Number “is a myth” – 21 million cashed in with climate bonus? Sodexo fights back

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The Ministry of Climate Protection and the company Sodexo reject criticism of the payment of the climate bonus. The SPÖ recently said that the voucher company Sodexo “earned a lot” and was also concerned about data protection. Sodexo boss Andreas Sticha described the rumored amount of 21 million euros to journalists as a “myth”, according to the ministry. Sodexo received about 7.9 million euros. No minimum purchase quantity has been agreed.

The climate bonus was one of the largest payout campaigns in the history of the Second Republic: from September, all people who had their main residence in Austria for at least six months automatically received the climate bonus. This year there was 500 euros – including inflation correction – for adults, half for children. People whose bank details are unknown or who do not have an account received the bonus in the form of Sodexo vouchers. The vouchers were delivered by RSa letter, which can only be accepted in person or with a power of attorney form – leading to breakdowns and problems.

400,000 should still receive a climate bonus
In total, around 4.08 billion euros will be paid out for 2022. Of the approximately 8.6 million beneficiaries, 7.4 million received the money directly into their account and 1.2 million received vouchers. About 97,000 did not pick up the vouchers at the post office. An estimated 400,000 people have not yet received the climate bonus – such as newborns or people who have moved to Austria, project manager Wolfgang Otter explained at a press conference. You’ll get the money in a second wave of payouts in February. The preparations for this are already in full swing.

The opposition parties are constantly criticizing the climate bonus. Most recently, in a parliamentary question, the SPÖ complained that the automated processing of online financial data was not working for many people in Austria, although they had updated their data on FinanzOnline in a timely manner. “The question arises whether the government allowed itself to be defrauded in this ‘deal’ at the expense of the taxpayer and Sodexo guaranteed a minimum purchase quantity of vouchers,” says the SPÖ. fee of three million euros Processing costs when redeeming – makes 18 million for 600 million voucher euros. “In total, Sodexo should have collected more than 21 million euros from the tax pot through the construction,” criticizes the SPÖ.

Rates sometimes much lower
The 21 million euros is “a myth”, says Sodexo boss Sticha. Because not all of the company’s more than 10,000 so-called underwriting partners pay a three percent processing fee, many companies already have longer contracts with correspondingly lower rates. In addition, you can exchange the voucher in cash at Bank99, there are no processing costs because it is not a sale but a change process. In principle, Sticha defended the fee: they take on marketing services for the “acceptance partners”, for which they charge a fee at the usual market rate. At Sodexo it is not yet possible to say how much is actually earned with the climate bonus vouchers.

According to the Ministry of Climate Protection, 7.91 million euros have been paid to Sodexo – this includes the reported three million. This amount also includes all costs of Sodexo’s partner companies for production, transport, but also transaction costs with the bank partner. Agreements about a minimum purchase or quantity of vouchers “did not exist”, project manager Otter assured. Sticha also tried to address data protection concerns: Sodexo has no access to personal data. He also emphasized that the consortium emerged as the best bidder from a European tender.

The climate bonus will be spread regionally from 2023
The contract with Sodexo has a term of four years. In 2023, the climate bonus will then be spread regionally as originally planned. The first payment wave will take place again in the autumn. While a “great wealth of experience” has now been gained, it would be “presumptuous” to say there is no potential for improvement, Otter realistically admitted. The regionally different amounts would make logistics and processing even more complex.

Source: Krone

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