Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1516790
16 NEWS maltatoday | SUNDAY • 3 MARCH 2024 KURT SANSONE ksansone@mediatoday.com.mt TRANSPORT Malta and Identi- ty Malta's searches unit are two government entities that refuse cash and only accept card pay- ments for services rendered. But this policy prohibiting cash payments is not only causing in- convenience to some clients but is also against the law. A spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, which is responsible for the public ser- vice, said there is no govern- ment-wide directive prohibiting cash payments. "Any entity acting otherwise is falling foul of the law," he said. "Cash is legal tender in Malta, and cannot be refuted as pay- ment, as long as it is within the statutory limits applicable to cer- tain transactions," the spokes- person said. The issue stems from several complaints received by MaltaTo- day from clients who required a service from the two entities and were caught by surprise when they were informed by clerks that cash is not being accepted. One irate client was left ruing his fate after being denied the option to pay in cash for docu- ments he requested from Iden- tity Malta's searches unit. "I was given the lame excuse that the bank with which the entity had an account was not accepting small change," the client said. "I eventually paid by card but I could not but feel sorry for an el- derly lady who was in the queue next to me who had no card and was left asking herself how she could pay." It is unclear whether Transport Malta and Identity Malta are the only two government entities that have adopted a no-cash pol- icy. Asked specifically whether these entities will be instructed to accept cash payments as well, the spokesperson did not reply. Cash remains legal tender with the only restriction being on pur- chases of €10,000 and higher that involve cars, objects of art, prop- erty and other valuable items. The cash restriction on these high-end luxury products is to stamp out money laundering. Government entities that refuse cash payments falling foul of the law "I was given the lame excuse that the bank with which the entity had an account was not accepting small change,"