Card Surcharge Changes: Check Every Payment Channel
Check every place a customer can pay, including channels managed by another provider. A terminal, online checkout and invoice link can have separate settings.
The RBA’s current guidance lists network rules and exceptions. The October changes are in force; PayPal’s rule started on 5 October. Confirm the applicable rule with your payment provider, including unusual payment arrangements.
List the channels before changing settings
Make an inventory of countertop and mobile terminals, website checkout, online booking, payment links and invoices. Include integrations where the POS sends the amount to a separate terminal. Record which provider controls each channel and who can change it.
| Channel | Check | Evidence to keep privately |
|---|---|---|
| In-person terminal | Provider update and any POS override | Setting record and receipt |
| Website or booking checkout | Displayed total through the payment step | Test or preview result |
| Invoice payment link | Payment settings and final amount | Provider confirmation and sample output |
| Staff-assisted payment | Instructions match the active settings | Updated instruction and staff acknowledgement |
Use a provider-supported test mode or a properly authorised routine transaction when checking output. Do not put real card details into screenshots or public notes. A test-mode result should be labelled as such.
Compare the displayed and charged amounts
For a fictional $100 purchase, compare the advertised total, checkout total and receipt. If a payment-method fee appears unexpectedly, record the channel and provider reference, then investigate before treating the check as complete. Keep an unresolved item open rather than ticking it off because another channel passed.
The ACCC’s guidance explains that consumer-law pricing obligations continue. Fees unrelated to the payment method need their own assessment. Do not simply rename a card surcharge or give a misleading reason for a price increase.
Check the provider’s current charges
Read the new merchant-service quote separately from the surcharge settings. Compare the pricing basis, fixed charges, transaction rate, online versus in-person fees and GST presentation. Your contract and transaction mix determine the bill.
For example, CommBank’s announcement gives a 0.99% GST-inclusive in-store rate for eligible Single Rate Per Transaction customers from 1 October 2026. That conditional offer is not a rate for every merchant, channel or provider.
Use our POS comparison to shortlist arrangements and the margin calculator to explore prices with your own costs. A calculation does not decide the terms you may apply to customers.
Keep the checks with your payment records
Payment-channel check record
Copy the template, save a text file for offline use, or print this page with its examples and sources. Fill in your own copy and check it before relying on it.
Checked by / date: Payment provider and merchant account reference (keep private): Channel: terminal / online checkout / invoice link / other: Network and applicable provider rule: Provider notice or support reference: Setting checked and by whom: Displayed price / final payment total / receipt result: Unresolved difference and action owner: Staff instructions updated: Old signs or checkout messages removed: Recheck date after any payment-system update:
Review the record after changing a payment provider, replacing a terminal or updating the checkout integration. Keep provider notices where another person can find them if the responsible staff member is away.
Key takeaways
- Check terminals, checkout and invoice links individually.
- Keep the provider rule and the observed output together.
- Investigate mismatches and update customer-facing messages.
- Compare current merchant costs separately from surcharge settings.
Where to get help
Ask your payment provider about its settings and contract. Use the payments and POS hub for connected reconciliation and payment-record guides.
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Where to go from here
General information only. This guide doesn't take your personal or business circumstances into account and isn't financial, legal or tax advice. Rates and thresholds change — check the official sources linked in this guide and get qualified advice where your circumstances require it.