Need to disclose surcharge

AHEAD of the Easter holidays, the Commerce Commission is reminding businesses to clearly disclose their surcharge to consumers.

Commissioner Anna Rawlings said surcharges were sometimes applied to recover additional costs such as staff wages, as employees get a higher pay rate when working a public holiday under the Holidays Act.

She said it was the companies’ responsibility to clearly and accurately inform consumers there was a surcharge.

‘‘It is important consumers are made aware of a business’s intention to add a surcharge upfront so they can make a decision about whether they

❛ Businesses that are

planning to add a surcharge this Easter need to alert potential

customers to it

are prepared to pay it or buy elsewhere,’’ Ms Rawlings said.

One way to do this was placing signs in prominent areas, such as outside the cafe or at the bar counter, she said.

Ms Rawlings said businesses also needed to be careful not to mislead customers about the reasons for the surcharge.

‘‘For example, a business must not claim it is applying a surcharge on Easter Sunday because it is a public holiday.

‘‘This would be inaccurate because the only public holidays over the Easter weekend are Good Friday and Easter Monday.’’

All businesses trading this Easter weekend should make sure they are complying with the Fair Trading Act and not misleading customers.

Ms Rawlings said consumers who felt they had been misled could contact the commission.