×

German antitrust authority says PayPal practices may restrict competition

By Thomson Reuters Nov 11, 2026 | 3:55 AM

FRANKFURT, Nov 11 (Reuters) – Germany’s antitrust authority, the ​Federal Cartel ‌Office, said on Wednesday that PayPal’s prohibition against ‌online ​merchants charging ⁠customers extra ⁠fees to use the payment method may restrict ​competition and violate the ⁠law.

• PayPal ⁠didn’t immediately ​respond to a ​request for comment.

• “According to ‌the Bundeskartellamt’s preliminary assessment, this prohibition could ⁠restrict competition between various payment services and ⁠violate ‌competition law,” ⁠the cartel ​office ‌said, referring ​to itself ⁠by its German name.

(Reporting by Tom Sims, editing by Thomas ​Seythal)