Diners vent over ‘hidden surcharge crisis’ sweeping Australian retailers
Australians are losing almost a billon dollars every year to an additional charge many of us don’t even realise we’re paying.
A furious diner has lashed out at the rising issue of “hidden surcharges” in restaurants after being stung with a $4 transaction fee on their bill.
The disgruntled Aussie took to social media to complain about the additional charge after it was added to their meal unexpectedly, claiming there was no signage warning of the extra fees for those paying by card.
With the additional charge, the meal – two serves of beef pepper rice and a Pepsi Max – came in at $40.97, prompting the diner to ask: “Are EFTPOS fees and surcharges just normalised now?”
Recent data from the Reserve Bank of Australia revealed Australians are losing more than $960 million a year in surcharges when they pay with their cards instead of using cash, the ABC reports.
Retailers in Australia are allowed to recoup the cost of a card transaction by passing it onto their customers, but the surcharge must not be more than what it costs the business to use that payment type, the ACCC states.
As part of the regulator’s “ban on excessive payment surcharges”, all venues are required to display all and any surcharges, meaning “hidden fees” are not legal.
Despite the regulations, Aussies are becoming increasingly unhappy about footing the cost of paying by card, particularly as the country appears to be heading towards a cashless society.
It’s so common, it has been dubbed by Reddit users the “hidden surcharge trend”, with many agreeing it was a major concern.
“A few years ago, EFTPOS fees or any surcharges were displayed clearly at the counter,” the Reddit post read.
“In fact, staff would usually go out of their way to let us know if there was a surcharge, how much it was for, and why it was there.
“Now it seems nothing is actually priced the amount they advertise. Retailers are always adding some fees, even my local coffee shop will tack on an additional 15c to my order.”
The post went on to claim most retailers simply “hand you the EFTPOS machine without saying a word”, adding: “I cant help but feel scammed.”
“Almost bloody $4 in fees and not a single sign to be spotted. I noticed when I saw how much the transaction was on my phone, because I thought, ‘surely my meal wouldn’t have added up to that much?’”
Many were quick to agree with the post, calling on regulators to do more to stop the “hidden cost crisis we are currently going through”.
“I had to pay for thousands of dollars of dental work and the EFTPOS fee was like $40... as if I’m going to go to the bank and carry 4k while I’m all woozy from that,” one ranted.
“I feel the same about ‘weekend surcharges’. Where’s the ‘Breathing The Restaurant Air Surcharge?’ What a bunch of bloodsucking insidious mozzies,” another said.
As another pointed out: “That’s why so many small business are still ‘cash only’.”