On the last day of the week, the president of the National Association of Gasoline Retailers (Anadegas), Juan Elías Pérez, announced that fuel stations affiliated with the organization could stop charging with bank cards and return to the exclusive use of cash, at a time when the negotiation deadlines with financial institutions have expired without reaching an agreement.
Anadegas’ stance and its arguments
Pérez stated that at \”any moment\” they would stop accepting card payments, as the banks “take away” RD$8.00 from the gross profit per gallon sold. He also explained that the bank retains RD$8.45 of the RD$27.07 generated per gallon, which would make the business unsustainable. According to Anadegas’ leader, “the banks take from us for each gallon consumed at each station,” and “it is not profitable to receive them.”
The president indicated that the negotiated deadlines have been exhausted: first a 30‑day period, then 15, and finally 9, without a meeting with the banks being arranged. “At any moment we will stop receiving credit‑card payments, for us it is not profitable to receive them,” he recalled.
Background of the conflict
On July 7, the Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs, Yayo Sanz Lovatón, together with the executive director of Pro Consumidor, Eddy Alcántara, met with Anadegas representatives to discuss the commissions applied to card payments. During the meeting, a 90‑day deadline was agreed upon to reach a consensus and seek a solution to the margin issue.
However, the lack of progress in the negotiations has led the organization to revert to the “any moment” stance of rejecting card payments. Anadegas members have asked consumers to “blame” the national banks when they cannot pay for fuel with a card, emphasizing that the margins make the business “unsustainable.”
Implications for consumers
If Anadegas follows through on its threat, users who normally use credit or debit cards to pay for gasoline would be forced to resort to cash. This would mean stations would have to handle more cash on hand, with an increase in security risks and operational costs related to handling banknotes.
Likewise, the change in payment method could affect transaction dynamics and customer convenience, especially in areas where cash access is limited or where banking infrastructure is more efficient than handling physical money.
Reaction of financial institutions
To date, banking institutions have not issued an official response to Anadegas’ threat. Financial entities are expected to review their commission policies and profit margins for fuel stations
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