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Pinch - Australian pricing and surcharge changes from 1 October 2026
From 1 October 2026, Pinch Payments updated its standard Merchant Service Fees and removed surcharging across card and BECS Direct Debit payments. This article explains what changed, which Pinch customers are affected and whether you need to make any changes to your account.
What changed?
From 1 October 2026:
- Surcharging is no longer available for card payments through Pinch.
- Pinch has also chosen to remove surcharging for BECS Direct Debit payments.
- The standard rate for domestic Visa and Mastercard transactions is now 1.70% + 30c per transaction.
- The standard BECS Direct Debit rate is now 1.00% + 30c per transaction, capped at $3.
- Pinch automatically updated the relevant fee components across existing customers, invoices, payment plans and subscriptions.
- Other non-processing charges, including dispute and transfer fees remain unchanged.
If you have custom, commercial or negotiated pricing, see What if I have custom or negotiated pricing below.
Why was card surcharging removed?
From 1 October 2026, Visa, Mastercard, eftpos and American Express introduced no-surcharge rules across credit, debit and prepaid card payments following the Reserve Bank of Australia's Review of Merchant Card Payment Costs and Surcharging.
As part of the broader changes, interchange fee caps were also reduced.
You can read more from the RBA here.
Pinch has passed the resulting savings through to merchants on our standard pricing, reducing the standard domestic Visa and Mastercard Merchant Service Fee by 0.25 percentage points, from 1.95% + 30c to 1.70% + 30c per transaction.
Why has Pinch also removed surcharging on Direct Debit?
The regulatory changes apply to card payments and do not require Pinch to remove surcharging from BECS Direct Debit.
Pinch has chosen to remove Direct Debit surcharging to provide a simpler and more consistent payment experience across the payment methods available through Pinch.
At the same time, the standard Direct Debit transaction cap has been reduced from $5 to $3. The standard rate is now:
1.00% + 30c per transaction, capped at $3.
What are the current standard Pinch rates?
Card payments
| Transaction type | Standard rate |
|---|---|
| Domestic Visa/Mastercard | 1.70% + 30c |
| Domestic American Express | 2.50% + 30c |
| International Visa/Mastercard | 3.90% + 30c |
| International American Express | 3.90% + 30c |
Direct Debit
| Transaction type | Standard rate |
|---|---|
| BECS Direct Debit | 1.00% + 30c, capped at $3 |
Other charges
| Fee type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Dispute fee, cards | $35 |
| Dispute fee, Direct Debit | $25 |
| Dishonour fee, Direct Debit | $5 |
| Dishonour fee, cards | Equal to the transaction fee, up to a $5 cap |
| Transfer fee, Direct Debit | $1 |
Who do these pricing changes apply to?
These standard rates apply to merchants using Pinch Payments directly on our standard pricing.
This includes many businesses that signed up through Pinch, were referred by an accountant or bookkeeper, and use Pinch to collect payments on invoices from Xero, QuickBooks or MYOB.
If you use Pinch through another software platform, your pricing may be different. Please contact your software provider for information about the pricing that applies to you.
Do I need to update my existing payments?
No.
Pinch automatically updated the applicable fee components across existing invoices, payment plans and subscriptions.
Your existing payment workflows, accounting integrations, pre-approvals and automatic reconciliation continue to work as normal.
What if I have custom or negotiated pricing?
If you have custom, commercial or negotiated pricing, the standard pricing changes do not automatically replace your agreed rates.
Your existing pricing agreement remains the reference point unless Pinch has contacted you to confirm a separate change.
If you're unsure which pricing applies to your account, please contact Pinch Support.
Where can I see my current pricing?
You can view the rates that apply to your account in the Getting Paid section of your Pinch settings.
You can also download your monthly statements from the Settlements section to review your payment fees and the breakdown of Card and Direct Debit transactions.
Can I turn surcharging back on?
No. Surcharging is no longer available through Pinch for Card or BECS Direct Debit payments.
The removal of card surcharging reflects the no-surcharge rules introduced from 1 October 2026.
While BECS Direct Debit is not covered by those regulatory changes, Pinch has also chosen to remove Direct Debit surcharging.
What should I do if I previously relied on surcharging?
If you previously used surcharging to pass payment costs on to your customers, we recommend reviewing your payment costs and discussing any changes to your business pricing with your accountant or business adviser.
Pinch can help you understand the fees and payment options available through your account, but we can't provide financial, legal or taxation advice.
Need help?
If you have questions about the pricing that applies to your account or how these changes affect your existing Pinch payments, please contact Pinch Support.