23 May
2018

ABTA encourages Members to contact their local MPs about card payment costs

ABTA is encouraging its Members to use an ABTA template letter to lobby their local MP in support of the industry’s calls for government action to help reduce the cost of taking card payments. 
 
Letters sent by Members will support ABTA’s forthcoming response to a Treasury consultation on digital and card payments, which closes on 5 June. The consultation is exploring ways in which the Government can intervene to reduce the cost of taking payments and create increased competition in the payments industry. 
 
ABTA is using this opportunity to highlight the impact of recent regulatory change on travel companies, especially SMEs, and to ask for greater regulatory oversight of the entire card payments chain, including proactive enforcement measures to ensure greater transparency for retailers.
 
Luke Petherbridge, ABTA’s Senior Public Affairs Manager said: “MPs are always open to the views of their constituents and in particular to the concerns of local businesses. We know that many travel businesses have been hit hard by recent legal changes. The high charges levied by acquirers and the scheme providers need to be urgently addressed, and this Treasury consultation gives the industry an important opportunity to make our case.”
 
ABTA’s Public Affairs Team is happy to assist Members with these letters if needed and would also be grateful if Members send copies of any letters (or emails) sent to MPs to publicaffairs@abta.co.uk to enable ABTA to follow up and provide additional information via.
 
An editable version of the template letter is available for download in the link below.