From 1 October 2026, changes introduced following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging will change how businesses can apply and describe fees associated with card payments.

Businesses will no longer be able to charge or describe a fee as a Credit Card Fee or card surcharge based on a guest choosing to pay by card. Businesses can continue to charge a Booking, Service or Administration Fee, provided it applies regardless of the payment method used. Where a fee applies to a booking, guests must be advised at the beginning of their booking journey that a fee will apply.

For retail sales, businesses can no longer add a separate fee because a customer chooses to pay by card. Where a fee is unavoidable, the minimum price displayed to the customer must include that fee. Businesses that currently recover card processing costs through a surcharge should review their retail pricing before 1 October.

What Bookeasy is doing

Bookeasy has reviewed fees currently configured within our systems and has contacted customers directly where changes to their existing fee configuration are required.

We are also updating the online booking journey to ensure guests are advised earlier where a Booking Fee applies.

What you need to review

Before 1 October 2026, we recommend reviewing:

• Any fees you currently charge and whether they meet the new requirements.
• Your Terms & Conditions and other guest-facing information for references to Credit Card Fees or card surcharges.
• If you process retail sales, review any card surcharges you currently apply and consider whether your retail pricing needs to be updated ahead of 1 October. 

If you need assistance updating or removing a fee configured within Bookeasy, please contact our Support Team before 1 October.

For questions about the RBA changes or how they apply to your business, please refer directly to guidance provided by the Reserve Bank of Australia.