Famous sport bar faces backlash as fans discover this sneaky menu addition!

In bustling urban cities, the hum of people's conversations often fills a pub.

While bars and pubs are famous spots for social interaction, a local bar found itself at the centre of a controversy.

It's a cautionary story for businesses across the country and a potential pitfall for unwary consumers.


Card surcharges are a familiar annoyance for many of us.

While customers do not like these charges, they have become a common sight in many establishments.

However, the law has implemented strict rules about how these surcharges should be displayed, making sure that consumers know what they're actually paying for.

That's what happened at a Sydney bar as customers called them out for a sneaky detail on their menu.


compressed-ENGIE Stadium.jpeg
ENGIE Stadium products excluded possible surcharges off their menu prices. Image Credit: Reddit/pyrosx


A Sydney local stumbled upon a curious detail on a bar menu at the ENGIE Stadium.

The drink prices in the bar were displayed in bold, eye-catching font.

However, in the bottom right corner of the menu was a small notice which read, 'Card only—0.75% surcharge applies to all transactions.'

This tiny text sparked a debate on whether this approach to listing a surcharge was an overboard.


The anonymous local then asked, 'Card Surcharge. This isn't right, right?'

Locals quickly chimed in on the discussion.

'It is against the law. If there is no way to avoid the surcharge, then it must be included in the displayed prices and not as a separate add-on,' a comment read.

According to Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) guidelines, if there's no alternative to paying without a surcharge, venues should include surcharges in the displayed prices.


However, the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, which also operates Sydney Olympic Park, argued about the price rule.

They insisted that ENGIE Stadium has adhered to the ACCC guidelines.

According to them, accepting card payments speeds up transactions, which has been crucial for customer satisfaction in a fast-paced environment.

However, the ACCC clarified that businesses must be upfront about their pricing and cannot mislead consumers.


So, where does this leave consumers, especially seniors, who prefer paying in cash?

It's a reminder to keep our eyes peeled for the fine print and to understand our rights as consumers.

If you ever find yourself facing a sneaky surcharge, bring it up with the business immediately.

Consumers may also report these instances to their local fair trading or consumer affairs agency or the ACCC directly.

After all, every dollar counts and no one should be left feeling short-changed by sneaky surcharges.
Key Takeaways

  • A Sydney bar has been criticised for its surcharge disclosure practices, which did not align with ACCC guidelines.
  • The issue revolved around a 0.75 per cent card surcharge applied to all transactions but was displayed in smaller print.
  • The ACCC insisted that prices displayed must include any mandatory surcharges to avoid misleading customers.
  • If consumers have concerns about misleading pricing, they should first approach the business, then their local consumer affairs agency or the ACCC.
Have you ever encountered a hidden fee that left you feeling duped? Share your experiences in the comments below.
 

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Card surcharge can't be listed on displayed price, what if you are paying cash. we would need two different prices displayed.
WHY NOT ??? What is too hard about displaying :1) CASH PRICES
2) and below it PRICES INCLUDING CARD SURCHAGE
Then customers would realise just how much they are being RIPPED-OFF !!!
 
The Federal Government could do something but chooses not to. When you read about the massive profits made for shareholders, it would be nice to know what percentage is from our pockets in Bank Charges. The Banks have charges for charges, I am sure.
 
I can understand having a charge for using a credit card, IE: Visa, Mastercard, Amex etc. However if the money is coming out of your cheque or savings account there shouldn't be any additional charge as the supplier is not charged. Even so there are many places where all card transaction are charged extra from 0.75% to 1.6%.
Businesses are charged a fee by the banks on all card transactions, credit and debit.
 
Well, all I can say is that my wife and I only use the card for major purchases. We still pay by cash everywhere we go.
If they don't take cash, we go elsewhere.
 
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I thought that retailers could only charge customers the same % fee as their bank charged them for card use. This should be prominently displayed. Also, this surcharge should not be included in the price, because cash purchasers don't need to pay it.
 
after they get their way and cash disappears watch the rate go up ...all ready the charge makes our dollar now only worth .95cents once cash is gone the rate Will increase and with the 1c and 2c is gone so the smallest increase is 5c and if they get rid of the5c then the increase will be 10c....and we wont do a damm thing about it as usual
 
the card saves the merchant heaps as well as depositing the cash immediately in the account saves banking /risk of robbery ,accounting ,wrapping cash and preparing banking and in general advantaging the merchant saving heaps..so why should the costs all fall on the customer?surely it could be a cost to the business or at least half to customer and half to business
 
I know that businesses are charged a fee by their bank for the ‘Privilege’ of having the machine and being able to offer the option to their customers, and that the customer also pays a fee to their bank for being able to use their credit card……therefore debit cards should not attract that fee because a debit card transaction is immediately cleared funds….. I don’t get the ‘surcharge’…I mean what is it for? Usually a surcharge is charged for a service such as corkage, cutting a birthday cake, that kind of thing, which is a pain but people know it will be charged….. So what is it for and who gets it….is it supposed to be some kind of semi legal way of paying extra money for nothing…..so screw that…..also, as someone has pointed out, if these surcharges are sneakily added to the cost of something, he’s right and we wouldn’t know….. but if I were to find out that such an underhand thing was happening and the cost of my drink or my food was so expensive just because the company was extra greedy for money, I would certainly have something to say about it, and everyone would know it……..A sneaky company is never a good business….
 
Choice is important, i use my card a lot but if there's gonna be a charge for using it, cash should always be an option, if not I'm outta there asquick as anyone! Rogues!
 
I can understand having a charge for using a credit card, IE: Visa, Mastercard, Amex etc. However if the money is coming out of your cheque or savings account there shouldn't be any additional charge as the supplier is not charged. Even so there are many places where all card transaction are charged extra from 0.75% to 1.6%.
Merchants are charged fees by banks for processing all EFTPOS transactions & they are legally allowed to charge as long as the surcharge doesn’t exceed the cost to the business. The banks are the thieves as they make massive profits. Cash is the best way to pay.
 
Card surcharge can't be listed on displayed price, what if you are paying cash. we would need two different prices displayed.
Lots of these places don't accept cash anymore.
When overseas in Bali a few years ago, we went to Kintamani (mountain) for lunch.
It was a buffet, at a set price. I asked if it was OK if I payed in A$ as I wanted to hang onto my rupiah for market shopping.
I knew the daily conversion rate, but when the bill came it was nearly triple what it should have been. When I questioned it he told me the conversion rate was higher on the mountain than down in the city. LOL.

I wonder how many people had fallen for that porky or for that matter didn't even realise there was over 10, 000 rupiah to the dollar and they were being ripped off.

I told the guy to go away and I'd pay in rupiah.
 
It is also at the discretion of the trader if they accept cash at all. I had assumed that as its legal tender I ccoulsdnt be refused so unless the insert cards an and Eftpos sysrem used, you will be charged!d
 

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