I make no apology for replying to the letter by Mario Tabone, Financial Controller of Chef's Choice in Żabbar (Decision On Payment By Debit Card, March 12), but feel constrained to do so in response to the comment "Mr Kay is notorious in our establishment for his attention to detail, scrutiny and frequent comments..."

This is the first and only occasion I have been motivated to comment either directly or indirectly to staff or management, so the comment above is false.

I commend the shop floor staff and in particular the cashier who thought it reasonable to make the transaction regardless of the amount, when she realised my wife would have left the items on the counter. There is a particular absence of comment in Mr Tabone's reply addressing the policy of a €20 minimum payment by debit card and the cashier's refusal to accept it.

It is most unlikely this could be sustained in law.

As has been said elsewhere, a transaction by debit card is a cash transaction, and to do otherwise is likely to be a breach of the contract the merchant has with the bank in question, which has offered the facility in order to increase its business.

I apologise to the correspondent for not approaching the management "cap in hand" for permission to make payment by the method we choose, and would never be dictated to as to what that amount should be.