Businesses grapple with the cost of customers 'wanting to pay by card'

Key points

• Small businesses across New South Wales are working out how to cover merchant fees after the Reserve Bank of Australia banned extra charges for card payments. The ban took effect on October 1.
• Sydney cafe owner Philip Barbaro said his group pays about $150,000 a year in merchant fees and has raised prices on some menu items. Baker Chris Skuce said he has absorbed the cost so far but expects to raise prices at some stage.
• The Australian Competition & Consumer Commission said businesses must not mislead consumers about prices or the reasons for changes.