Answering calls from banks costs 3 liras for customers

Erkan Çelebi ISTANBUL / Hürriyet

Some banks are demanding their customers to pay 3 liras for the call and text message information service they receive from the banks. AA photo

Turkish lenders are continuing to introduce new commission items, as it appears that customers have started to be charged for received calls, despite the growing backlash against banks’ non-interest revenue.

A number of banks impose fees of 3 Turkish Liras when they call their customers to warn them of their approaching debt payment deadline. Banks are also set to charge 3 liras for SMS texts warning customers, as of Sept. 1.

Non-interest revenue items doubles

Revenues in the form of commissions and fees have been the basis of harsh criticism from Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan toward private banks as well as customers’ complaints.

The Customs and Trade Ministry has been working on a scheme recently aimed at soothing public objections.

Banks’ non-interest revenue items, which numbered 31 last year, have more than doubled in a year and now stand at 65. Non-interest revenues have also jumped by 19.4 percent, surpassing 11 billion liras, according to a June report released by banking watchdog BDDK.

Despite potential negative reaction, lenders seem like undeterred by the government’s efforts to limit commission charges. In addition to charging their customers for the information services provided, some banks are also set to raise the commission rate they obtain from bank statements showing spending with foreign currencies to 2 percent from Aug. 28. This means customers will pay more when they use their credit card abroad, as the banks will charge an additional fee for the translation of the foreign currency in the receipt.

Moreover, after Aug. 28, banks will charge higher shipping fees for new credit or bank cards and will receive commission from several additional money transfer transactions.