Domino's introduced a Card surcharge about 0.93%

Just looked at my CC statement and found to be charged a 0.93% surcharge on my order.
Payed instore with Mastercard CC (google wallet).

Just letting others know how bad dominos is becoming. Upon contacting store, manager said this was the reason for overcharging, and BS stuff like online would have been surcharged as well.
There was nothing online about surcharge, nor in store visible enough. Manager said they introduced this surcharge like 2 weeks ago. But shouldn't dominos make people more aware of surcharge ? given it never used to put any surcharge. Manager said they wont do anything about it, as one would expect.

Still nothing on the domino's website about any Card surcharge on use of visa/mastercard/tap and pay etc (the usual aldi surcharge). Manager even said If i had placed order online via card I would have had to pay it, and it says on website and in terms and conditions.

link to dominos terms and conditions - https://www.dominos.com.au/about-us/contact-us/terms-conditi…

I would ofcourse strongly avoid this stupid store in future, their CS team is usually a lot lot better than this and would have corrected this by some reasonable means.

Glad I bought using Credit Card, strongly inclined to dispute transaction through CC issuer. The issue is not 0.93% surcharge, it is them charging more without making us aware of being charged extra. Not once but three times. Until Customer looked at the CC statement.

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Comments

  • +49

    But shouldn't dominos make people more aware of surcharge

    All credit card surcharges have to be displayed/advised up front.

    My pet peeve are places that don't accept 'cash', but then force a credit card surcharge. Ummm if you don't accept cash and cards are the only form of payment, then it should be built into your prices.

    • +32

      My pet peeve are places that don't accept 'cash', but then force a credit card surcharge. Ummm if you don't accept cash and cards are the only form of payment, then it should be built into your prices.

      Those businesses should be reported to the ACCC.

      https://www.accc.gov.au/business/pricing/card-surcharges#whe…

      In the example they give there, if there's a coffee advertised as $5, but cash is not accepted and the lowest possible surcharge is 15 cents, then the advertised price should be $5.15, not $5, since it's not actually possible to buy a coffee at the $5 advertised price.

      • -1

        How about weekend surcharge

        • +7

          How about weekend surcharge

          As long as its displayed on the menu.

          Here is a fun bit, ask the staff if they are getting any extra for working that day to usual. If they are not, then kick up a stink over paying the surcharge as this surcharge was to cover the increased weekend wages.

          • @JimmyF: As much as I agree with you, they can legally charge a Sunday surcharge, the employment arrangements with staff are irrelevant, as long as they are displaying the surcharge tariff, that's all that matters from an advertised pricing perspective.

            • @SimAus007: While they are legally allowed to charge it, it was sold/allowed under the 'claim' that weekend/public holidays the places have to pay more for staff, so it was a way to cover that. So for places that charge the surcharge but don't pay the staff any extra, then its just a pure price grab for the owner, nothing more, nothing less.

              So yeah I'll make it known for sure I don't agree with crap like that!

        • +4

          Dominos displays that weekend surcharge pretty well, aka CUSTOMERS KNOWS THE PRICE they would be paying before being stung that extra surcharge. On website and in store they have that weekend, public holiday surcharge displayed well enough to me, and it has been a norm with them for a long time.

          but this sudden CC surcharge is novel thingie, so deserves a stronger awaring of customers, and customers don't know full price of transaction before payment, unlike the weekend/public holiday surcharge (where the receipt/order email does say how much $ is due).

          I aint saying weekend surcharge is good or bad, But that they actually display it, and customer generally DOES KNOW they gonna be stung that, and they are ever told the surcharge added price before payment.

          • -3

            @USER DC: I can't believe this kept you up last night, around 2am on a Saturday.

      • +1

        Wonder if ACCC should talk to HCF about their Thank You program which puts a 1% surcharge on card payments and there's no way to avoid it.

      • +4

        Those businesses should be reported to the ACCC.

