Lithuanians apply to VVTAT over change given in litas

A number of Lithuanians have already applied to the State Consumer Rights Protection Authority (VVTAT) because they have been given their change in litas rather than in euros at some of the major shopping centres.

VVTAT head Feliksas Petrauskas says that by acting in this way businesses are violating paragraph 4 of Article 26 of the Law on the Euro Adoption in the Republic of Lithuania, where it says that for two weeks following the euro adoption date change must be given in euro, except for the cases established in paragraphs 6 and 7 of the Article or if there are sound reasons why it is impossible for this to be done.

There are only a few exceptions, a number of which  apply to payment in taxis or on public transport: in such situations, although it should be aimed to give change in euros if the payment is made in litas, it is also possible to give change in litas. 

The authority warns that these exceptions are applied only to small- and medium-scale businesses and they should not be abused by large companies.

Lithuania's Ministry of Finance also reminded people that businesses can make use of these exceptions only in very exceptional cases, every single of which has to be justified by evidence.

"Cases when change to customers is given in litas in the major shopping centres will not be tolerated. The State Consumer Rights Protection Authority has been authorised to monitor the extent of giving change in litas in the biggest shopping centres over the weekend and, if necessary, they will be taking all legal measures to prevent the abuse of these exceptions," said Minister of Finance Rimantas Sadzius.

Natural persons breaching this law will be given a warning, or a fine of up to 1,000 litas (289 euros). Repeated breaches of the law will be punished with a fine of between 1,000 and 10,000 litas (between 289 and 2,898 euros)

Lithuania adopted the euro on Jan 1 this year, replacing its previous currency, the litas, which had been in use since 1993. From Jan 15 onwards, only euros can be used in payment.