Frequently Asked Questions

How We Handle Payment Surcharges

You may have seen recent news about changes to how card surcharges work in Australia. The Reserve Bank of Australia has concluded a major review of merchant card payment costs and surcharging, and from October 2026, card networks will be able to ban surcharges on consumer transactions entirely. It's a significant shift for Australian retail - and we want to be transparent about where we stand. We've never charged you a surcharge - and we never will. Since we opened our doors, Assistive Tech has absorbed the cost of card acceptance for every retail customer, on every order, across every payment method. Whether you're paying by Visa, Mastercard, or eftpos - online or over the phone - the price you see is the price you pay. No surprise fees at checkout. That's always been our policy, and it won't change. The RBA's reforms simply formalise what we've always believed: customers deserve pricing they can trust from the start. What about businesses and organisations purchasing from us? Many of our customers are businesses, NDIS providers, allied health practices, schools, and government agencies that purchase equipment in volume. For these customers, we provide bulk and organisational quotes tailored to your specific requirements. Our quotes to business customers are based on the cost of the goods and services themselves - they don't incorporate the cost of card acceptance. If your organisation pays by card at the point of settlement, the merchant fee for that transaction will be passed through at cost. This is standard practice in B2B procurement and reflects the reality that card acceptance for commercial transactions sits outside the scope of the RBA's consumer surcharging reforms. If you'd prefer to avoid card fees entirely, we're happy to discuss payment by bank transfer, which carries no additional cost. Questions? We're always happy to talk through payment options before you commit to an order. Reach out to our team and we'll find an arrangement that works for you.