How does fee-free (zero-cost) EFTPOS work?

Fee-free EFTPOS allows a business to pass on a small, transparent surcharge to customers to recover the cost of card payment processing. When enabled, the surcharge is automatically applied at the point of sale, so the business receives the full sale amount. In Australia, surcharging must comply with Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) regulations and Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) rules, meaning the surcharge cannot exceed the cost of acceptance for that payment method.

Is it legal to apply a card surcharge to customers in Australia?

Yes. Card surcharging is legal in Australia under Reserve Bank of Australia regulations, provided the surcharge does not exceed the business’s cost of accepting that card payment. The ACCC enforces these rules, and businesses must ensure surcharges are accurate, clearly disclosed, and compliant with applicable consumer law.

Who can use fee-free EFTPOS?

Any Australian business that accepts card payments may choose to enable fee-free EFTPOS and pass on transaction costs through compliant surcharging. Businesses are responsible for ensuring their surcharge settings align with their actual cost of acceptance, in accordance with RBA and ACCC requirements.

How should surcharges be communicated to customers?

Australian Consumer Law requires businesses to clearly disclose any card surcharge before payment is made. This typically includes visible signage at the point of sale and clear on-screen display of the surcharge amount during checkout. Transparent communication helps ensure compliance with ACCC guidance and avoids customer confusion.

What if a customer does not want to pay the surcharge?

If a customer does not wish to pay the surcharge, businesses may offer alternative payment methods or disable surcharging for that transaction. Any surcharge applied must always remain compliant with RBA rules and must not exceed the actual cost incurred by the business for processing the payment.

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My clients simply tap their card or mobile wallet to my phone, and the payment is processed instantly. It’s so simple, takes minutes to set up, and I can see every transaction and settlement immediately in my Zeller App.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Zero-cost EFTPOS was a model that allowed businesses to recover their processing fees by passing them on to the customer via a surcharge, ensuring the merchant received the full value of the sale.

However, in line with the RBA’s updated regulations and the upcoming ban on surcharging (effective 1 October 2026), the payments industry is shifting toward a more transparent, 'fee-efficient' model.

At Zeller, we are helping our merchants transition away from surcharging by providing:

Transparent, Low-Cost EFTPOS Processing: Competitive merchant rates that help you protect your margins without the need for customer surcharges.
Future-Proof Compliance: Tools that ensure your business remains fully compliant with all RBA mandates as the payment landscape continues to evolve.

Your "cost of acceptance" is the total amount you pay to process card payments, and it often includes more than just the processing rate. Many providers hide costs in monthly terminal rentals, PCI compliance fees, gateway fees, and complex contract terms.

With the RBA’s upcoming ban on surcharging (effective 1 October 2026), the ability to pass processing costs on to customers is being removed. This means your business will soon be responsible for 100% of the cost of acceptance. Without surcharge, your choice of payment provider becomes the single most important factor in protecting your profit margins. Zeller is built to eliminate these hidden drains on your revenue.

We help you manage your cost of acceptance in three key ways:

Zero Monthly Fees: We believe you shouldn't pay just to have a machine on your counter. With Zeller, there are no monthly terminal rental fees, no minimum monthly turnover requirements, and no hidden contract fees.
Transparent Processing: We provide clear, simple pricing with no unexpected costs. You know exactly what you are paying for, allowing you to accurately forecast your expenses and protect your profit margins.
Intelligent Routing: We use advanced payment technology to automatically process transactions at the most efficient rates. By streamlining how we handle different card types, we ensure your overall cost of acceptance remains as low as possible.
No "Surprise" Costs: We don't charge for statement fees, PCI non-compliance fees, or inactivity fees. You pay only for the payments you process.

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