Panel SA: Supermarkets collect data to measure Mastercard rate on basic basket

In the arm wrestling with Mastercard, Abras (Brazilian Association of Supermarkets) commissioned a study from the FIA ​​(Fundação Instituto de Administração) to measure the impact of interchange fees charged by the card brand on the basic basket.

According to the entity, there was a readjustment in the rates, which has to be passed on to the consumer at a time of high inflation.

This week, after a complaint by Apas, the Ministry of Justice opened an investigation to investigate a possible abusive increase made by Mastercard in the amount charged on the use of credit and debit cards.

In a note released by the agency, the Minister of Justice, Anderson Torres, says that any movement that raises prices needs attention, especially on the part of market-leading companies.

Abras says that its president, João Galassi, will take the entity’s legal department to the Central Bank next week to talk about the matter.

Sought by Panel SA, Mastercard says that on April 22 it updated the table of interchange fees for credit and debit functions, respecting the limits established by the regulator.

According to the company, the changes brought about by the new table brought reductions to some essential consumer sectors, including small and medium supermarkets.

“Interchange fees are paid by the acquirer to the cardholder’s bank for the services it provides, such as securing payment and playing its role in securing, clearing and settling the transaction. This is an exchange between these two entities. Mastercard does not earn any income from interchange fees,” the company said in a statement.

The banner states that it “maintains an open and transparent dialogue with all participants in the payment arrangement and will adopt the same stance in relation to the Senacon investigation”.

Joana Cunha with Andressa Motter and Paulo Ricardo Martins