Pricing

  • Businesses are generally able to set their own prices, but must do so independently of their competitors.
  • Businesses must display clear and accurate prices, and must not mislead consumers about their prices.
  • Businesses can charge a surcharge for paying by card, but the surcharge must not be more than what it costs the business to use that payment type.
  • There is a ban on excessive surcharges for particular cards.

Card surcharges

If a business charges a payment surcharge, it must be able to prove the costs it's based on. If there's no way to pay without a surcharge, the surcharge must be included in the displayed price.

Price displays

Businesses must display clear and accurate prices, and must not mislead consumers about their prices. There are specific laws about how businesses must display their prices.

Setting prices: what's allowed

Businesses are generally able to set their own prices. But they mustn't mislead consumers about what they will be charged or why, and must set prices independently of their competitors.

Unit prices for groceries

Unit pricing, such as the price per kilogram, per litre and per item, helps consumers compare prices for groceries and find the best value for money.