cross-posted from: https://slrpnk.net/post/30909420 > According to the linked leaflet, the EU’s payment services directive ensures that “You can no longer be charged extra costs by a merchant when you pay using a card issued in the EU.” But they neglect to extend reciprocity to cash payers. > > Incidentally, this exacerbates adversely discriminatory treatment of Americans who face uniquely poor treatment by banks. Cash is the sole notable refuge from shitty banks. > > Upcharging cash payers violates human rights. This is not only attributed to banks discriminating on the basis of nationality. We have a human right to: > - self-determinism > - autonomy > - consumer protection > - privacy > > Penalising cash payers is an assault on any consumer who exercises their self-deterministic right to live autonomous and independent from banks. > > No consumer protection is more important than the right to opt out of a transaction. It’s the only consumer protection that one can give themself without relying on others. Surcharging consumers who opt out of banking is an attack on that option. It puts a price on consumer protection. > > Banking inherently entails abuse of privacy. The digital footprint is huge and undermins data minimisation rights. >