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

Small businesses across New South Wales are grappling with how they will cover the cost of merchant fees.

The Reserve Bank of Australia's (RBA) last week introduced a ban on business owners adding extra fees for credit or debit card payments on EFTPOS, Mastercard, Visa and American Express.

The changes, according to the RBA, are in the "public interest", and designed to make the system more transparent and less confusing for both businesses and customers.

Sydney cafe owner Philip Barbaro said he had been forced to put prices up for some items, as his fees to the bank must still be paid for the use of cards.

Mr Barbaro said the cafe business was tough in the Sydney market.

"In my very competitive market in the city we have not touched the price of our coffee, but there were other items on the menu we had to increase this week, to offset the bank surcharge."

Specialist baker and owner of the Jamaican Patty Bakehouse in Sydney's inner west, Chris Skuce, said he opened his shop a year ago as a nod to his Jamaican heritage.

Mr Skuce said he had been absorbing the cost of the bank fee in order to keep making the patties that were part of his childhood.

"I haven't passed the cost on yet, but I will increase my prices at some stage probably in the new year," he said.

Businesses 'need to cover their cost'

Executive director of advocacy group Business Sydney, Paul Nicolaou, said people were struggling.

"There have been rising interest rates, energy costs and the subsequent drop in discretionary spending affecting both households and business," he said.

Price rises were now being introduced across the board, he added.

"Business owners need to cover their costs, and unfortunately someone has to pay, and it is going to be the consumer."

Mr Nicolaou said the banks should be doing something about merchant fees, along with other payment platforms.

"It is all electronic now, does it require a fee?"

A spokesperson for the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) said that while businesses were able to build the fee into their pricing structure, they "must not mislead consumers about their prices or the reasons for any price changes".

"Businesses can also offer discounts to consumers, who pay using a particular payment method, such as cash or PayID," the spokesperson added in a statement.

"Where a business offers a discount for a particular payment method, this should be clearly disclosed before consumers choose to book, order or pay.

"Businesses should not display only the discounted price or make the discounted price more prominent than the full price."

Mr Barbaro said he was now looking at alternatives for customers.

Mr Barbaro said that could be an incentive.

"There is the old saying that cash is king."

Mr Skuce said, however, he was not looking at cash discounts.

"Most people want to pay by card. It is just a hassle to handle cash."

Mr Skuce said he did not see any net benefits to the consumer, as prices would increase.

"I am befuddled with the change. Another hit to the bottom line and completely unnecessary in my opinion."