Pubs acting fairly in euro switch, say publicans

Publicans are treating customers fairly in relation to the euro changeover, the organisations representing the licensed trade say - and the Director of Consumers Affairs is backing their claims.

A lot of people were liberating their piggy banks and jam jars and that can be disruptive to the business. Mr Frank Fell, chief executive of Licenced Vintners Association

Following negative publicity suggesting some public houses were not accepting the punt, the Consumers Association investigated complaints and found that in the majority of cases pubs were complying with their obligations and were providing exchange facilities.

The Director of Consumer Affairs, Ms Carmel Foley, said: "Feedback from my inspectors throughout the country and from calls to my office, suggest that there are no major problems emerging."

She said, however, that she was worried that some retailers were only accepting euro which is in contravention of their obligation to accept both currencies until February 9th.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland chief executive, Mr Tadg O’Sullivan welcomed Ms Foley’s comments saying that accusations of pubs not dealing in punts were shown to be unfounded.

"Earlier comments made by the Director of Consumer Affairs were unhelpful. When her offices eventually looked into the matter it was found that the claims were related to consumer misunderstandings rather than incorrect practices by traders," Mr O’Sullivan said.

Mr Frank Fell, chief executive of Licenced Vintners Association, said problems reported in pubs related to people wishing to use the public house as a bank on New Year’s Day.

"A lot of people were liberating their piggy banks and jam jars and that can be disruptive to the business," Mr Fell said.

He said the failure of the banks to open on New Year’s Day led to many people exchanging large amounts of Irish coin at the exchange desks pubs had set up.

Some pubs reported as much as £40 in change being exchanged for euro with one publican reporting that a customer wished to exchange a bucketful of coins.

Ms Foley sounded a sympathetic tone when she reminded the public that banks would continue to exchange Irish for Euro for a several weeks: "I would urge consumers to be patient and use the [retailer’s exchange] facility where provided but to be realistic in their expectations of what retailers can offer".