Spaza shops warned against unlawful card payment surcharges: NCC

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) has issued a warning to spaza shop owners regarding unlawful card payment surcharges, urging them to refrain from adding hidden fees when customers utilize cards to make purchases. There is increasing concern over the practice of minimum-spend requirements and illegal swipe fees in some local shops.

Customers have reported being required to add small amounts, such as R2 or R5, to the displayed price when paying with a card. Section 23 of the Consumer Protection Act clearly states that suppliers must honor the displayed price of a product without imposing additional charges. The NCC has urged affected consumers to reach out to the commission for assistance.

Phetho Ntaba, spokesperson for the NCC, explained, "We've got these issues with spaza shops or informal businesses where they're not really disclosing these prices. They're surprising the consumer. And we understand that in many cases, consumers do not have the choice to leave that particular store and go to another store." The commission is emphasizing the importance of reaching out to these businesses, whether formal or informal, to encourage compliance with the Consumer Protection Act and other relevant laws.