Europcar Fined $350K for Credit, Debit Card Surcharges
Europcar admitted it charged Mastercard and Visa users more than was needed to process their payments.

Since late 2016, large businesses in Australia have been banned from collecting surcharges for credit or debit card use that go above what the bank charges for the transaction.
Photo via Depositphotos.
The Federal Court of Australia ruled that Europcar charged customers excessive fees for using their credit or debit cards to rent vehicles, the Australian Financial Review reports.
In 2017, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission took the rental agency to court. Europcar later admitted it charged Mastercard and Visa users more than was needed to process their payments.
Since late 2016, large businesses in Australia have been banned from collecting surcharges for credit or debit card use that go above what the bank charges for the transaction.
The court found Europcar deliberately did not update its system to be in compliance with the new law.
Europcar has been issued a $350,000 fine.
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