On January 16, 2025, the General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Affairs and Fraud Control (DGCCRF) imposed a fine of 690,000 euros on Crédit Mutuel Arkéa. The reason? “Failure” in its online payment offering. This administrative sanction, the most important of the year so far, aims to guarantee consumers their right to freely choose the payment network used, an obligation often overlooked.
Banking practices under fire: no choice of payment card
What the DGCCRF criticizes Crédit Mutuel Arkéa
According to investigations carried out in 2021, Crédit Mutuel Arkéa would have prevented customers holding so-called “co-badged” bank cards (combining the CB and Visa or CB and Mastercard schemes) from choosing between these networks when making online payments. In practice, this means that the payment network was imposed, without letting the user decide, as required by European regulations.
An attack on consumer rights
This practice was judged as a brake on the free choice of payment networkt, a right aimed at protecting consumers from hidden charges or disadvantageous conditions. The DGCCRF therefore considered that this limitation constituted a serious infraction, hence the high amount of the sanction.
What consequences for customers and the bank?
Corrective measures put in place
In a public statement, Crédit Mutuel Arkéa acknowledged the alleged facts, while specifying that the offenses date back several years. According to the establishment, “corrective measures” were implemented from 2022 to comply with regulations. These changes include:
- Updating online payment systems : from now on, an explicit choice between CB, Visa and Mastercard is offered.
- Strengthening internal controls : to prevent new offenses.
- Increased collaboration with regulators : in order to ensure strict compliance with the rules.
The bank insisted no customers were financially harmed. However, this situation reveals the gray areas of banking transparency and the complexity of payment mechanisms.
-An important decision to guarantee the choice of customers of French banks
An exemplary decision from the DGCCRF
With this fine, the DGCCRF reaffirms its role as regulator in the protection of consumer rights. The objective is clear: to dissuade banking players from circumventing the rules, particularly those relating to fair competition.
A signal for all banks
This case could also encourage other financial institutions to review their practices. Co-badged cards represent a significant part of payment methods in France, and their use must comply with the expectations of European regulators.
This sanction against Crédit Mutuel Arkéa recalls the importance of consumer rights in a complex banking sector. If the bank has corrected its practices, this case highlights a major issue: guaranteeing healthy and fair competition while respecting the interests of users.
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