Card payment sucharges banned in Australia from 2026

[SeaWolf]

Here is a workaround

It's OK I'm pretty sure it's AI!

(and you'd be surprised how far back I've held my phone from a terminal and had the payment succeed, so it looks like there'd be plenty of room above that plastic box)

Here's the source for that pic, a Facebook page called "The Local Situation":

Facebook

www.facebook.com

I'm sceptical about its authenticity as well, given that page's description is "Real local issues with a satirical edge."

 

[Pushka]

Here is a workaround

View attachment 523613

And read that people are simply holding it open for the next person. Likely AI though.

I asked a vendor today if they were offerening discount for cash. Their response - cash is still currency. . So I paid by card.

 

[VPS]

Just went to my local açai bar. Special fee added. I asked the girl and she said a couple of people had commented and I said well I think you need to tell your boss he’s going to get into trouble.

 

[transpactraveller]

The overall price charged at small business places where surcharges were applied ought fall because the interchange fees are capped at 0.3% instead of 0.8%

For those who did NOT surcharge they ought not need to raise prices as that savings ought flow into their savings account

Of course, we’ll all get played for fools and prices most likely will rise

In theory prices should drop for all those places that didn't surcharge before - they already had the fees included in their prices, and those fees have dropped from today!

 

[Buzzard]

Shopping around

How far can you walk in an hour ?
Petrol prices all over the shop

Convenience versus going out of your way to your favourite cafe …. Hmmm

No mortgage ? Fly frequently ?
20 cents extra will not break the bank

Prices for a coffee around where I live vary from $4.50 to $6.00. The guy charging the highest price has been around for about 10 years. He doesn't even have a loyalty card like some of the less expensive places. His coffee is 10/10 every time and people keep flocking there. People will pay if the product is good.

 

[Quickstatus]

discount for cash

I wouldn't lest some disgruntled customer reports me to the ATo for giving cash discounts

 

[Quickstatus]

And:

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Just went to my local açai bar. Special fee added. I asked the girl and she said a couple of people had commented and I said well I think you need to tell your boss he’s going to get into trouble.

I'd have refused payment at that point and walked away.

 

[Buzzard]

On Saturday I have to ring our travel agent and pay the remaining few thousand dollars for a cruise we have booked. Previously there was always a small CC surcharge. Will they still accept card payment or will I be told to do a transfer?
I've always been happy to pay the surcharge as my CC provided me with travel insurance.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

On Saturday I have to ring our travel agent and pay the remaining few thousand dollars for a cruise we have booked. Previously there was always a small CC surcharge. Will they still accept card payment or will I be told to do a transfer?
I've always been happy to pay the surcharge as my CC provided me with travel insurance.

If they refuse just inform them it's your final booking with their agency. Note they are receiving 10% plus as commission on the cruise

 

[Ade]

On Saturday I have to ring our travel agent and pay the remaining few thousand dollars for a cruise we have booked. Previously there was always a small CC surcharge. Will they still accept card payment or will I be told to do a transfer?
I've always been happy to pay the surcharge as my CC provided me with travel insurance.

I'm sure they'd accept, but there might be a platform fee added to your bill ... that is what I did today with my TA. They had 1.2% platform fee to use the online platform to collect my fare ...

 

[Buzzard]

 

[SeatBackForward]

What a crazy time we live in, when you have to pay, to then pay someone.

I question how we let financial service providers become the masters of our economy - they deal in the transfer and exchange of money. MONEY is not supposed to have any intrinsic value of itself other than as a medium of exchange for effort and value for the items being exchanged.

Yet here we are, where those who control that exchange can extract value by moving around something that itself has no value.

 

[levelnine]

Lots of great photos going around today:

 

[CaptJCool]

These same folk who recycled cold hard cash around the place for FREE then got icky about electronic transactions and made them NOT free

 

[transpactraveller]

Lots of great photos going around today:

View attachment 523618

A service fee that applies to all purchases has been illegal since 2011 under Australian Consumer Law.

Unfortunately businesses break the law all the time with no penalty.

 

[SeaWolf]

Lots of great photos going around today:

Yeah, that 1.7% Service Fee is clearly illegal unless it's included in the displayed price. You should report them.

Price displays

Businesses must display clear and accurate prices, and must not mislead consumers about their prices. There are specific laws about how businesses must display their prices.

www.accc.gov.au

 

[CaptJCool]

Monday is a public holiday
It’s a weekend as well

Weekend surcharge was 10% now 11.7%
Public holiday surcharge was 15% now 16.7%
Problem solved

 

[Pushka]

I wouldn't lest some disgruntled customer reports me to the ATo for giving cash discounts

If it goes through the till then is it illegal? And is there a new law to prevent that? Still registers for company tax and GST.

 

[transpactraveller]

I wouldn't lest some disgruntled customer reports me to the ATo for giving cash discounts

Cash discounts are legal, as long as you still record the sale and provide a receipt / tax invoice.

Adding a blanket 'service fee' that applies to all purchases is not legal. But enforcement is weak.