Card payment sucharges banned in Australia from 2026

[transpactraveller]

I always laugh at generic surcharge signs like that... "thanks for helping us keep our prices lower" ... by paying us a higher price, at a mystery amount, because we didn't bother putting it on the sign!

Then you ask the staff and they have no idea and say stuff like "no one else has ever asked that" to make you feel like you're a bad person for even questioning it.

Especially annoying at places where paying by cash isn't easy. The last few restaurants we've tried to pay by cash and they make a fuss about having to get a manager to get change, or they don't have any change, encouraging you to pay by card (with surcharge) or to tell them to just keep the change.

 

[simmomelb]

They legally need to state the exact percentage clearly, at least on a sign, at the point of payment (even the screen on the payment terminal would suffice).

Although looking at that filthy sign, I'm not sure I'd be eating there, full stop

 

[VPS]

They legally need to state the exact percentage clearly, at least on a sign, and the point of payment.
Whether that be at a register or elsewhere, it cannot be hidden.
Although looking at that filthy sign, I'm not sure I'd be eating there, full stop

I can't find the pertinent details from the RBA - if you have the link I'd appreciate it.

And yes that was a butcher in the central market in Adelaide and I won't be going back

 

[simmomelb]

I can't find the pertinent details from the RBA - if you have the link I'd appreciate it.

And yes that was a butcher in the central market in Adelaide and I won't be going back

Scroll right down and you'll find info on it clearly being displayed...
In other words, as long as it's not considered, hidden, and obvious before making payment, that's acceptable.

Card surcharges

Businesses can charge a surcharge for paying by card, but the surcharge must not be more than what it costs the business to process that payment type.

www.accc.gov.au

 

[DC3]

… that was a butcher in the central market in Adelaide and I won't be going back

 

[Happy Dude]

Just want to clarify

If I am in a restaurant and they bring the card machine up and I say my share is $100 are they obliged to tell you their is a surcharge and how much it is?

In another scenario with this picture - is the onus on the customer to ask what % surcharges are

View attachment 488787

Holy cough! That sign reads like they actually have to surcharge. And that they're doing it to help us.

 

[simmomelb]

I can't find the pertinent details from the RBA - if you have the link I'd appreciate it.

And yes that was a butcher in the central market in Adelaide and I won't be going back

Also, they must offer a payment method to avoid additional surcharges on top of the advertised price, such as cash, bank transfer, debit card etc

 

[Mr_Orange]

debit card

This isn't a free option. EFTPOS is supposed to be but, with even state governments (QLD) charging for EFTPOS and advertising as such, there is no hope of not paying a surcharge unless the RBA wakes the f up and sorts this mess out.

 

[LondonAussie]

Perhaps some of the RBA boffins are in the European alps over the Christmas holidays and it might dawn on them that they have never seen a card surcharge outside of Australia and that they might be doing it wrong back home.

 

[simmomelb]

This isn't a free option. EFTPOS is supposed to be but, with even state governments (QLD) charging for EFTPOS and advertising as such, there is no hope of not paying a surcharge unless the RBA wakes the f up and sorts this mess out.

Under federal Australian law, all retailers must allow you to purchase any product or service at the ticketed (advertised) price. Has been this way for several years now. Plenty of info online about this.
Hence why Qantas, Virgin Australia, Aldi etc all offer ways to pay the exact advertised price.
It doesn't have to be EFTPOS, But there has to be 1 method to pay the advertised price.
VA and Qantas do this with PayID transfers (bank transfers) Aldi is via cash.
Advertising a price that cannot be obtained at that exact price by at least 1 payment method is illegal and can be reported to the ACCC. Nothing to do with the RBA. Advertising guidelines fall under the ACCC.
Some small retailers don't follow the law (likely because they don't understand it), I've seen this a couple of times, but most comply.
I've not seen any large organisations not comply.

 

[Zero]

Perhaps some of the RBA boffins are in the European alps over the Christmas holidays and it might dawn on them that they have never seen a card surcharge outside of Australia and that they might be doing it wrong back home.

They probably pay 3% international fees on their cards because they haven't bothered to investigate alternatives

 

[Mr_Orange]

They probably pay 3% international fees on their cards because they haven't bothered to investigate alternatives

They are probably claiming on expenses anyway so wouldn't even care!

 

[VPS]

From my perspective I'm happy about the changes because it'll make things a lot less fiddly. When I'm presented with a card surcharge I'm basically being given a choice:

• Pay the surcharge and, in effect, pay for the points
• Pay surcharge free (usually cash, sometimes EFTPOS) and skip the points

So, if the surcharge is less than 1% the points are perhaps, possibly worth it, otherwise not. It means every transaction I'm having to choose which card to use, depending on if there's a surcharge and what it is.

I've ended up adding a HSBC debit card to my wallet because it give 2% cashback on tap-and-pay transactions under $100. That way I know for certain that I'm offsetting the surcharge and no worse off than if I'd paid in cash. I haven't encountered a surcharge above 2% yet but they've definitely been creeping up and getting closer and closer. With the points, the value is a bit more variable and ephemeral.

Just checking with this. I presume you have to add $2000 a month. Can you put it in and take it out again on the same day?

 

[dajop]

I'm in and out of Australia all the time, every time I come back I notice that one type of surcharging has become even more common than the past.

That is .... no display of the % and no display that there is even a surcharge. It's sort of like now if you're in hospitality the default is surcharge a random percentage but don't display the fact you're charging a surcharge. Occasionally you see a warning on the terminal in 4pt font.

 

[LondonAussie]

It’s very noticeable when you’re out of Australia for a long time and then come back to visit. It’s been worse every visit, more surcharges, less transparency.

The strangest part is how all my friends and family who rarely leave Australia have all come to accept this as normal and don’t question why they got charged a different amount to what was shown on the screen.

 

[Zero]

Just checking with this. I presume you have to add $2000 a month. Can you put it in and take it out again on the same day?

Yes

 

[VPS]

Yes

Thanks for that