Card Surcharge Ban Australia: Saying Goodbye to Sneaky Payment Fees
Tired of paying extra fees just to tap your card? Discover how the upcoming card surcharge ban in Australia will finally kill these annoying charges.
Why are I still tapping my cards and paying credit and debit card surcharge Australia fees at the checkout? There is nothing more annoying than seeing an advertised price, tapping your card, and then spotting a sneaky extra charge on your receipt.
If you haven't noticed this yet, check your receipt next time you buy a coffee. You'll likely see a random extra 6c to 15c tacked onto the cost. It might seem small, but over a year of coffees, lunches, and groceries, it adds up to a serious sum.
The UK banned card surcharges way back in 2018. Over there, the price you see is the price you pay. Simple, fair, and logical. So why is Australia so far behind?
Thankfully, the tides are turning. The government and the RBA have announced a landmark card surcharge ban Australia slated to start on October 1, 2026. This reform will outlaw surcharges on major card networks like eftpos, Visa, and Mastercard.
Until that glorious day arrives, current credit card surcharge laws only prohibit "excessive" surcharging. Merchants are only allowed to pass on the actual cost they pay to process the transaction. If you want to keep the pressure on regulators and support the reforms, you can still sign the Choice petition.
As Choice rightly says:
I should be able to trust that the price advertised is the price I’ll pay at the checkout.
How to avoid card payment fees?
If you want to avoid card payment fees right now, your options are either carrying cash or using bank-to-bank transfer networks. In Australia, the New Payments Platform (NPP) powers services like PayID and PayTo. These methods bypass traditional card rails entirely, allowing you to transfer funds directly from your bank account without the merchant paying processing fees.
If more Australian businesses adopted PayTo or mobile QR payments (similar to Pix in Brazil or PayNow in Singapore), I could bypass Visa and Mastercard altogether. Until then, keep an eye on your receipts and get ready for October 2026!
