision (mostly of credit-institutions),
- compliance with information disclosure rules (behavioural supervision),
- infrastructure of payments and securities systems.
- general framework/definitions
- prudential supervision (mostly of credit-institutions),
- compliance with information disclosure rules (behavioural supervision),
- infrastructure of payments and securities systems.
What would you do with Robert Redford's credit card?
New York Times reports about a man who found the credit card of Robert Redford near a convenience store in Orem (Utah). The man phoned the Resort where Redford stayed to report the find.
But after being offered free ski-lift passes and dinner for two if he would bring the card to the resort, the man reportedly insisted on some signed Redford memorabilia.
When a resort representative responded that Redford ``does not do that kind of thing,'' the man said Redford wouldn't get his card back and hung up, Orem Police Lt. Doug Edwards said.
Police then called the man, who refused to give his address and told an officer that he threw Redford's card in a trash bin. Police traced the call and went to the man's apartment, where they recovered the card.
The man did not get the free ski passes, a free dinner or an autograph. But he also didn't get charged with a crime, Edwards said.
``The finder was not charged, on account of his sudden change of heart to gladly give the card to the officers when they arrived at his home,'' according to a report about the incident on the city's Web site.
But after being offered free ski-lift passes and dinner for two if he would bring the card to the resort, the man reportedly insisted on some signed Redford memorabilia.
When a resort representative responded that Redford ``does not do that kind of thing,'' the man said Redford wouldn't get his card back and hung up, Orem Police Lt. Doug Edwards said.
Police then called the man, who refused to give his address and told an officer that he threw Redford's card in a trash bin. Police traced the call and went to the man's apartment, where they recovered the card.
The man did not get the free ski passes, a free dinner or an autograph. But he also didn't get charged with a crime, Edwards said.
``The finder was not charged, on account of his sudden change of heart to gladly give the card to the officers when they arrived at his home,'' according to a report about the incident on the city's Web site.
Best wishes for 2003 !
Regular readers will note the language change. As a part of my New Years Resolutions, this weblog will now be in English.
A brief explanation to all new readers:
-The name Retail-betaal-gedachten literally means: thoughts on retail-payments.
-I have started this weblog in December 2001, just before the introduction of the Euro.
-The goal is to document Dutch market and regulatory developments in retail payments.
-By providing references to relevant source documents, the weblog becomes an public archive.
-Please note the disclaimer: although written in English, many developments will still have a typical Dutch flavour.
A brief explanation to all new readers:
-The name Retail-betaal-gedachten literally means: thoughts on retail-payments.
-I have started this weblog in December 2001, just before the introduction of the Euro.
-The goal is to document Dutch market and regulatory developments in retail payments.
-By providing references to relevant source documents, the weblog becomes an public archive.
-Please note the disclaimer: although written in English, many developments will still have a typical Dutch flavour.
Tuesday, December 31, 2002
NMa roert zich stevig... maar banken laten zich niet kisten.
.. en beboet de telco's voor een bedrag van 88 miljoen euro omdat men groepsgewijs een prijsafspraak zou hebben gemaakt over afschaffing van subsidies op mobiele telefoontoestellen. Zie Planet Multimedia en ook het commentaar in Elseviers nieuwsbrief:
Opvallend is alle actie van de NMa wel. Sinds de oprichting in 1998 gold de autoriteit als een sufferdje met als belangrijkste verdienste het ontmantelen van het kapperskartel. Dat ze nu ook grote, relevante zaken oppakt, valt toe te juichen. Maar de slagvaardigheid valt waarschijnlijk niet helemaal los te zien van het vertrek van Kist bij de NMa per 1 januari. Hij wilde nog even laten zien dat de NMa geen tandeloze tijger is.
De positie van de NMa ten opzichte van Interpay is overigens een stuk milder. Het Financieel Dagblad schrijft vandaag:
Directeur Anne Willem Kist van de antikarteldienst NMa denkt niet aan lagere tarieven als blijkt dat de tarieven door machtsmisbruik tot stand zijn gekomen, aldus zijn woordvoerster maandag.
