For the convenience of paying for a sandwich or a pie at Orange High School’s canteen with an EFTPOS card, it will cost you 50 cents.
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Since the introduction of the EFTPOS machine 12 months ago, the canteen has been charging up to a dollar for transactions.
“It’s disgusting,” one parent, speaking on condition of anonymity said.
“It’s cashing in on the kids. I don’t know how they can do that, it’s a bit rich. I don’t think they should be charging at all. It’s becoming a cashless society, they need to offer an EFTPOS service, but the charges to use it are outrageous.”
Orange High School’s P&C committee runs the canteen and president Keith Lummis said the canteen’s operation was reviewed regularly.
At their meeting on November 23, the committee made up of parents and school staff, reduced the fee to 50 cents a transaction from $1. The surcharge covers the cost of operating the machine and providing the service.
“Usage has increased since it was first introduced 12 months ago,” Mr Lummis said. He said there were products available for less than $5 and many transactions were less than $10.
“We brought it [EFTPOS] in as a service for the children,” Mr Lummis said. “[Sales] seem to have increased but the canteen is always busy at lunchtime. Any profits raised through the canteen go back into the school for resources.”
Mr Lummis said this year the P&C had donated $60,000 to assist resurface the school’s basketball courts.
New rules from the Reserve Bank of Australia will restrict the amount that can be charged. From September 1 next year, small businesses will not be able to issue a surcharge more than the cost of using EFTPOS or credit cards.