        Interestingly, I reported a car hire chain for this, not accepting cash, only credit card, then having a forced surcharge on top of this. This was a few years ago and they said that was 'ok', but seems they have changed their minds now.

        With this new knowledge, I'll be reporting lots of businesses that are doing this!

  • +14

    I paid for Domino's on their website on Thursday and wasn't charged a surcharge.

    I suspect your local franchise has added one to their EFTPOS machine.

    • +1

      I suspect that now strongly too, But how can dominos allow this ?? The store is STILL A FRANCHISE, this kinda behavior would affect Dominos Australia reputation, not just that particular franchise.

      It was @ Dominos Fulham

      • +5

        Complain to head office and let them know you won’t be shopping there in future.

      • +2

        Dominos Australia reputation

        Lol

    • Also charged a surcharge from a Dominos owned restaurant in Queen St Brisbane city several weeks ago. Paid in store without being told about it. Realised it when checking receipt at home.

      • Yeah i got a surcharge the other day too in NSW. It was displayed but what you gonna do if you don't carry cash?

  • +3

    Did you check with Dominos customer care or complaints department. They may look into it?

    • +16

      Nah Ozb first, maybe ACCC then bank charge back before complaint to Domino's

    • -1

      Have sent em feedback, on latest order's email. But my assumption is they would likely respond within a week.

      Cannot really dispute transaction today, because Bank has dispute portal not working today. Will have to do that later in the evening.

      • Maybe the bank dispute portal is broken due to an overwhelming number of frivolous disputes?

      • -2

        Make sure you make a complaint about the bank not having their dispute portal available. Furthermore, dispute the fact that you need to call them and they should pay for part of your phone bill. Then spend literally hours of your week thinking about disputing your dominos surcharge and let it take away from any precious time you have to relax. Do not give up. Fight the fight for your surcharge and never again use the business. Report to every government organisation available and hound them daily, hourly even, until justice is served.

      • -1

        because Bank has dispute portal not working today

        Complain to the ombudsman.

  • +3

    I ordered through the app on Tuesday & wasn’t charged a surcharge. I don’t think the store is being honest.

  • +1

    Got 3 Meat Lovers Pizzas for $15 yesterday. There was no surcharge - looks like a Fulham Store Issue.

    • Yep, ordered the same through my store - twice. $30 for 6 meatlovers, paid in app - no surcharges.

  • +17

    Hopefully not true or these surcharges will cause a domino effect

  • +15

    I recommend treating yourself to a nice wood fired pizza at you local non chain pizza restaurant.

    • +1

      $30 a pizza at my local woodfired place.

      • +8

        Money well spent.

      • +1

        Don’t eat it as often as you’d eat domino’s and support a business that deserves it

    • -2

      I agree… haven't had a Domino's Pizza in last 10-12 years..
      Reason? They were promoting a very healthy pizza with very low calories the last time me and a mate ordered it, (Yes stupid of me to believe a pizza can be healthy when I was that young lol), anyways I ordered it… and to my surprise.. the pizza was the size of a circle that you can make with your thumbs and middle finger connecting on both your hands.. no where did they say that the reason for less calories is because pizza is 25% size of normal pizza.. I stopped buying Domino's after that and haven't looked back.

      • +1

        Do you have a pic. That would be hilarious

        • Unfortunately not.. :/

  • I'm surprised there isn't a surcharge for the Box the Pizza comes in. lol

  • I got charged the same surcharge when paying with card in store at Applecross WA. Wonder if they will be rolling this out across more stores over time.

  • I thought the rules changed a while ago that if you charge a surcharge it has to match the business's actual cost of taking credit cards. I find it hard to believe that domino's are really paying 0.93% as big business's get a much better deal on credit card processing than small ones.

