Thank you for your question, Mr. Carrier.
Option consommateurs' recommendations can also be very strong if you wish. According to everything you have heard over the past two or three weeks, regulations dealing with electronic payment systems are deficient. For years now we have been recommending that this sector be regulated so that the responsibilities and interests of all parties be clearly defined.
As I already stated, users of Interac cards and users of credit cards are not equally protected, which is dangerous. Furthermore, information has to be provided and emphasis has to be put on certain points, for example, the impact of minimum payments, interest rates and so on. Providing too much information does not help the consumer especially if they already have problems in understanding their statements.
That is why providing consumers with interchange fees information does not give them any more power or protection. Measures have to be passed that will protect consumers. Regulations were tabled by the Minister of Finance. We do not agree with all these regulations, because we feel they lack substance, especially in terms of over-limit fees. We cannot fathom why a bank is not able to call a merchant in order to tell them Ms. so and so is going beyond her credit limit and to please not authorize any more purchases.