Enclosed in my latest power bill was a slip headed: “Some of our fees have changed”. That translates as ‘our fees have risen’.

Not only did the price of electricity go up on the 1st. July, surcharges on credit and debit card payments also rose.

They are the charges that are illegal in the UK and US, but OK in Albostralia, where the new surcharges for card payments are now:

. Mastercard debit card 0.32%
. Visa debit card 0.15%
. Mastercard credit card 0.75%
. Debit and credit card
via Aus Post channels 0.54%

Also, people paying over the counter at Post Offices will be whacked with a fee of $3.30. And that seems to apply even if you pay cash.

If such fees can be banned in countries similar to Australia, why not here.

And, while they continue, why not a flat charge instead of a percentage of the bill total? It shouldn't cost any more to process, say, a $300 payment than does to process a smaller amount.

It is my understanding that it's not the business that is responsible for this rip off, but the banks and financial institutions they deal with. No wonder there is an ongoing nagging for people to go digital when the robber barons are raking in extra billions for doing nothing.

Personally, I pay my power bills via Bpay, and don't pay any fees just for paying the bill; and I avoid retail business and eateries who don't accept cash. I have no problems with occasionally using my Debit card, but only when I know there are no surcharges.

But I think that it is ludicrous that in Australia, some businesses and all the banks expect customers to pay for what is just another cost of doing business - particularly when it was their idea to push out cash. It is even more ludicrous that most people pay up without a squeak. It seems that they like being kicked about, not just by a Communist-style government, but greedy businesses, large and small.

In October 2024, the Albanese government proposed banning debit card surcharges in 2025. Debit card users are spending their own money after all. The Prime Minister's official web page actually said, “The Albanese Government is cracking down on unfair and excessive card surcharges to get a better deal for Australians and small businesses at the physical and online checkout”,

We are half way through 2025 now, and there has been no cracking down that I am aware of.

Perhaps the Reserve Bank is dragging its feet. The word was, at the time, that, “The Government is prepared to ban debit card surcharges, subject to further work by the Reserve Bank of Australia …”.

It was recognised that, “The declining use of cash and the rise of electronic payments means that more Australians are getting slugged by surcharges, even when they use their own money”. (Debit card users)

The release said that “We are prepared to ban debit card surcharging from 1 January 2026, subject to the consultation undertaken by the RBA, and sufficient steps and safeguards to ensure both small businesses and consumers can benefit from lower costs”.

So, there is still time, but in that time, at least one organisation has increased the fees.

Of course the old tune “it's incredibly complex” was chanted.

But, the web page announced last year: “we’re taking immediate action on excessive surcharging to save people money”.

There is nothing to indicate that any action has occurred, despite the claim that there was supposed to be $2.1 million to fund it.

If such fees can be banned in countries similar to Australia, why not here.
ttbn,
Other countries aren't buying the votes of people who want to see Australia ruined with Tax Dollars provided by Australians. !

I agree, handling electronic funds, entails a cost to business, just as handling cash does. The associated costs to the business should be reflected in the selling price (eg, it's hidden in the retail price with large supermarkets), and not listed a separate charge on the consumer. Others would argue that as a separate charge it gives the consumer transparency as to what they are paying.

BTW, in some cases that cost can be passed on to the consumer, but in a more completive market the business itself, may have to absorb that cost.

I remember from somewhere that there has to be at least one form of payment available that doesn't have an additional charge.

Kudos Kid,

Welcome back, no reference to your favorite philosopher, that well known Greek Fish N' Chip shop owner down Marrickville Road, Dimitri Arsethrottle with his "Cash Only" sign, and a no GST for me philosophy. I thought you must have consumed a dodgy late night souvlaki at Arsethrottle's Golden Parthanon Take-Away. Anyway I spread much Pixie Dust upon you on your return.

The Liberal Party is on the same wavelength as the government - naturally; they no longer do opposition or difference. Wait, wait, wait to see what the RBA comes up with. To hell with what the population wants. Leave all decisions to bureaucrats. They also acknowledge the “complexity” of the current ‘payments and surcharge system’.

