FAQs for Consumers

From 1 October 2026, businesses in Australia will no longer be permitted to apply card payment surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa cards. In line with policy reforms announced by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), this change is being implemented by designated card networks.

The card networks’ decision to implement ‘no-surcharge rules’ reflects the direction of the RBA’s Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging, which found that card payment surcharging, introduced more than two decades ago, is no longer achieving its intended purpose.

The changes are intended to simplify payments for consumers, improve price transparency, and reduce uncertainty and confusion about payment costs at the point of sale (POS), ensuring the advertised price is what consumers will pay.

A payment surcharge is an additional fee, amount or charge applied by a business because a consumer pays by card. The changes apply to card payment surcharges on eftpos, Mastercard and Visa cards for all in-store, online and digital transactions, including when they are completed by using cards stored in mobile wallets unless otherwise permitted by a card network’s rules (see Question 4).

The RBA's reforms relate specifically to card payment surcharges that are added because a consumer chooses to pay by card, and have acknowledged that other fees or charges may continue to apply.

Examples include:

• Weekend or public holiday surcharges – surcharges that apply to all customers because the service is provided on a Saturday or Sunday or on a public holiday and apply independently of the chosen payment method.
• Booking or service fees – fees charged to all customers that apply independently of the chosen payment method.

Businesses must ensure their pricing is clear and not misleading, including any extra fees or charges. Consumers may report misleading price displays to the ACCC or their local state or terriroty consumer protection agency. See ACCC’s Guidance about changes to card payment surcharges for more information.

The no-surcharge rules implemented by the card networks are expected to apply unless card payment surcharging is expressly permitted by an applicable law or regulation.

Where an applicable law or regulation expressly permits payment surcharges, this will take precedence and sit outside the scope of the new card network no-surcharge rules. For example, the ability for taxis to apply payment surcharges remains the responsibility of state and territory regulators.

The changes apply to card payment surcharges on transactions on designated card networks (eftpos, Mastercard and Visa). Further information is also available at www.cardsurcharge.com.au and on the RBA website.

The changes to card payment surcharging are expected to apply on a broadly consistent basis across card products operating on the three designated card networks (eftpos, Mastercard and Visa), including commercial and corporate cards, personal credit and debit cards, and pre-paid cards.

While not subject to formal regulation by the RBA, American Express, JCB and UnionPay have voluntarily aligned with these reforms and will implement a no-surcharge position from 1 October 2026.

Where a card payment transaction is made to an Australian business, the no-surcharge rule will apply regardless of whether the card was issued in Australia or overseas.

No. The Australian no-surcharge rules apply to businesses operating within Australia and are not intended to override local laws or regulations in other countries. When making purchases from overseas businesses, a consumer may be subject to the surcharging rules and legal requirements applicable in that jurisdiction.

If a consumer notices a surcharge has been applied to a card payment, they should ask the business to clarify, prior to making payment where possible. A surcharge may be permitted or applied in error. If a consumer believes they have been incorrectly surcharged, they should request that it be removed.

Businesses may continue to apply a card surcharge until 30 September 2026. However, from 1 October 2026, if a consumer believes they have been incorrectly surcharged, they should contact the business and request clarification. If the amount appears to be a payment surcharge applied because a consumer paid by card, they should ask the business to refund the surcharge amount.

Unless expressly permitted under applicable law, businesses will no longer be permitted to apply card surcharges to eftpos, Mastercard, and Visa cards from 1 October 2026. Businesses that continue to do so may be contacted by their payment service provider or bank to remove non-permitted surcharging and may be subject to penalties.

Businesses must ensure their pricing is clear and not misleading, including any extra fees or charges. Consumers may report misleading price displays to the ACCC or their local state or territory consumer protection agency. See ACCC’s Guidance about changes to card payment surcharges for more information.