The RBA Credit Card rules.

Some time ago, the Government of Australia permitted retailers to pass on credit card surcharges onto Consumers. This was all out deregulating the financial industry, and making costs more transparent.

We all know that the credit card companies charge large companies somewhere in the region of .5 to 2% of the transaction cost.

Yet companies such as Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin and the Taxi industry have somehow managed to charge consumers up to 10% or more of the purchase cost as a "credit card" surcharge. Purely a profit making exercise.

So the Reserve Bank of Australia implemented new rulings, taking effect as from this week, which looks to stop this form of profiteering. 

"The RBA's Payments System Board has decided to change the rules on fees charged by retailers, limiting them to the "reasonable cost" of providing a credit card transaction.

The central bank says the decision, taken at the board's last meeting on May 18, was due to RBA concerns that merchants were imposing surcharges well above the cost of card transactions."

All fair and well.

However, today, Jetstar Airlines posted this on their Facebook page.

Hi Guys, 

We have noticed there are a number of posts on the new RBA ruling. Below is the Jetstar’s position on Credit Card surcharges.

We know our customers like choice and that’s why we offer a number of options to complete a booking for Jetstar flights.

While Jetstar does have a Booking and Service fee, customers can avoid the fee by using one of four methods to complete their booking:

- Direct payment (Direct Deposit) using online banking for bookings via Jetstar.com, made more than 14 days prior to departure;
- POLi direct payments (a real time electronic funds transfer) for bookings via Jetstar.com, available for payments in Australian or New Zealand dollars. Flights do not need to be booked well in advance in order to pay with POLi
- Jetstar MasterCard and Jetstar Platinum MasterCard
- Jetstar voucher

Customers who choose to complete their booking via any other method will incur the following Booking and Service Fee (per passenger, per flight):

- $8.50 AUD per passenger per flight for Australian domestic and short haul international services; and
- $12.50 AUD per passenger per flight for long haul international services.

While Jetstar doesn't have a credit card surcharge, we are aware of the new RBA standard applying to Card Schemes. The next step is for card companies to publish their new policies based on the new guidelines. Once this happens, we will determine whether we need to make changes. We expect this process to take some time.

Thanks - Angela

So, there it is in black and white. If you pay by cash or direct debit, you do not pay the "Booking and Service" fee. However, if you pay by credit card, you are charged this new fee. That's $17 for a round trip booking for one passenger. $68 for a family of four. That's a pretty hefty charge for choosing to pay by credit card!

Just goes to prove that the price gouging over the past few years was clearly a profit centre for Jetstar, and as soon as the RBA attempted to stop it, Jetstar managed to find a loophole, and a way to continue charging this obscene charge.

Surely this is one of the most opportunistic charging opportunities displayed by any Australian company? Wonder which company will be next cab of the ranks, as they explore new ways to go around the new RBA rulings?

Maybe the ACCC needs to investigate further?