Complexity! What happened to the simple idea of offering something for sale, convincing the customer to buy it, and being paid what the goods or services are worth? After you have set out your business plan, and decided how much you need to charge to make a profit.

The Liberal Party is “mindful” of the effect on small businesses on surcharges. If they are, why, when they were in government and now as opposition, didn’t they pull the greedy banks into line. The bloody banks are skimming off at least a billion dollars per annum already via these obnoxious surcharges, and providing nothing in return. They are cutting back on branches and ATMS in order to save themselves more money at customers’ inconvenience and cost.

As with everything else in Australia, this surcharge rip-off by the robber barons will not be solved while we have this horrible ‘sameness’ between Labor and Liberal. We are virtually a one-party-state. And it will stay that way - actually get much worse - because Australian voters are just as whipped and cowered as they are in traditional totalitarian states. Add ‘stupid’ to that.

Ttbn- With a bit of gay and green washing (Woke/ Marxist washing) the Labor Party will let the banks get away with it. The Woke/ Marxist's don't love the poor they hate the capitalist's. And capiitalists think that everything can be solved with money rather than good management.

This is the price of cashless society.
Now you have to pay extra just to pay your bills.

Ah, the Kudos Kid, its getting a bit crowded in your hippy micro bus, with all those woke, green, gay, Marxists piling in. Just as anyone who would think the Liberal Party is a hotbed of Nazi's, those like you who think the Labor Party is a seething mass of Marxist, are nut jobs. We have a few here, you included.

Hi AC,

Its too simplistic to say there is no cost to the consumer imposed by a business like a supermarket, for "payment processing" be it cash or card, just because that cost is not separately highlighted doesn't mean its not there, its hidden. Like all overheads, cost of payment is factored into the final selling price. I imagine cash handling through the likes of 'Armguard' is a substantial cost to big retailing businesses, and that cost of doing business has always been passed on to the customer, without the customer realising it.

A Bill to protect cash payments for small amounts - up to $500 - has been introduced to the New Zealand Parliament. If passed, payments over $500 for food items would be protected.

Unlike Australia, where it reported that 16% of the population still uses cash, only 6% of New Zealanders do so. Many of them store cash for emergencies when technology goes down. Only 17% do not store any cash.

16% of the Australian population is 4,320,000 approximately - the number of people said to still be using cash only. Not an inconsiderable number to ignore. More than the combined population of Brisbane and Adelaide.

There are no figures showing the percentage of people (like me) using both cash and cards. It seems to me that only figures that make a cashless society look good are of interest to to the petty tyrants determined to control us and make life more scary and dangerous - more open to scams and fraud.

Having been in NZ recently, given the cost of living they "enjoy", I'm surprised if anyone has lazy cash to put away for an emergency. I did hear a news report that the NZ Treasury has warned the Government that the system of welfare payments is not sustainable.

Closer to home, Australia could introduce a cashless system here, particularly for aged welfare. A system whereby a card (like the old food stamps of yesteryear) allows for certain supermarket items to be purchased by the needy old fella, baked beans, 2 minute noodles, beef or chicken, I like to give variety, ah, that's it, beans and noodles, certainly no chocolates, and definitely no Tim Tams, my personal favorite. With the $70 billion saved Australia could soon purchase its very own battle ship the HMAS ALBO, a second hand Yank job from WW2, keeping our dear friend Donald on side, and giving us 3.5% of GDP to spend on blowing up things, Donald will be happy. Then we could teach the you know who a real lesson, especially when the ALBO, with Captain Antz at the helm, sails up the Yangtze and blows a dirty big hole in their crappy Great Wall! See how they like those apples! A win win situation for all, except for you know who. Armchair are you on side with that, I'm sure ttbn will be, he likes to blow things up.

The RBA has found that it is “in the public interest” to remove surcharges on Mastercard and Visa card, thereby saving us $1.2 billion annually.

After July 2026, for some reason: no legislation required. The RBA has the power to see to it now. Who needs the government!

The removal would apply to credit cards as well as debit cards using people's own money. The RBA has no control over American Express.