Bank customers exempted from a plastic card fee

[img_assist|nid=8561|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=83|height=100]According to Hon Peter Dunne, Minister of Revenue, New Zealand customers making online student loan or child support payments to Inland Revenue are to be exempt of an extra 2.49% bank fee.

“This change reflects the Government’s decision to make it easier and cheaper for primarily overseas-based student loan borrowers and child support paying parents to make online payments using debit or credit cards,” says Mr. Dunne.
“Until now, the convenience fee of 2.49% per transaction amount has been passed on to customers as a charge by their credit card issuer. It appeared as a separate transaction on their card statements,” he adds. “Inland Revenue will now pay this fee on their behalf.”

Inland Revenue’s online payment facility accepts only payments made with MasterCard or Visa debit or credit cards. Credit card payments have been practiced for several years so far while debit card was introduced only since April 2008.
“These changes are part of a strategy towards assisting people to make payments on time, and to reduce student loan debt and make child support payments,” says Mr. Dunne.