WRITTEN QUESTION P-2751/02 by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission. Travellers Cheques.
Date: 2002-09-24
Institutions: European Parliament, Provisional data
Subjects: advertising malpractice, bank charges, cheque, law on negotiable instruments, money, payment, travel

C 222 E/16

Official Journal of the European Union

EN

18.9.2003

(2003/C 222 E/018)

WRITTEN QUESTION P-2751/02

by Michael Cashman (PSE) to the Commission

(24 September 2002)

Subject: Travellers Cheques

Is the Commission aware that, whilst euro Travellers Cheques are being promoted as a safe and sensible
way of carrying one’s holiday money, this is not the case in some countries, such as Germany and Majorca,
where people have found that shops and businesses would not take them, claiming that they had not even
seen them before? Moreover, is the Commission aware that even foreign banks demand a commission of
18-20 % on euro Travellers Cheques?

Can the Commission state what legislation and regulations are currently in place to protect citizens against
such conduct on the part of business and banks and also on the part of agents such as post offices that
strongly advise people to take Travellers Cheques notwithstanding? Can the Commission confirm that it
will look into this matter and comment on whether it plans to take any action on this issue?

Answer given by Mr Bolkestein on behalf of the Commission

(16 October 2002)

A traveller’s cheque is a private payment instrument issued by a financial institution which represents a
sum of money. It can be used for purchases in shops, hotels, etc. or converted into cash at a bank or
specialised agency.

It is a payment instrument which is not legal tender. This means in particular that no bank is obliged to
accept a traveller’s cheque. If a bank does accept it, it is free to set the level of charges for the service.

There is no specific Community legislation on cheques or traveller’s cheques and the Commission does not
intend to take action in this field.

The issues raised can be dealt with by means of general legislation. Advertising by issuers can be assessed
in the light of the legislation on misleading advertising (1). Information on charges for using traveller’s
cheques comes under national legislation on advertising the price of services.

(1) Council Directive 84/450/EEC of 10 September 1984 relating to the approximation of the laws, regulations and

administrative provisions of the Member States concerning misleading advertising (cid:1) OJ L 250, 19.9.1984.

(2003/C 222 E/019)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2761/02

by Bart Staes (Verts/ALE) to the Commission

(1 October 2002)

Subject: Languages used to answer 112 calls

In its answer to Written Question E-0176/02 (1), the Commission indicates that ‘EU law lays down no
obligations as regards the languages operators use to answer 112 calls. In practice, operators answer in
their country’s official language(s) and, in nearly all Member States, in English too’.

During a seminar held in Luxembourg on 10/11 May 2002 on the use of the emergency telephone
number, it appeared that the ability to speak more than one language (cid:1) or rather the lack thereof (cid:1) of
callers and operators was still causing problems. In instances where the caller and operator do not
understand each other properly when emergency calls are made, much valuable time is lost.