Minister should ban payment surcharges

LAST year’s Consumer Protection Act was badly needed because it helped to outlaw unfair and misleading commercial practices, like omitting delivery charges from prices in adverts.

Recently I booked a cheap one-way flight with a major Irish airline. When I reached the payment page on its website, it became clear the surcharge to pay by credit card would be 80% of the cost of my flight.

I hold a Visa debit card — the airline in question does not accept the more common Laser card — but I still had to pay a 30% surcharge.