With banks phasing out cheques, and reports of a surcharge to use cash, they should scrap the transaction charge to traders for using cards. Most lotto sales agencies charge 15% on small card purchases, eg. less than $15.00. If payments over the counter are being limited to card payments, why should they be able to charge extra? I guess that the bank charges exceed the small profit the trader makes on the purchase. With the obscene profits made by banks, the government should outlaw them from holding customers to ransom. Almost all of my bills are paid by Bpay or direct debit,and 98% of over counter transactions by eftpos.