The increase in electronic invoices due to the recommendation of the coronavirus has left small businesses with heaps of pounds of additional fees per month.
Restaurateurs also reported that the expansion of takeaways amounted to thousands of pounds.
And some bartenders said they couldn’t afford table order request fees.
Stefano Rossi, owner of Stefano’s Fish and Chips on Morningside in Edinburgh, said his source of income “dropped to nothing.”
He said: “Before the blockade, I paid about 40 euros a month on the card device fee, but now I pay 400 euros a month.
“I want consumers to start paying with cash back now, because all the fees are crippling my business.
“Some consumers see the signal I’ve put on and ask me if I’m looking to avoid taxes, and I have to tell them I couldn’t be more of the truth.
“I claim everything and the explanation for why my signal is that I just need to avoid all those accusations.”
He added that he has been paying another 550 pounds according to the month on Just Eat rates since the closing began.
“People just don’t realize that when they pay 10 euros for an order for takeaway, we only get 8.10 euros and that’s if we use our own driver,” he said. “Just Eat rates 14% on the order plus a service fee of 50 cents and 35% if you use your controller.
“Delivery order rates are too high now and I invite consumers to start returning to the store and money.”
Nadeem Amgid, owner of Yayas Grillhouse in Colinton Mains in Edinburgh, said there is a catalogue of rates similar to electronic payment.
He said: “People don’t realize it costs us more if they pay electronically and more if they pay by phone.
“Rates vary even depending on the card used through customers.
“I’ve noticed a big difference in my card bill since the lock and now I’m paying 500 euros more in the monthly fee.
“Then there are the third-party delivery rates where you were almost bound to succeed when the closure began because that’s how other people ordered food.
“Before closing, I spent about £600 a month on Just Eat and Uber Eat fares. But since closing, I’ve spent 3,480 euros a month.”
He added: “People think we need cash than card bills for tax reasons, but they don’t. This is because electronic payment rates have become a real burden.”
Antonio Baiano, owner of the Napole Pizzeria restaurant in Corstorphine in Edinburgh, said he only survived because all the members of his family circle had helped him.
He said: “I would like other people to start refunding cash because it costs me a lot right now.
“I didn’t make any deliveries before closing, but now I have to sign up for Just Eat and Uber Eat.
“The more money I make, the more they earn and the more you work, the less you make. I worked 12 hours a day during the lockout, but I saw fewer benefits because I have to pay a lot.
“I gave Just Eat and Uber Eat £2,800 a month.
“Prices are high, but consumers don’t know.”
Zaheer Aslam, of the chattin with Z pro podcast, said: “Small business owners told me they were involved between the fees they pay lately for increased use of card machines and the prices of non-sustainable third-party companies.
“They tell me they need consumers to spend cash again on the spot so they don’t have to pay the highest commissions to third-party companies.
“With more card bills and less cash, they say overheads are too high and say their businesses are suffering enormously.”
Tom Ponton, owner of Oz Bar at Grassmarket Edinburgh, said: “We looked at table applications, but they were too expensive because they have a monthly payment, a payment for each transaction and a user payment for their ATM.”
A Spokesperson for Just Eat said, “Just Eat is only successful if our catering partners are successful and our commission rates are aligned with the price we offer our partners.”
“Through our 30-day Covid-19 emergency assistance program, we have over 11 million pounds of assistance for the thousands of independent restaurants we paint with across the UK.”
Uber Eat has been contacted for comment.