Card Payment Surcharges Banned in Australia from 2026

[Mr_Orange]

The small Japanese food outlet in my office building is compliant and has not increased their prices.

 

[esquire]

Yes. And agree. Which is why I'm concerned that SA govt authorities will follow suit. But the messaging was mucky. Not so much theirs but, well, can't get political.

Wondering why they cannot give Government payments an exemption then? - I was reading that they did with Taxis - they can still charge up to 5% CC fee. What makes them so special ?

 

[Mr_Orange]

What makes them so special ?

Nothing, IMO. Why was the Cabcharge surcharge only reduced to 5% and not inline with others to reflect the actual cost of acceptance?

Of course, it should also be removed.

 

[dairyfloss]

Local Sushi Train joining in the fun - loving all the savings from cutting the card surcharges!

 

[Mr_Orange]

Local Sushi Train joining in the fun - loving all the savings from cutting the card surcharges!

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Sushi Train is a rip-off anyway so this will just push more people away.

Once these muppet business owners realise that their revenue has dropped through lower patronage, I suspect there will be reversals of some of these decisions.

It's cynical to pin such changes to 1st October, implying that the removal of card surcharges are what forced them, when, in fact, their card acceptance costs decreased.

 

[transpactraveller]

In a "cost of living crisis" it does surprise me that fancy restaurants and cafes with weekend surcharges are still full with more than enough people willing and able to pay.

 

[lovestotravel]

In a "cost of living crisis" it does surprise me that fancy restaurants and cafes with weekend surcharges are still full with more than enough people willing and able to pay.

Why ? Only 35% of households have a mortgage. It's only those and some renters that are struggling.

30% of so rent, leaving 30% of people who are enjoying higher interest rates

I couldn't care less about a weekend surcharge, proving the staff are paid correctly

 

[SeaWolf]

Local Sushi Train joining in the fun - loving all the savings from cutting the card surcharges!

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Are you going to bother shopping around though? I mean, that area does have a few choices nearby.

 

[Happy Dude]

In a "cost of living crisis" it does surprise me that fancy restaurants and cafes with weekend surcharges are still full with more than enough people willing and able to pay.

"Cost of housing crisis" might be closer to the nub. Too much discretionary spending is feeding inflation which is affecting housing. Plenty do not having housing costs to worry about and have not/will not change spending even if prices have risen.

 

[Zero]

Wondering why they cannot give Government payments an exemption then? - I was reading that they did with Taxis - they can still charge up to 5% CC fee. What makes them so special ?

Nothing, IMO. Why was the Cabcharge surcharge only reduced to 5% and not inline with others to reflect the actual cost of acceptance?

Of course, it should also be removed.

Because taxi surcharges are regulated by each state and not the RBA/federal govt.

 

[dairyfloss]

Are you going to bother shopping around though? I mean, that area does have a few choices nearby.
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Nope. The additional costs don’t particularly bother me - it’s the stripping of card benefits for falsified savings (+ increased fees) that gets my goat!

 

[drron]

In a "cost of living crisis" it does surprise me that fancy restaurants and cafes with weekend surcharges are still full with more than enough people willing and able to pay.

And according to the ACCC weekend surcharges don’t have to be included in the price charged as long as it’s mentioned in person or on the menu. They have nothing to do with CC surcharges.