27.01.2025 09:52
The President of the Bursa Consumer Association, Sıtkı Yılmaz, stated that banks collect an annual fee of 65 billion TL for credit cards, drawing attention to the issues faced by consumers. Yılmaz emphasized the need for consumer protection and legal support.
The President of the Bursa Consumer Association, Sıtkı Yılmaz, pointed out that banks are charging fees under the name of annual dues and giving consumers limits that exceed their income, stating that consumers need to be protected regarding credit card fees and card limits.
Credit cards continue to be one of Turkey's and consumers' fundamental problems. In Turkey, where banks collect 65 billion TL in credit card fees each year, consumers who rely on card usage for their monthly living expenses are struggling due to high interest rates and the additional amounts collected annually under the name of card fees.
The President of the Bursa Consumers Association, Sıtkı Yılmaz, said, "Consumers are facing many problems through credit cards because credit cards have become a means of living in our country. Therefore, despite paying high interest rates, the fact that banks also demand fees under the name of annual card dues has put our consumers in a more difficult situation."
"CONSUMER REQUESTS ARE BEING REJECTED"
Yılmaz, who stated that legal support should be obtained from associations, said, "Recently, there have been consumers constantly calling our association about the fees collected for credit cards that cannot be refunded. I regret to inform you that, in accordance with the communiqué published by the Central Bank, consumer requests regarding the collection of annual card fees are being rejected by arbitration boards. If our consumers have requests for the refund of their credit card fees, it would be much more appropriate for them to apply for legal support from the association."
"WE CLAIM IT IS NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONSUMER PROTECTION LAW"
Yılmaz stated that no fees can be charged for credit cards that have been inactive for 6 months, saying, "Fees cannot be charged for credit cards offered to consumers without their requests. In other cases, even if there are regulations regarding the collection of fees based on the regulations and the Central Bank communiqué concerning financial consumers, our association's view is that the implementation of the communiqué and regulations should be in accordance with the spirit of the law after obtaining the opinion of the ministry regarding the protection of consumers. We claim that it is not in accordance with the consumer protection law."
"65 BILLION TL ANNUAL CARD FEES ARE COLLECTED"
If banks must charge consumers a card fee, Yılmaz stated that they should do so while presenting the cost, saying, "There are nearly 130 million credit cards in our country. If at least 1 TL is charged, it amounts to 130 million TL. Considering 130 million credit cards and assuming the lowest limit is over 500, it means that approximately 65 billion TL in annual card fees is being collected. As consumer organizations, if banks must charge consumers a card fee, they can collect it while presenting the cost of the card. We say they should collect it every 3 years, as the usage period of a credit card is 3 years."
"CONSUMERS DO NOT HAVE LIMITS BASED ON THEIR ANNUAL REAL INCOMES"
Yılmaz stated that according to the law, banks cannot give limits exceeding twice the first year's income and four times the second year's income, saying, "When a consumer applies for a credit card, banks are obliged to at least inform the consumer about a free card, but according to many complaints we receive from consumers, they are unaware of the free credit card and have not been informed about it. These consumers state that they are charged fees on credit cards with dues. When a credit card is obtained, it is seen that many consumers have multiple credit cards. These cards do not have limits based on their annual real incomes. According to the article of the banking and credit card law, a consumer cannot be given a limit exceeding twice their real income in the first year and four times in the second year," he said.
"CONSUMER PROTECTION IS NECESSARY"
Yılmaz stated that banks increase limits without any request, saying, "How can they explain the 10 cards a consumer has? Therefore, just to exploit the consumer, they take undeserved money from consumers by increasing the limits of the cards they want in the way they want. I receive messages from banks every year saying that they have increased my limit without my request, and I object. However, many consumers are forced to pay these fees to sustain their lives because they need them. Therefore, consumer protection is necessary," he said.