Abstract EN:

The electronic purse is a pre-paid card as a paiment instrument, similar in appearance to a debit or credit card, with a micrichip that allows a monetary value to be loaded and stored. The value can be disbursed in whole or in parts to others, usually for the provision of goods and services. The development of multi-purpose cards is relively recent. Most schemes are still at the planning or trial stage and there is little public awareness let alone use of such cards. However, narket research conducted for proposed issuers of cards is said to give great encouragment and it is the common view that within the next few years there will be a rapid growth in the use of pre-paid cards. There are numerous commercial advantages in handling electronic value rather than cash and if public confidence can be maintained, there is reason to believe that pre-paid cards will become a popular means of paiment. The novelty of the electronic purse means that generally they have not been specfically provided for in current laws and regulations. Most of the the countries studied have no legislation drawn with the intention that it should apply to pre-paid cards. Difficult questions of interpretation arise when considering whether existing laws apply to the operation of pre-paid cards wich in somecases, give rise to uncertainties and anomalies.