Card payment sucharges banned in Australia from 2026

[Saab34]

I find it amusing that people think that with the RBA banning these surcharges, that they will pay less than they do currently for those goods or services.

The price will just change to incorporate what the business was used to taking in - maybe even a little higher, after rounding - and other than deciding to buy elsewhere (who would also have increased their prices), there is nothing you can do about it. It’s just a waste of time, and taxes… again.

At least you’ll be able to marry up the cost on the sticker with the cost on your statement though

That’s is. Especially with airlines, back in the day when they had to walk away from the ‘per passenger per sector’ rort, fares went up the next day, and they have been ever since.

 

[transpactraveller]

Could a business keep surcharging by instead offering a cash discount instead of a card surcharge?

For example, Today you might buy a $5 coffee, tap your card and get charged $5.10.

After October, they'll update the price to $5.10, you tap your card and still pay $5.10.

But could they put up a sign that, for example, says "Coffee - $5.10 - or $5 cash only price"

Taking us back to exactly where we were before the ban, just advertised in the opposite way.

Would that be legal?

 

[CaptJCool]

Convenience ….
I doubt anyone walked out over a surcharge and took ‘all’ their business elsewhere

Just as despite fuel getting a price shock adding $40-50 to a tank of petrol, it didn’t won’t stop buying behaviour

With all these things, was good while it lasted.

The trouble with one-sided loyalty expected of a repeat customer is that with the constant changing by the business of the “loyalty” offer, that aside the diehards, everyone else “jumps ship”

What’s free lounge access worth ?
A bottle of champagne?
$55 given the offers to buy access
Or the extra cost of the actual ticket

 

[justinbrett]

I find it amusing that people think that with the RBA banning these surcharges, that they will pay less than they do currently for those goods or services.

The price will just change to incorporate what the business was used to taking in - maybe even a little higher, after rounding - and other than deciding to buy elsewhere (who would also have increased their prices), there is nothing you can do about it. It’s just a waste of time, and taxes… again.

At least you’ll be able to marry up the cost on the sticker with the cost on your statement though

Well, currently it's illegal to have a surcharge that is more than the cost of accepting the card.

The thinking is (I believe), RBA caps interchange fees, which makes it cheaper to accept the cards, so retailers don't need to put a surcharge on.

That said, most of of the surcharges that exist today are more than the current interchange cap, so there will be a cut to the business as well.

 

[AuSammy]

Well, currently it's illegal to have a surcharge that is more than the cost of accepting the card.

Illegal but it doesn't stop many businesses doing it. Particularly smaller/medium ones that think they will get away with it.

 

[SimonR32]

Food for thought, currently the ATO surcharge credit card payments., I assume this will be going?

Then with AMEX and business surcharges not involved, could be a potential to pay ATO bills and receive points at no cost?

 

[Aeryn]

Although many cards provide 0 point for government payments and others only 50% of the usual earn rate.

 

[Happy Dude]

Although many cards provide 0 point for government payments and others only 50% of the usual earn rate.

Sniip, Yakpay etc will still be an option I guess. Be interesting see what happens with cards that pay points for rent. Maybe lots of things will be added to the no points list.

 

[Berlin]

Illegal but it doesn't stop many businesses doing it. Particularly smaller/medium ones that think they will get away with it.

Not only those- hotels are my biggest bug bear! I often have fees in excess of $100 on my hotel invoices, just because they can (almost exclusively Hyatt or other big Global chains). Here in AU and NZ only that is- nowhere else in the world so given my particular spending habits, this alone will make it a good change for me.

 

[transpactraveller]

The hotel ones have always confused me, these big global hotel chains that don't surcharge anywhere else in the world, but in Australia/NZ they are adding often 2-3% to your bill (without being upfront about it, and without offering any alternative surcharge-free way of paying).

A few times I thought they must have charged me for things from the mini-bar that I didn't take, checked the invoice, and see it's a $50 card surcharge. Makes by blood boil. So glad it's going.