Card Surcharge Ban in Victoria: Why Our Prices Are Changing

What the new card surcharge rules mean for our customers and our business.

From 1 October 2026, businesses across Australia can no longer charge customers a separate surcharge for payments made using Visa, Mastercard, eftpos and American Express. While this is welcome news for customers who prefer paying by card, the cost of accepting those payments has not simply disappeared.

At Millennium Lighting, we want to be transparent about what this change means for our customers and why we are adjusting our prices.

Why are our prices increasing?

Previously, card surcharges helped us recover some of the costs associated with processing card payments. Under the new rules, we can no longer charge these fees separately when customers pay by card.

However, our banks and payment providers still charge us fees every time we process eligible card transactions. These costs remain part of running our business, even though we can no longer display them as a separate card surcharge.

As a result, we have had to review our pricing to account for these ongoing operating expenses.

We understand that nobody enjoys a price increase, and we have not made this decision lightly. Like any small business, we need to ensure our prices allow us to continue providing quality products, reliable installations and the level of service our customers expect from Millennium Lighting.

It is not just the banks. Our suppliers are facing the same changes.

Another important part of this conversation is our suppliers.

Many suppliers also deal with payment processing fees and rising business expenses. As businesses across the supply chain adjust to the new rules, we are also seeing the impact of changing costs on the products we purchase.

This means the effect is not limited to the transaction between us and our customers. Costs can flow through from suppliers to retailers and service providers, ultimately affecting the prices we need to charge.

We cannot speak for every supplier or how they have adjusted their pricing, but we believe it is important to acknowledge the wider impact these changes can have on small businesses.

We still accept card payments

To be clear, we are not stopping card payments.

You can still pay for your purchases and services at Millennium Lighting using your card. We understand that card payments are convenient, widely used and sometimes the preferred option for our customers.

The difference is that our pricing must now account for the costs of accepting these payments, rather than adding a separate card surcharge at checkout.

How can you help support our business?

If you would like to help us minimise payment processing costs, we encourage customers to consider paying by cash, bank transfer or PayID where available.

These payment methods can help reduce our reliance on card processing services and the associated fees. Every little bit helps us manage our operating costs while continuing to offer quality automotive lighting products and professional auto-electrical services.

Of course, we understand that these options may not suit everyone, and you are still welcome to pay by card.

Our commitment to our customers

At Millennium Lighting, we remain committed to providing quality products, professional workmanship and honest customer service.

We know price matters, especially when households and businesses are managing their own rising expenses. That is why we want to explain the reasons behind our pricing changes rather than leave our customers wondering why prices have changed.

The card surcharge ban may remove a separate fee from your receipt, but it does not eliminate the costs businesses face when accepting card payments. We must adapt to these changes while continuing to operate sustainably and provide the service our customers deserve.

Thank you for continuing to support Millennium Lighting. As a local business, your support makes a real difference, and we genuinely appreciate every customer who chooses to shop with us or trust us with their vehicle.

Millennium Lighting
Quality products. Professional installations. Honest service.