An ALDI shopper thought her grocery run was business as usual—until she noticed something unexpected on her receipt.

It was only a small amount, but enough to spark confusion and frustration.

What she saw left other shoppers equally shocked when she shared it online.

The woman posted to social media after spotting two separate ‘Credit Surcharge GST’ charges—labelled A and B—totalling 84 cents.

‘I only just noticed it,’ she wrote, asking others if this had always been a thing.

Responses poured in, with many admitting they had also been caught off guard.

Shopper stunned by ALDI’s hidden card fee. Image source: Facebook

‘I noticed it too for the first time the other day. Was surprised,’ one shopper said.

‘I’ve never noticed before either. Appreciate your sharing,’ another added.

‘I didn’t know this!’ said a third.

The fee, shoppers explained, came down to the way people paid.

Depending on the card type and bank, tapping rather than inserting could trigger the surcharge.

‘I always insert my card into the machine and don’t have extra charges. If you tap there is a surcharge. Very sneaky,’ one person said.

Another agreed: ‘Insert your card, just make sure you remember your pin. Be interesting to know just how much profit is made by people tapping their cards and being charged this surcharge.’

Not everyone was willing to accept it so lightly.

‘[It’s] the main reason I don’t shop at ALDI… Hopefully the government goes through with stopping businesses from charging these surcharges to use card, especially as they are wanting to steer towards cashless,’ one shopper wrote.

‘Complete BS!! I don’t carry my physical card on me so it’s annoying,’ another fumed.

When approached, ALDI confirmed that the charge was nothing new.

The retailer said the surcharge applied to all credit card and contactless purchases as a way of keeping product prices low, instead of inflating them to cover transaction fees.

Customers could avoid the extra cost by inserting their card and selecting savings or cheque.

If you thought ALDI’s card surcharge was frustrating, it turns out this is part of a bigger conversation happening across the checkout.

Experts have started warning that these extra fees are popping up in more places than ever, raising questions about fairness and transparency.

One recent story highlights just how concerning this trend has become.

Read more: ‘Where do we stop?’: Expert slams shocking new surcharge trend

Key Takeaways

• An ALDI shopper noticed an unfamiliar fee on her receipt.
• The charges appeared as ‘Credit Surcharge GST A’ and ‘B’, totalling 84 cents.
• Shoppers revealed the fee applied mainly to contactless card payments.
• ALDI confirmed it was a long-standing policy designed to keep shelf prices lower.

Would you be willing to change how you pay just to avoid a few cents in fees?

 

[Heidiho]

My Aldi used to have it on a sign that there was a fee. I found out that by inserting the card you are not subject to the fee so have done that ever since, probaly 18 months- 2 years as it only applied to tap and pay. I did think the government put a stop to that recently, however I still insert the card, I also always get a receipt for every purchase, that way you can see if there are any inconsistencies.

 

[alice888]

Yes I'm noticing this at a lot of places now. I try & pay cash so I don't get stung. I don't think Coles & woollies do it yet? Most cafes & restaurants do !

 

[Jojo taytay]

I only use cash at Aldi. Being cheaper by 1c on most items doesn’t add up to any savings if you tap and go. Aldi their self serve checkouts are card only

 

[Beany]

This is why I try to use cash whenever possible, money is hard enough to earn or to go around when your on a pension so keep it yourself not give it to the banks or the stores. I also never tap the card always insert and choose what I need.

 

[Strider]

It's always been there. If you tap , then you choose to use credit. If you insert , a choice comes up, savings, credit, cheque. By pressing savings you don't get charged a fee. Always been this way.

 

[Charlie52]

ALDI has always had that charge...as long as I can remember. I pay cash. Problem solved.

 

[riskydave]

I think you will find it is a bank think not an Aldi thing.

 

[Skeeta22]

It is a sneaky charge and I ALWAYS insert my card, NEVER tap it or you will get this surcharge.
ALSO I mostly do my weekly shopping via Click and Collect with Woolworths but be very careful when buying fruit and vegetables as buying individual items such as 2 of this and 3 of that you will be charged per item whereas if you shop instore you are charged per kilo. Another supermarket sneaky money grabber.

 

[Shifta]

Aldi has always stated they charge a surcharge for payment with credit card regardless whether you tap or insert. Even though its A and B surcharge, it adds up to the amount they say they charge. So its not a hidden charge. I don't see the problem. Pay by debit or cash and there is no charge. It's a choice you make. it's the banks that need to stop charging businesses.

 

[rehandra]

Honestly some people must live under a rock. I always use cash at Aldi but I know there is a surcharge and it has been there for years. I also know that if you want to avoid that you select savings when you are about to use your card and put in your pin number; not just flash the card over the machine. Apparently the information about this charge is shown in every store.

 

[BJM]

My Aldi used to have it on a sign that there was a fee. I found out that by inserting the card you are not subject to the fee so have done that ever since, probaly 18 months- 2 years as it only applied to tap and pay. I did think the government put a stop to that recently, however I still insert the card, I also always get a receipt for every purchase, that way you can see if there are any inconsistencies.

The local shopping centre bakery charges gst on all goods and you have to press “OK” for this to buy your goods. Downright “”rip off”

 

[wabcowombat]

Read the screen it tells you there is a surcharge if you proceed further

 

[Maxxa]

I remember when tap-and-go first came out that you could insert card and use pin as the merchant MAY charge a fee. I have always inserted my card. Another advantage is the funds for the purchase are immediately withdrawn from your account, not days later when they get around to doing it.

 

[Rlye3515]

it is a rio off as you get charged even on a debit card. Insert your card at a register and half the time the machines will not accept your pin. I have had this a couple of times and then used my card straight after elsewhere and all is good. Same hapoens at a self serve register which you are forced to use when no registers are operating. I will only go to Aldi if I have enough cash. I do not like paying fees especially when using a debit card.

 

[Gazman]

wackers

 

[Inferno4256]

Cash is King

 

[Monty M]

There has always been fees with Credit cards at Aldi; it is written on a large sign at the cash registers. Aldi has to pay fees to the banks, surprise, surprise...NOT, for access to the Eftpos machines. They are simply passing on all or part of that fee to the customer as it does contribute to keeping the cost of groceries low. Don't kid yourself that Woolies and Coles don't charge you; they simply build the fees into the overall cost of the items, as they also do for every item stolen. Perhaps that needs to be remembered when someone steals product, it is the customers who pay...not the store. There is no such thing as a free lunch, all services cost money, which is why there is a move to scrap those fees the banks charge. That said, they will just find another way to make the stores pay. The banks are the most unscrupulous pf organisations.
At one point in time they were all about customer service then it became all about profit, which was why my brother, a past top end manager with ANZ, took early retirement after almost 40 years with them.

 

[Monty M]

it is a rio off as you get charged even on a debit card. Insert your card at a register and half the time the machines will not accept your pin. I have had this a couple of times and then used my card straight after elsewhere and all is good. Same hapoens at a self serve register which you are forced to use when no registers are operating. I will only go to Aldi if I have enough cash. I do not like paying fees especially when using a debit card.

I shop at Aldi every week, use my Debit card and have never been slugged with any fees.

 

[Frida1944]

This is very old news. Out of curiosity I checked some of my recent Aldi receipts. I tap and go on my debit card. There are no charges on my receipts for this. Perhaps the charges only apply if you are using a credit card. However, because prices are so low at Aldi, and the quality is generally very good, I would have no problem paying an extra few cents due to the amount you are actually saving on your purchases.