Cafes, shoppers at a crossroads as surcharge ban looms

What it is about

Who published it, and when

How it spread - 18 original reports, 14 reprints

1. Sun, 27 September 2026

   2 reports
   • camdencourier.com.au17:31first to report
     Cafes, shoppers at a crossroads as surcharge ban looms

     Shoppers may benefit from cash discounts, but retailers will still have to pay the price on merchant fees...

     4 reprints

     • mandurahmail.com.au27 Sept, 17:31their copy
     • naroomanewsonline.com.au27 Sept, 17:31their copy
     • narrominenewsonline.com.au27 Sept, 17:31their copy
     • redlandcitybulletin.com.au27 Sept, 17:31their copy
   • ABC News (Australia)18:55
     Banks cut rewards programs, free travel insurance amid surcharge ban

     Sweeping reforms from the Reserve Bank start this week, as banks hike fees and slash rewards programs in preparation.

2. Mon, 28 September 2026

   1 report
   • theleader.com.au22:09
     Australia's credit card overhaul: travel perks are on the chopping block

     While most rewards face cuts, one travel perk gets a boost.

     4 reprints

     • braidwoodtimes.com.au28 Sept, 22:09their copy
     • westernadvocate.com.au28 Sept, 22:09their copy
     • batemansbaypost.com.au28 Sept, 22:09their copy
     • ulladullatimes.com.au28 Sept, 22:09their copy
3. Wed, 30 September 2026

   1 report
   • ABC News (Australia)18:30
     Banks are slashing credit card perks. Here's what you stand to lose

     There are some big changes coming for credit and debit card holders, but not all of it is good news. Here's what you need to know and how it could affect you.

4. Thu, 1 October 2026

   3 reports
   • South China Morning Post02:44
     Australia’s card surcharge ban forces cafes, shops into price increases

     Ross Surace is preparing to raise the price of a coffee by 50 Australian cents and a panini by A$1 (US$0.70) when the country bans credit card surcharge fees starting on Thursday. The co-owner of Lennox Street Deli in Melbourne’s Moonee Ponds neighbourhood said bank-imposed card fees already cost his business more than A$1,000 (US$690) a week, even after the cafe recoups some of the expense by adding a 1.9 per cent surcharge to customers’ card payments. Once that option disappears, Surace...

   • easternriverinachronicle.com.au17:30
     Card surcharge ban will take time to work through: bank

     A competition could be on the cards among the banks as they battle for market share, once businesses...

     3 reprints

     • goulburnpost.com.au1 Oct, 17:30their copy
     • northweststar.com.au1 Oct, 17:30their copy
     • greatlakesadvocate.com.au1 Oct, 17:30their copy
   • ABC News (Australia)19:23
     Retailers predict price rises under RBA's surcharge reforms

     Surcharge bans are supposed to save consumers money but retailers say they're being forced to put prices up and are finding ways around the reforms.

5. Mon, 5 October 2026

   1 report
   • afr.com06:39edited after publishing
     Private schools ditch credit card payments after surcharge ban

     previouslyMajor Sydney and Melbourne private schools end credit card payments for fees after Reserve Bank implements surcharge ban

6. Tue, 6 October 2026

   1 report
   • ABC News (Australia)22:57
     ATO convenes snap meeting over credit card ban

     Australia's tax chief calls a snap meeting with business groups after the tax office faces backlash over its decision to stop accepting credit card payments.

7. Wed, 7 October 2026

   3 reports
   • ABC News (Australia)04:18
     Coffee prices at some cafes rise by 10pc after RBA card surcharge ban

     A ban on card surcharges has led some cafe owners to lift coffee prices. It's an unintended consequence of the Reserve Bank's card surcharge ban, which was intended to lower prices for consumers.

   • crookwellgazette.com.au18:00
     Are you still paying surcharges when you pay with a card? You shouldn't be

     Who should you complain to if the surcharges are still appearing on your bill?

     3 reprints

     • edenmagnet.com.au7 Oct, 18:00their copy
     • standard.net.au7 Oct, 18:00their copy
     • examiner.com.au7 Oct, 18:00their copy
   • theage.com.au20:15
     ATO stands firm on credit card surcharges

     The Australian Tax Office is standing firm on its decision to ban credit cards for tax payments.

8. Fri, 9 October 2026

   2 reports
   • ABC News (Australia)05:01
     How the card surcharge ban could change our relationship with cash

     Some businesses are offering customer discounts for the use of cash after the Reserve Bank of Australia banned card surcharges. But it's unlikely to return cash to the preferred type of payment.

   • greatlakesadvocate.com.au16:31
     Businesses not buying positive spin on surcharge ban

     The Reserve Bank says small businesses are expected to benefit the most from its card surcharge reforms, but...

9. Sat, 10 October 2026

   1 report
   • ABC News (Australia)20:27edited after publishing
     Businesses grapple with the cost of customers 'wanting to pay by card'

     previously'Someone has to pay': Small businesses grapple with card surcharge ban

     Customers still prefer to pay with cards, but a week after a ban on payment surcharges, small businesses are looking at how they will wear the cost of merchant fees.

10. Mon, 12 October 2026

    1 report
    • The Guardian World14:00edited after publishing
      Rent-tech platforms sidestepping credit card surcharge ban with new fees and paid ‘memberships’

      Tenants encouraged to seek free options after online property platforms respond to Reserve Bank’s credit card payment reform Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Online property management platforms are charging renters new fees or pushing them on to paid “memberships” to avoid processing costs associated with card payments after the ban on surcharges. Tenants have been encouraged to challenge or bypass additional fees charged by so-called rent-tech platforms, including...

11. Tue, 13 October 2026

    1 report
    • The Guardian World05:13
      Card surcharge ban used as ‘cover’ for larger price increases by Australian businesses, experts say

      ‘Round-up’ pricing in items such as coffee suggests increases are exceeding the typical 1.5% surcharge fee Follow our Australia politics live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast Businesses are using the recent ban on credit card surcharges as “cover” to pass along much larger price increases to customers, experts say, as cafes and restaurants struggle to cope with climbing costs and rising interest rates. Credit card surcharges, typically worth...

12. Thu, 15 October 2026

    1 report
    • geekzone.co.nz06:00
      Banks forcing people off Eftpos cards and onto Debit cards

      Discussion about Banks forcing people off Eftpos cards and onto Debit cards