{
  "id": 1426137,
  "title": "Do you pay rent with a credit card? Soon, you may not have the option",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/17/do-you-pay-rent-with-a-credit-card-soon-you-may-not-have-the-option",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-08-17T05:21:13.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/do-you-pay-rent-with-a-credit-card-soon-you-may-not-have-the-option-289802"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Starting October 1, businesses in Australia will no longer be permitted to add surcharges to payments made through EFTPOS, Visa, or Mastercard networks. The Reserve Bank of Australia introduced this reform to ensure that prices consumers see reflect the final price they pay. However, this ban does not make card payments free; instead, businesses may absorb the remaining costs, encourage alternative payment methods, or eliminate card payments altogether. Macquarie Bank, controlling an estimated 40% of Australia's rental payments market, has removed credit and debit card payments from its DEFT platform, which processes over 1.2 million rent payments monthly. While this reform is presented as a solution to the cost-of-living crisis, its impacts will not be evenly distributed. Businesses will absorb the remaining card processing costs, potentially leading to higher prices or the removal of card payment options. For renters, this change could significantly affect their ability to manage cash flow, especially those who rely on credit cards to bridge the gap between rent due dates and payday. The ban on surcharges for tax and government payments remains, but the ATO is reviewing its credit card payment options, which could set a precedent for other public-sector entities. As businesses adjust to the new rules, some may transfer the cost of card processing to customers through higher prices, alternative service fees, or new charges for using third-party payment platforms. This \"Whac-A-Mole\" effect could lead to fewer card payment options available across various sectors. While the surcharge ban aims to make prices clearer and reduce card acceptance costs, regulators must monitor the actual distribution of costs, the decline in card payment options, and the emergence of new fees to ensure the reforms deliver genuine benefits to consumers.",
  "summary": "A looming ban on card surcharges is forcing a rethink of payments – across banks, businesses, government agencies and more.",
  "key_points": [
    "Australian businesses banned from adding surcharges to credit card payments from Oct 1",
    "Macquarie Bank removes credit/debit card payments from its DEFT platform",
    "Renters may face higher costs or fewer card payment options"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The ban on payment surcharges in Australia shifts costs from consumers to businesses, which may respond by absorbing expenses, limiting payment options, or passing costs on through higher prices.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}