Vaste lagere tarieven zouden de markt te star maken, aldus Kist. De NMa zegt eerder te denken aan verplichte veranderingen in de structuur van de betalingsorganisatie Interpay , die het grootste deel van het betalingsverkeer in Nederland regelt. De betalingsorganisatie zou onafhankelijker moeten worden van de grote banken, die nu eigenaar zijn. NMa denkt door wijziging in de verdeling van aandeelhouders en commissarissen bij Interpay meer concurrentie af te dwingen.
Wat later in het artikel wordt duidelijk hoe opgetreden gaat worden tegen makelaars:
Overigens legt de NMa geen boete op. In plaats daarvan verzoekt de NMa de Landelijke Makelaars Verenigingen haar leden een brief te schrijven met de ondubbelzinnige mededeling dat de organisatie 'geen adviestarieven meer hanteert' en dat de leden hun eigen prijs van taxaties mogen bepalen.
Als we dit onverantwoord extrapoleren dan legt de NMa volgend jaar Interpay geen boete op, maar schrijft ze voor dat de NVB aan de banken een brief moet sturen met daarin de opdracht om vanaf volgend jaar een eigen prijs te bepalen voor het pin-autorisatietarief. De banken laten zich dus niet kisten.
Opvallend is alle actie van de NMa wel. Sinds de oprichting in 1998 gold de autoriteit als een sufferdje met als belangrijkste verdienste het ontmantelen van het kapperskartel. Dat ze nu ook grote, relevante zaken oppakt, valt toe te juichen. Maar de slagvaardigheid valt waarschijnlijk niet helemaal los te zien van het vertrek van Kist bij de NMa per 1 januari. Hij wilde nog even laten zien dat de NMa geen tandeloze tijger is.
De positie van de NMa ten opzichte van Interpay is overigens een stuk milder. Het Financieel Dagblad schrijft vandaag:
Directeur Anne Willem Kist van de antikarteldienst NMa denkt niet aan lagere tarieven als blijkt dat de tarieven door machtsmisbruik tot stand zijn gekomen, aldus zijn woordvoerster maandag.
Vaste lagere tarieven zouden de markt te star maken, aldus Kist. De NMa zegt eerder te denken aan verplichte veranderingen in de structuur van de betalingsorganisatie Interpay , die het grootste deel van het betalingsverkeer in Nederland regelt. De betalingsorganisatie zou onafhankelijker moeten worden van de grote banken, die nu eigenaar zijn. NMa denkt door wijziging in de verdeling van aandeelhouders en commissarissen bij Interpay meer concurrentie af te dwingen.
Wat later in het artikel wordt duidelijk hoe opgetreden gaat worden tegen makelaars:
Overigens legt de NMa geen boete op. In plaats daarvan verzoekt de NMa de Landelijke Makelaars Verenigingen haar leden een brief te schrijven met de ondubbelzinnige mededeling dat de organisatie 'geen adviestarieven meer hanteert' en dat de leden hun eigen prijs van taxaties mogen bepalen.
Als we dit onverantwoord extrapoleren dan legt de NMa volgend jaar Interpay geen boete op, maar schrijft ze voor dat de NVB aan de banken een brief moet sturen met daarin de opdracht om vanaf volgend jaar een eigen prijs te bepalen voor het pin-autorisatietarief. De banken laten zich dus niet kisten.
Monday, December 30, 2002
Hoedt u voor euro-biljet: 0123456789-00 !!
Nu.nl meldt op 28 december 2002 (22:35 uur):
AMSTERDAM - De opname van een reclamespot in Amsterdam is zaterdagmiddag flink uit de hand gelopen. Voor de opnames op de Oude Haagseweg in het zuidwesten van de hoofdstad strooiden de filmmakers duizenden namaak eurobiljetten op straat. Gretige omstanders en passerende automobilisten stopten enkele honderden daarvan in hun zak en gingen ermee vandoor.
De politie rukte met enkele eenheden uit om mensen ervan te weerhouden de nepbiljetten mee te nemen. Volgens een woordvoerder probeerden mensen massaal het geld van straat te graaien en stopten automobilisten midden op de weg om het geld op te rapen. Agenten moesten de biljetten afpakken van mensen die het geld al in hun handen hadden. Het is de politie niet gelukt
al het geld in beslag te nemen.
