NMa Extends its Investigation into Interpay

The Netherlands Competition Authority (NMa) is extending its investigation into Interpay. The decision to do so was taken on the basis of a preliminary investigation by NMa and signals received from the market. The tariffs Interpay charges for its electronic debit card payment facilities are also included in this investigation. Recently, in a ruling in interlocutory proceedings instituted by Superunie in relation to the level of debit card payment tariffs, the Court ruled that a further investigation by NMa into the possible abuse of a dominant position by Interpay was desirable. Last year NMa began dealing with a complaint by the Royal Association MKB-Nederland with regard to the conversion of debit card payment equipment due to the introduction of the euro.

Interpay was set up by the most important banks in the Netherlands to facilitate payments traffic. For this reason, the investigation will also concentrate on the relationship between Interpay and the participating banks. NMa has set up a special project team for this investigation. NMa earlier indicated that it viewed the banking sector with interest from the perspective of competition, partly due to the high degree of concentration in the sector.

The above is consistent with NMa's policy of focusing its activities more sharply on a number of important sectors. The choice of sectors on which NMa concentrates is determined, for instance , by the complaints and tips NMa receives, the competitive structure of the sector and its importance to the economy and to consumers.