Aldi squib on Eftpos surcharging

Over the weekend, Aldi Stores backed away from tentative plans to surcharge payments made at its supermarkets by Eftpos debit cards.

The retail chain has said over the last couple of weeks that it was considering taking this step in the context of the reversal of Eftpos interchange fees. This change is being phased in over the next few months by most banks.

The new interchange arrangements will increase merchant fees in the long run, though Westpac (one of two banks processing card payments for Aldi) may be the only bank so far to increase fees.

Aldi was successful in an action in the Federal Court last week.  It secured an order that Eftpos Payments Australia Limited must run corrective advertising to clear up misleading statements made over the last two months in connection with the prospect that merchants may pay their banks higher fees. However, Aldi failed to secure any injunctive relief from the court.