Amazon says it will continue to accept UK-issued Visa credit cards this year amid a dispute over high charges. Reuters.
Amazon says it will continue to accept UK-issued Visa credit cards this year amid a dispute over high charges. Reuters.
Amazon says it will continue to accept UK-issued Visa credit cards this year amid a dispute over high charges. Reuters.
Amazon says it will continue to accept UK-issued Visa credit cards this year amid a dispute over high charges. Reuters.

Amazon ends ban on UK-issued Visa credit cards


Neil Murphy
  • English
  • Arabic

Amazon said it will reverse its plan to stop accepting UK-issued Visa credit cards later this month after a row over high payment fees.

The Seattle-based company sent an email on Monday to UK customers to say that it would not go ahead with the move, which was scheduled to come into effect on Wednesday.

"The expected change regarding the use of Visa credit cards on Amazon.co.uk will no longer take place on January 19," the company said.

"We are working closely with Visa on a potential solution that will enable customers to continue using their Visa credit cards on Amazon."

Amazon had previously indicated that the high fees charged by Visa in the UK were an "obstacle" to its business. Costs had continued to rise despite technology advancements elsewhere in the online payment industry, the company said.

Along with Mastercard, the payments company sets the rates that merchants pay in swipe fees. While banks that issue cards reap the bulk of that fee, Visa has long faced criticism from merchants over rising costs.

The proposed ban by Amazon, first revealed in November, caused Visa's shares to drop and led executives at the payments company to accuse Amazon of punishing consumers.

Visa last year said it was "very disappointed" with the threat to stop accepting its cards, claiming that the move would restrict consumer choice.

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Friday Celta Vigo v Villarreal (midnight kick-off UAE)

Saturday Sevilla v Real Sociedad (4pm), Atletico Madrid v Athletic Bilbao (7.15pm), Granada v Barcelona (9.30pm), Osasuna v Real Madrid (midnight)

Sunday Levante v Eibar (4pm), Cadiz v Alaves (7.15pm), Elche v Getafe (9.30pm), Real Valladolid v Valencia (midnight)

Monday Huesca v Real Betis (midnight)

COMPANY PROFILE

Company: Bidzi

● Started: 2024

● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid

● Based: Dubai, UAE

● Industry: M&A

● Funding size: Bootstrapped

● No of employees: Nine

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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The specs

Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo

Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm

Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm

Transmission: 9-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh117,059

Updated: January 17, 2022, 1:51 PM`