Four months after the ruling, uncertainty remains.
Four months after the preliminary relief judge ruled that payment provider Worldline may not simply terminate agreements with coffeeshops, entrepreneurs are still reporting problems with their payment transactions. According to the trade association Bond van Cannabis Detaillisten (BCD), more than ninety reports of cancellations or other restrictions have now been received.
The organization states that the problems occur at coffee shops spread across the country and that it no longer appears to be a matter of isolated incidents.
Problems at the checkout
In addition to cancellations, entrepreneurs are also reporting technical limitations with payment terminals. For instance, some Worldline terminals reportedly refuse certain foreign payment cards, which, according to the industry, leads to delays at the checkout, customer confusion, and in some cases, loss of revenue.
According to the BCD, access to regular payment systems is essential for coffeeshops. Being less dependent on cash contributes not only to business operations but also to the safety of entrepreneurs and staff.
The appeal is still pending.
The matter is not yet concluded. The new reports and developments have since been introduced in the appeal against the earlier summary judgment. The question of the extent to which Worldline is complying with the judge's earlier ruling is also being examined.
In the meantime, the BCD continues to call on entrepreneurs to report new cancellations or problems with payment terminals. With this information, the organization aims to further map the extent of the issue.
conclusion
The outcome of the appeal could have consequences for the way payment providers deal with coffeeshops. Until then, uncertainty remains for entrepreneurs who depend on electronic payment transactions.
Source: coffeeshopbond.nl
