Cardholders   Commercial   Merchants   Value of Visa   Media Center      New Zealand  
Search:

Navigation

    Lost Your Card? ATM Locator Using ATMs Using Your Visa Card Travel Resources

Surcharging on Visa payment cards

What you need to know

Visa’s No Surcharge rule no longer applies to New Zealand-based transactions. 
 
However, Visa believes payment card costs are no different from any other cost associated with running a business such as electricity and should not be passed onto consumers.
 
Surcharging impacts consumers unreasonably.  A fundamental principle of the customer experience is that the stated price of an item – as advertised or affixed to the price tag –should be the actual price the consumer pays at check out. 
 
While many countries around the world prohibit surcharging, a few countries, such as Australia and the United Kingdom, have allowed it. There is a risk that if we follow the Australian experience one day New Zealand merchants may start to exploit surcharging for their own advantage.  The Reserve Bank of Australia has highlighted some cases where surcharges ‘appear considerably higher’ than actual costs.[1]

[1] CRA International. “Regulatory intervention in the payment card industry by the Reserve Bank of Australia: Analysis of the evidence.” April 2008.
 
 

Know your rights

As a consumer you have rights if a surcharge is applied to a Visa payment card transaction. 
To the extent surcharging is permitted, retailers who choose to surcharge should:
 
·  Disclose this at the point of purchase through clear and prominent signage in-store and at sales counters, on price lists, estimates, quotes, in telephone, online and mail-order sales;
·  Ensure the amount that is surcharged bears a reasonable relationship to the cost of accepting Visa cards.

 
Retailers may apply such a surcharge on an ad valorem or flat rate basis, to some or all Visa branded payment cards.
 
 

A Visa card is still the best way to pay

You have the choice whether you continue to shop at places that charge you more for paying with a Visa card. 
Continuing to use your Visa card offers many benefits:
 
·  Earn reward points with Visa loyalty programmes
·  Accepted in more than 200 countries and territories
·  Have the security of credit for that emergency purchase
·  Safer than carrying cash and no liability on fraudulent transactions
·  Keep better track of your finances with regular statements.
 
If you don’t wish to pay a surcharge we suggest you shop around.
 
Please contact your bank if you have any questions about surcharging.
 
 

  • Printable Page
 
Home | About Visa | Careers | Site Map | Legal | Privacy Policy | Hyperlink Guidelines | Global Sites | Asia Pacific Sites
© Copyright Visa. All Rights Reserved.