Slechte kwaliteit
De politie vreest dat veel mensen ermee proberen te betalen. Volgens haar hebben de namaakbiljetten van 5, 10, 20, 50 en 100 euro de zelfde afmeting als de echte en zijn ze dubbelzijdig bedrukt, maar zijn ze van een veel slechtere kwaliteit. De kleuren zijn verschillend en de echtheidskenmerken zoals het hologram of de zilvergrijze streep ontbreken. Zo is het 50-eurobiljet groen in plaats van oranje. Wel heeft elk biljet een serienummer: 0123456789-00.
Strafbaar
De politie waarschuwt mensen extra voorzichtig te zijn met het aannemen van eurobiljetten. "Vooral in donkere horecagelegenheden of bij snelle transacties zou je de biljetten voor echt kunnen aanzien", aldus een woordvoerder. Het betalen met de nepbiljetten is strafbaar.
AMSTERDAM - De opname van een reclamespot in Amsterdam is zaterdagmiddag flink uit de hand gelopen. Voor de opnames op de Oude Haagseweg in het zuidwesten van de hoofdstad strooiden de filmmakers duizenden namaak eurobiljetten op straat. Gretige omstanders en passerende automobilisten stopten enkele honderden daarvan in hun zak en gingen ermee vandoor.
De politie rukte met enkele eenheden uit om mensen ervan te weerhouden de nepbiljetten mee te nemen. Volgens een woordvoerder probeerden mensen massaal het geld van straat te graaien en stopten automobilisten midden op de weg om het geld op te rapen. Agenten moesten de biljetten afpakken van mensen die het geld al in hun handen hadden. Het is de politie niet gelukt
al het geld in beslag te nemen.
Slechte kwaliteit
De politie vreest dat veel mensen ermee proberen te betalen. Volgens haar hebben de namaakbiljetten van 5, 10, 20, 50 en 100 euro de zelfde afmeting als de echte en zijn ze dubbelzijdig bedrukt, maar zijn ze van een veel slechtere kwaliteit. De kleuren zijn verschillend en de echtheidskenmerken zoals het hologram of de zilvergrijze streep ontbreken. Zo is het 50-eurobiljet groen in plaats van oranje. Wel heeft elk biljet een serienummer: 0123456789-00.
Strafbaar
De politie waarschuwt mensen extra voorzichtig te zijn met het aannemen van eurobiljetten. "Vooral in donkere horecagelegenheden of bij snelle transacties zou je de biljetten voor echt kunnen aanzien", aldus een woordvoerder. Het betalen met de nepbiljetten is strafbaar.
Geldvervoer te vaak onder vuur
Vorige week maandag werd weer een geldtransport-auto van Brinks het slachtoffer van een overval door criminelen. Daarop is besloten een nood-transportplan in werking te stellen. Niet meer 's nachts rijden is één van de onderdelen daarvan.
De overval is de tiende binnen één jaar maar leidde niet tot verloren geld of gewonde chauffeurs. De verhouding met de politie is overigens redelijk suboptimaal. Vorige maand ontdekten medewerkers van geldtransport dat ze op de video werden gezet (door wie anders dan de vermoedelijke toekomstige overvallers). De politie wilde echter geen verder werk maken (zie AD) van het oppakken van de vuurgevaarlijke criminele video-crew. Sterker nog, de politie tipte de boeven in kwestie dat ze op hun beurt door Brinks op video gezet waren.
Het moge duidelijk zijn: cash wordt steeds minder populair; is diefstalgevoelig enzovoorts. Naarmate we minder massaal gebruik maken van cash vallen de kosten niet gelijkelijk bij alle maatschappelijke partijen, maar steeds meer bij partijen die de cash handelen (op de markt, geldtransport etc.). Een meer fundamentele maatschappelijke discussie over de plaats van contant geld in de samenleving, de verdeling van kosten/baten ervan lijkt me op zijn plaats.
