Has your card surcharge been supercharged?
We are so used to paying for everything by debit or credit card these days, many of us barely give any thought to the little extra that is often tacked onto the purchase price. But you should take a closer look to avoid being needlessly stung by card surcharges.
Pay wise: How to keep card surcharges down
You might have heard that the Australian Government is preparing to ban debit card surcharges – those pesky percentages added to seemingly every electronic transaction.
Don’t get too excited. While the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) is reviewing card surcharges – which cost Australians anywhere between $1 billion and $4 billion a year – any change would not come into effect until 2026.
Rising toll: Latest builders to go bust
A group of construction companies all registered to the same address in NSW is among the latest builders to go bust, with the industry still battling the effects of inflation, rising costs and trade shortages. The liquidator said the collapse of
What’s a payday advance app in Australia?
Pay on demand applications such as MyPayNow and Beforepay are designed to provide access to a portion of earned but unpaid wages before your official payday. Like payday loans, payday advance apps in Australia offer a safety net if you’re caught short unexpectedly.
What can a debt collector legally do?
There are rules and regulations governing debt collection in Australia. While businesses and individuals are entitled to seek money they are owed, it is important to ask what can a debt collector legally do to ensure your rights are not infringed in the process.
What is a PayID business account scam?
If you are one of the millions of Australians using PayID, you have probably chosen it because of a mixture of convenience and security. But you can be vulnerable to a PayID business account scam – whether you have a business account or not.
Beware the PayID scam marketplace
As the cost of living bites in homes across the country, many Australians are turning to Facebook Marketplace to raise a bit of extra cash. But be warned: it has also become the PayID scam marketplace.
Rent increases: Do tenants have any rights?
Your landlord has just hit you with another rent rise. But this one isn’t just incremental, in keeping with inflation or the cost of living. It’s a jump of several hundred dollars a week. How are you going to afford it?
Smart money: How to avoid PayID scams
Have you heard about PayID scams? Perhaps you or a friend have fallen foul of the electronic payment system?
More than 18 million Australians have signed up to use PayID since its launch six years ago. The attraction is simple: it’s easy to use, free, and money is transferred quickly – whether you’re paying or being paid. The unique identifier (the ID part) is linked to your bank account and you only need a mobile number or email (and an ABN or CBN if you’re a business) to send and receive money.
The Australian Banking Association maintains it’s one of the most important steps customers can take to prevent scams, but the mobile-friendly service hasn’t been immune to scammers. Even the tech-savvy younger generation - least likely to be caught in other financial scams - has been caught out.
Online platforms such as Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are popular hunting grounds for PayID scams.
Bad numbers: What’s behind the record complaints against financial firms?
Are you unhappy with your bank? Still disputing a transaction on your account that you didn’t make? Or have your dealings with the buy now, pay later (BNPL) sector left you more than a little hot under the collar? You’re not