Businesses Use Amex Fees to Work Around Credit Card Surcharge Ban

Hannah Mildner, the founder of Cloudy Bookkeeping, believed she had discovered a way around the Reserve Bank of Australia’s ban on credit card surcharges. REA Group, a prominent real estate platform, introduced a fee for American Express card payments, labeling it a supplier trade fee rather than a surcharge.

Mildner shared her findings on Instagram, where the video gained traction within the real estate sector. The post highlighted how businesses are navigating the Reserve Bank’s regulations by reclassifying fees.

A correction was later issued in the article, clarifying that American Express’s fee is not a surcharge but a permitted charge for services provided by payment providers.