ALDI shoppers are divided over tap-and-go fees—where do you stand?

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.


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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?
 

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ALDI has always had that charge...as long as I can remember. I pay cash. Problem solved.
Applies to credit card transactions whether you tap or swipe - always has been since Aldi opened their first store. This transaction was on credit card so fee applies.
 
Remember back when it was minimum $5 spend for cards? Then it was those hand held machines lay down the card, then a triplicate form goes over it and swipe, give card and one form back as proof of paying. How lots forget and this is a seniors site and no dementia because well. you are here capable of reading and typing.
That minimum was to cover bank fees and the $5 min and paying process gives the age away.
Bank fees have been around since Adam and Eve.

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If you haven't known about this before, then it's your own fault! Aldi have had this in operation since it started operations. So many use the convenience of paywave or tap n go, that they ignore signs or information about surcharges on credit cards. Many petrol stations, and even some pubs, and clubs are now doing it. I've seen many people advised, and they just do the most convenient for themselves.
 
I think you will find it is a bank think not an Aldi thing.
I think you will find it's an Aldi thing, nothing to do with the bank, otherwise it would not have items in categories eg, A & B
 
Aldi have always charged credit card fees, those from the Bank, that's why I won't shop with them. ALL their profit go overseas.
 
Nnothing new been the same since aldi opened. Some people are just slow learners.
 
It doesn’t happen in uk so I wasn’t expecting it here. I queried it with the cashier who immediately told me how to avoid it.
 
It used to be on their advertisiing board which hangs over the tellers. I asked an employee who was buying something at the checkout and inserted his card, and he told me that by inserting their were no fees, so have inserted ever since, and mentioned it to a few customers when I have seenthem tap. I ALWAYS ask for a receipt every time I make a purchase as I like to keep a personal record but I notice the majority of people either say no thankyou, or don't ask, so they wouldn't even notice. I also do not want electronic receipts.
 
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” 😡
My local baker has cash only and has for nearly 40 years hasn’t hindered him at all
 
This charge has been applied for years. Always insert your card not tap.
 
The aldi card fee has been there since they first opened. To avoid card fee don’t tap. Insert card ( efposs) and complete transaction. No card fee…
 
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It’d not the surcharge that I don’t like about our local Aldi as it has been public knowledge for years that Aldi charges one if you use your card (unless you insert it).
Our local Aldi has 6 self serve counters and one manned counter..
ALL six shelve serve counters are ”Card only” forcing people to pay by card.
If the service counter is not manned I simply demand to be served and pay cash!
 
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The business has to pay for card facilities so why shouldn't you ? Don't want to pay fees, pay cash like I do.
 
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” 😡
They didn't make the GST law so how is it a rip off?
 
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.
Glad to see you take notice of the cost of buying individual fruit/veg. I see the word 'sneaky' every time credit card charges are mentioned. The day we receive a credit card, we are told of charges. GST is not optional. The charge discussed in this article clearly states it's on GST. Merchants always pass on the cost of processing these charges. There's NOTHING sneaky about this charge. Complaining Tap n Go users are obviously irresponsible people because they use a convenient service without reading the terms and conditions first.
 
I find the Aldi comment ‘this surcharge helps to keep our prices low’ ridiculous. In other words we pay the same high prices for goods because we are slugged at the register. I’ll be changing the way I pay, I feel ripped off - not happy Jan!
 
Goes to show most people don't check the docket. I always do and find lots of overcharges on a regular basis. The fees levied by banks on businesses are tax deductible and there is no justification for collecting them from customers as well - double-dipping in fact. Unfortunately the Reserve Bank so far has sanctioned them being on-charged. To begin with, only credit cards were to be charged, not savings or cheque accounts. It's time the system was corrected to favour the customer.
 
Aldi have always had this charge and it is noted at every checkout point so whoever complained must have had their head in the sand since they started to shop at Aldi.
 
It’d not the surcharge that I don’t like about our local Aldi as it has been public knowledge for years that Aldi charges one if you use your card (unless you insert it).
Our local Aldi has 6 self serve counters and one manned counter..
ALL six shelve serve counters are ”Card only” forcing people to pay by card.
If the service counter is not manned I simply demand to be served and pay cash!
Me as well cash is king
 
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