Bye bye excessive surcharges

BTN News
Wednesday, 31 August 2016

Analysis by consumer group shows Australian football fans should see an end to sky-high flight surcharges, with fees set to fall around 70 per cent on flights to see the footy finals when the excessive surcharges ban comes into force 01 September.


“Whether it’s AFL or NRL, footy fans look set to save on the total cost of flights to the game,” said Tom Godfrey, head of Media at Choice.


“We have campaigned for many years for an end to excessive surcharge rip-offs and it’s great to see the Federal government is finally putting an end to the profiteering.”


Choice found before the ban was announced, a surcharge on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Adelaide to see the Crows play North Melbourne would have cost A$219  with a fixed A$7 surcharge or five per cent of the total fare. With the introduction of the ban, the surcharge plummets to 1.3 per cent of the fare, or A$2.84.


It’s a similar story for NRL fans travelling to see the Cronulla Sharks play the Storm in Melbourne. With a Qantas flight to Melbourne from Sydney costing A$163, the old fixed A$7 surcharge falls to A$2.11.


“Expect to see fairer fees everywhere from 01 September, including ticket sites and hotels,” said Godfrey.


“Thanks to new card payment rules passed by the Federal Government, a regulator can take action and even fine companies that are charging unfairly high  card payment fees. Big businesses will all have to comply by 01 September 2016, with small businesses needed to meet new requirements on 01 September 2017.


“Some big businesses have already announced that they’re doing the right thing but we don’t expect all companies to follow the rules in the first round.


“Choice is asking consumers to report any unfair high surcharges and will be reporting businesses that aren’t playing fair with card fees to the regulator, the ACCC.”
Consumers can report unfair surcharges at choice.com.au/shonkysurcharges

Bye bye excessive surcharges

BTN News
Wednesday, 31 August 2016

Analysis by consumer group shows Australian football fans should see an end to sky-high flight surcharges, with fees set to fall around 70 per cent on flights to see the footy finals when the excessive surcharges ban comes into force 01 September.


“Whether it’s AFL or NRL, footy fans look set to save on the total cost of flights to the game,” said Tom Godfrey, head of Media at Choice.


“We have campaigned for many years for an end to excessive surcharge rip-offs and it’s great to see the Federal government is finally putting an end to the profiteering.”


Choice found before the ban was announced, a surcharge on a Qantas flight from Melbourne to Adelaide to see the Crows play North Melbourne would have cost A$219  with a fixed A$7 surcharge or five per cent of the total fare. With the introduction of the ban, the surcharge plummets to 1.3 per cent of the fare, or A$2.84.


It’s a similar story for NRL fans travelling to see the Cronulla Sharks play the Storm in Melbourne. With a Qantas flight to Melbourne from Sydney costing A$163, the old fixed A$7 surcharge falls to A$2.11.


“Expect to see fairer fees everywhere from 01 September, including ticket sites and hotels,” said Godfrey.


“Thanks to new card payment rules passed by the Federal Government, a regulator can take action and even fine companies that are charging unfairly high  card payment fees. Big businesses will all have to comply by 01 September 2016, with small businesses needed to meet new requirements on 01 September 2017.


“Some big businesses have already announced that they’re doing the right thing but we don’t expect all companies to follow the rules in the first round.


“Choice is asking consumers to report any unfair high surcharges and will be reporting businesses that aren’t playing fair with card fees to the regulator, the ACCC.”
Consumers can report unfair surcharges at choice.com.au/shonkysurcharges