  • +2

    Dominos have been using accountants to make pizzas for the last 6 years at least.
    The only toppings I've seen are 10% Sunday surcharges holidays and goo that has replaced real food as an alternative.
    Will this idea successfully work for Coles Woolworths and BP.
    Goo pretend beef sausages

  • +1

    The new terminals are SmartPay Brand

    https://www.smartpay.com.au/meet-our-latest-winner-of-our-re…

    When my Dominos store switched to Smartpay, I was amazed. I did not have to pay a cent in merchant fees which had a tremendous impact on our cashflow. Eventually, I switched all our businesses EFTPOS solutions to Smartpay and have not looked back since. We are saving thousands every month! I began referring Smartpay within a month of switching as I was so impressed by the savings and will continue recommending it to my business network.

    https://www.smartpay.com.au/why-smartpay/eftpos-for-food-ser…

    Why spend a cut of your annual profits on EFTPOS fees? At Smartpay, we’re making a huge difference to your cash flow by offering our Zero Cost EFTPOS solution. This allows you to pass on your merchant fees and save on costs. It’s money your business can use to cover other monthly expenses!

    They put lots of signs on the counter saying you will pay a surcharge.

    I asked the staff how much it was and they said they didn't know.

    I think you will find the screen will display the charge before tapping/enter pin like in more fancy restaurant with tyro terminals?

    • +2

      My bet is the screen displayed the correct total before OP used their phone.

      • To be honest, I didn't even see the order final order amount on the employee entered on the machine,
        BECAUSE the employee was holding the terminal in his hand, after putting in the numbers (aka terminal facing store not me as customer).
        I only know tapping my phone over the terminal expecting dominos to only charge me the correct amount like they always had in past.

        But my guess is that employee most likely put in the same order amount as on order email, and receipt, But I was charged extra afterwards.
        Just like the comment below suggests, https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/12810416/redir. Although my initial thought was ofcourse otherwise.

        from my memory their payment terminal did NOT look like this Looked like same one as in past something like this Definitely had silver at top not BLACK.

        • +4

          Why would you tap your card/phone on a terminal where you can't see the amount? No one but yourself to blame for that!

          • +1

            @barcer: Why?
            to not look rude, I had no reason to suspect being overcharged. Not been overcharged in past @ that store or any other dominos (without knowing what I would be charged). A genuine business would only have charged me what receipt says

            • +4

              @USER DC: Maybe I'm paranoid, but I absolutely never tap without seeing the amount on the POS terminal.

              • +1

                @barcer: The POS may only show you the total pre-surcharge.

                Quite a few POS will only charge the surcharge after you have tapped (ie it identifies your card and then slaps on appropriate charge for AMEX vs MC vs VISA vs EFTPOS).

              • +1

                @barcer: Most people will tap without seeing it, I've worked with those Square devices that connect to the phone and people are so eager to tap that I can't flip the tablet to show them their total before they've paid.

                • +1

                  @[Deactivated]: Hmmm, guess I'm just paranoid then. Although surely OzB people would be a little more careful with their spending?

                  • @barcer: I'm guilty of not checking, tapping and then suddenly looking to make sure, almost like it is a reflex. I'd feel awkward anyway cancelling a purchase as small as a pizza with a <1% surcharge when it went that far though. I'd probably just avoid going there in the future unless they have something worthwhile, like Aldi.

        • -2

          Right, so you're up in arms about not being made aware of the CC surcharge "Until Customer looked at the CC statement", despite not looking at the EFTPOS terminal and likely signs on the counter.

          I don't charge CC costs in my business but I totally understand why a small business with slim margins, rising costs and prices defined by the franchiser would.

          • +3

            @nse:

            despite not looking at the EFTPOS terminal

            employee was holding the terminal in his hand, he was facing the side of terminal with writing.
            Even if it was facing me, it would have not warned me about a surcharge, It automatically deducts payment.

            Ever try going through drive through, at fast food restaurants you'll be amazed at the number of who do not look at payment terminal and just tap their card.

            and likely signs on the counter

            There were none.

  • +2

    Not sure how you missed the sign OP?

    It is the blue one on the counter

    • -1

      Don't remember there being any such blue sign near the payment terminal or table on which they had the payment terminal at.