Vanuit dit perspectief bezien is het heel jammer dat de centrale banken op dit vraagstuk, als hoofdrolspelers die de ontvangstenkant van contant geld monopoliseren, in hun internationale discussiestuk over retailbetalingsverkeer niet bespreken. En dat terwijl een macro-economische analyse leert dat tarifering van cash op zijn plaats is, alsmede wellicht een hernieuwde verdeling van kosten/baten over partijen. Die aardappel is echter misschien ook in 2003 nog wel te heet om opgediend te worden.
De overval is de tiende binnen één jaar maar leidde niet tot verloren geld of gewonde chauffeurs. De verhouding met de politie is overigens redelijk suboptimaal. Vorige maand ontdekten medewerkers van geldtransport dat ze op de video werden gezet (door wie anders dan de vermoedelijke toekomstige overvallers). De politie wilde echter geen verder werk maken (zie AD) van het oppakken van de vuurgevaarlijke criminele video-crew. Sterker nog, de politie tipte de boeven in kwestie dat ze op hun beurt door Brinks op video gezet waren.
Het moge duidelijk zijn: cash wordt steeds minder populair; is diefstalgevoelig enzovoorts. Naarmate we minder massaal gebruik maken van cash vallen de kosten niet gelijkelijk bij alle maatschappelijke partijen, maar steeds meer bij partijen die de cash handelen (op de markt, geldtransport etc.). Een meer fundamentele maatschappelijke discussie over de plaats van contant geld in de samenleving, de verdeling van kosten/baten ervan lijkt me op zijn plaats.
Vanuit dit perspectief bezien is het heel jammer dat de centrale banken op dit vraagstuk, als hoofdrolspelers die de ontvangstenkant van contant geld monopoliseren, in hun internationale discussiestuk over retailbetalingsverkeer niet bespreken. En dat terwijl een macro-economische analyse leert dat tarifering van cash op zijn plaats is, alsmede wellicht een hernieuwde verdeling van kosten/baten over partijen. Die aardappel is echter misschien ook in 2003 nog wel te heet om opgediend te worden.
Friday, December 27, 2002
We zijn één jaar verder.....
.. sinds ik dit weblog begonnen ben. Ik heb me afgevraagd of ik met het log moet doorgaan. Totdat ik me besefte dat het weblog een aantal gerenommeerde lezers heeft. Een klein voorbeeldje.
Op 1 januari 2002 stelt Duisenberg:
Ik betaalde gisteren in Frankfurt voor een aardbeienmilkshake en een Bic Mac precies evenveel in euro's als vorige week in Duitse marken.
Op 11 januari signaleerde ik in dit log al het bestaan en reden achter prijsverhogingen door de euro. Moeizaam erkenden vervolgens ook de officiële instanties (Zalm, DNB, etc. ) hun ongelijk.
Uiteindelijk heeft mijn log-entry ook Duisenberg bereikt. In het interview met RTL-Z (uitgezonden op de dag voor Kerstmis) erkent hij dat de prijzen toch wel een beetje zijn gestegen. En als vanouds onderbouwt hij zijn betoog met een welgekozen voorbeeld:
Neem nou bijvoorbeeld het parkeren bij het hoofdstation hier in Frankfurt. Vorig jaar kostte dat één Duitse mark per half uur. Dit jaar was dat één euro per half uur.
Dus we gaan door. Maar vanaf 2003 wel in het Engels.
Op 1 januari 2002 stelt Duisenberg:
Ik betaalde gisteren in Frankfurt voor een aardbeienmilkshake en een Bic Mac precies evenveel in euro's als vorige week in Duitse marken.
Op 11 januari signaleerde ik in dit log al het bestaan en reden achter prijsverhogingen door de euro. Moeizaam erkenden vervolgens ook de officiële instanties (Zalm, DNB, etc. ) hun ongelijk.
Uiteindelijk heeft mijn log-entry ook Duisenberg bereikt. In het interview met RTL-Z (uitgezonden op de dag voor Kerstmis) erkent hij dat de prijzen toch wel een beetje zijn gestegen. En als vanouds onderbouwt hij zijn betoog met een welgekozen voorbeeld:
Neem nou bijvoorbeeld het parkeren bij het hoofdstation hier in Frankfurt. Vorig jaar kostte dat één Duitse mark per half uur. Dit jaar was dat één euro per half uur.
Dus we gaan door. Maar vanaf 2003 wel in het Engels.
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