[noss]

I've asked the Swedish Competition Authority (konkurrensverket) by email why such agreements are legal. A merchant obviously has more to lose by not offering card payments, so they're in the weaker position.

The authority seemed to be uninterested, like they didn't want to do anything that impede the grow of card payments over cash. Cash being quite expensive since it is "robbable".

The price of a product is set with product cost + average transaction cost. If I pay with a card that has a transaction cost under average, I'm paying for the benefits given to owners of cards that have transaction costs above the average.

Hence, I have much to win from getting a card that has a very high transaction cost and gives me many fringes. Merchants see average transaction costs rise...