      My guess is they probably put that sign there now. (Although I don't really think your photo is of the store I visited. Thanks for pointing out some stores have it next to their payment terminal tho)

      But on another note, If that's just inside store terminal, then technically paying online via website would be surcharge free? - this is opposite to what manager told me, whether he told truth or not is another story. I personally am not ordering @that store in near future to find out any answers.

  • +2

    This happened to me at Ogalo recently.
    1% surcharge that didn't even appear on the tax invoice but was charged to my card. Pretty sure it's completely illegal and somebody just pocketed the surcharge without reporting it lol

  • +1

    @WoodYouLikeSomeCash You've got some explaining to do buddy!

  • +4

    It’s up to the franchisee as to whether they decide to absorb the surcharge cost or pass it onto customers. Online ordering shouldn’t have a card surcharge as the billing is managed by head office, definitely fill out a feedback form to head office if the store was being shady and not displaying/making you aware about the card surcharge.

    • Appreciate this. Thanks
      Manager was definitely not being 100% honest then (in saying that If I had ordered online I would have had to pay surcharge online too).

      It’s up to the franchisee as to whether they decide to absorb the surcharge cost or pass it onto customers.

      A bit difficult to believe dominos to allow it. But I guess its okay if they display that well enough, and make customer aware enough of that surcharge. (They definitely didn't display info about this surcharge well enough). People would just pay online with CC without surcharge.

      In future I will just simply see it as a surcharge for not prepayment, may be this is to discourage people ordering online with PAY IN STORE WITH CC method. May be stores are getting too much orders without payment and then left to pay cost of making food ? But to make it look fair, slap surcharge on all payments instore with card ?

    • It’s up to the franchisee as to whether they decide to absorb the surcharge cost or pass it onto customers

      When did they change the policy? I remember reading a policy saying franchisees aren't allowed to

  • -2

    All this fuss over a .93% surcharge. If your order was $30 the surcharge was 28 cents.

    I'd hate to see how excited you would be if you found 5 cents on the footpath.

    • From Franchisee's point of view they'd easily be racking up like $100s of $100s from these card fees everyday.

      That's from Customer's point of view in order was a small amount. When it would come a public holiday not only customer will be charged 15% normal surcharge, But 0.93% ish on that 15% surcharge too.

      Sure you may call it a fuss, But it still is against the law for business to overcharge customers (with surcharge), without their knowledge.

      • +3

        From Franchisee's point of view they'd easily be racking up like $100s of $100s from these card fees everyday.

        How much do you think the daily turnover of a Domino's is?

        • +1

          Domino's aren't making $100s and $100s on the .93% surcharge. They are recuperating a cost the bank charges to process the credit cards.

      • But it still is against the law for business to overcharge customers (with surcharge), without their knowledge.

        but are you sure there isn't a sign? Most people just tap and go and don't even bother looking. There could be a small sign there and you didnt even look, which is common as you are not expecting it.

  • +9

    Guys. I said it once and I'll say it again. Fork out a few extra bob and support a local business.. Stop buying this silicone coated garbage. It's cheap but not even remotely close to a real pizza.

  • +3

    More and more places seem to be doing it now that not many people are using cash. Annoying

    • We'll soon be a fully cash less society. I don't remember the last time I actually spent cash at any where I could paywave/tap-go etc

      • So how come it makes sense to apply a surcharge fee if using a credit card is so common? Its just beyond me.

        A cost of a technology should be cheaper if everybody uses it. Or im just missing something.

        • I agree. Wasn't that long ago, they were all actively encouraging everyone to only pay wave/tap instead of cash.
          Alot places that was the only way.

  • Pretty sure this has been a thing for a while

  • +2

    It's not an overcharge if it's passing on the actual cost, is it?

    I don't mind paying the surcharge a small business would be slugged.

