Aussies Fuming Over New Fees Following Card Surchage Ban
Card surcharges have been banned in Australia since Thursday, following a review by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). However, new complaints are emerging about other fees that may be taking their place.
Australian consumers have taken to social media to express frustration over 'platform' or 'service fees' appearing at checkouts online.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has confirmed it is aware of concerns about businesses introducing these new fees, but notes that they are not necessarily prohibited under the new rules.
According to ACCC spokespersons, whether a charge is a genuine fee for a particular service or amounts to a 'card payment surcharge by another name' depends on what it covers and how it operates.
Sally Tindall, data insights director of financial comparison site Canstar, warned that shoppers should not assume the new ban means they will start paying less. Instead, businesses may choose to build costs associated with processing card payments into their overall pricing.