  • +1

    Dominos Narrabeen Sydney have been surcharging 1.5% in store for months since it changed owners for the third time in two years.
    I have looked and never been able to see a sign. I reluctantly pay it because I still get 2% cashback from HSBC for instore purchases only.

  • Surcharges are everywhere now. Especially paying bills online.
    I dred the day we ever go cashless.

  • +1

    I love how some machines state something along the lines of “surcharge may be added” while you’re authenticating, then don’t show you what you’ve paid until the payment has been approved!

    Also, aren’t most people using cards these days? Surely businesses should be accounting for this in their prices? Although it could be because they can justify the surcharge they charge it, even if they’ve accounted for the card use already.

  • has anyone also noticed ACCC has changed the way payments are now accepted and that business' do not have the "offer payment method without fee" rule, now its if there is no alternative to a fee it must clearly be displayed

  • -3

    F%#k me. This is definitely ozbargain…

    0.93%… so literally 9.3c for every $10 spent…

    So if you bought $100 worth of pizzas, you would be paying $100.93 including surcharge…

    93c for every $100…

    Lets all remember to walk in with our torches and pitchforks next time we have to pay $5.05 for our $5 pizza….

    If you made $20 per hour, the hour it took to complain, research, and write this post it would have covered your surcharge fees for the next 309 traditional pizzas at $6.95ea using the coupons. If you had a pizza once a week, thats 6 years worth of pizza.

    • Thanks Einstein. Suppose you tip them too.

  • Who buys pizzas from Dominos? They taste like cardboard and the slices aren't even cut correctly!

  • -1

    I am so frustrated, my local dominos refused to accept my litecoin. I argued relentlessly with the 15 year old behind the counter for at least five minutes before the manager came and started to get angry at me because I wanted to use quote “some crypto rubbish”
    Don’t they know that this is the future currency, this will be the only way we will ever use money
    I do not use dirty corrupted fiat money, nor do I eat anything which does not contain saturated fat (look into studies from J.Mehoff). I then tried to explain why I should be able to use my litecoin at the restaurant and they eventually called police for my disturbance
    I ran away from the scene, only after throwing a bag of my blind mutt dogs waste into the kitchen area and screaming obscenities while I got onto my vegetable oil powered one wheel and went home. I am in severe need of help

  • Just insert debit card, and click on savings. I believe this method pays via the EFTPOS network (and not VISA/Matercard). There's still a fee, but it's usually cheaper than what the merchant charges for paying via the VISA/Mastercard network.

  • +1

    Use cash. Problem solved.

  • This is super dodgy, I reckon you sue them for the difference and then we can have it down as precedent so others won't get screwed over by this blatant bait and switch.

  • They almost always charge as well when using EFTPOS cards which don't use the credit card company processing.

  • Stopped buying from Dominos ever since they started selling cardboard instead of pizza. So yeah a few years now.

  • my local has a little desk plaque instore
    1.5% visa/mc
    0.25% eftpos

    my second local did not have surcharge when paid instore

    • LoL surcharge even on eftpos ? surely this is a bit too far.

      The franchisee is not considering cost of keeping cash, (aka cash requires more employee/labour time e.g. depositing cash, sending in safe, counting cash, etc.) My gut says that cost is probably more than this 0.25% they are charging for eftpos.

      Who knows man, in future they'd start charging surcharge for literal CASH payments, with an excuse of employee's hours need to be increased to handle cash or something like that.

  • My local has added a new 6% service charge on all orders now regardless of using card/eftpos or cash or PayPal.

    On top of that the first time I tried their new app I paid in advance by card and was triple charged for one pizza.. Luckily it was just a $3 mini so only down by $6.. Not gonna contest it not worth my time and the headache of chasing it up already sounds like a poor waste of my free time and energy just now doing either cash or PayPal or card in store to avoid future "accidents" with paying in advance with card.. This was when the latest app just came out could be fixed now but I'm not gonna test it.

  • -1

    Domino's are dirty doggies. Going to keep reporting shit pizzas and get free ones to make up the difference.

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