Verizon Wanted To Charge $3.50 To Pay Your Bill... Just Kidding
from the for-now... dept
Last week, Verizon got some attention for plans to charge customers $3.50 to pay their bill if they paid by credit card or debit card. From an industry that specializes in ridiculous made-up fees, even this seemed beyond ridiculous. Given the consumer outcry about this, days later, Verizon decided it was just kidding about the charge, and that "this charge will not take place as scheduled." Of course, that sounds like it's just waiting for another chance to introduce it when people aren't paying as much attention.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
We're considering action against my wife's university due to their policy of charging 3% more for CC payment. I imagine they're collecting millions in "fees" and I'd also bet their discount rate isn't 3%, it's more likely sub 2%. We just haven't had time yet to contact consumer affairs and the state AG.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Simple
Note: Article doesn't apply to mobile phones. Don't be confused; they were only going to do this to their landline, DSL, and FiOS customers.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
There are fees specifically for accepting credit cards that don't apply to e.g. e-checks. My university refuses to accept Visa because there's an extra fee for them that they can't pass on to the card owner; they would have to charge all users equally for the Visa fees, which is unfair.
Of course, if they're covering the CC fees they should also lower the prices for people who pay in other ways. This way they're just getting more profits.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
They were kidding about kidding
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: They were kidding about kidding
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: They were kidding about kidding
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: They were kidding about kidding
Among many shady quirks of this setup is the fact that Verizon claims you can pay your bill 24/7 by phone, which is technically true. However, you need to know your balance owed when you call (or are transferred to) the phone bill paying service, because that service doesn't know your account balance.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: They were kidding about kidding
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
The big question
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Actually, my power company already does this
Sucks, but beats having to do one of those with the waste of time, etc...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Actually, my power company already does this
My rent is even worse. If I pay that over the phone (the only way to pay credit card... debit can be paid on the website) they charge over $25 'convenience' fee. And, incidently, they must use a customer-facing input system because they couldn't complete the transaction without my CID off the back.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
This is new?
Our City Water - 10% of bill
I'm used to it by now. I think I plunk down at least $20 a month in these 'fees to pay my bill'.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
They lost one fee and subsitute another ... how typical ..
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
If you want to pay be credit card, you have to pony up another $3.50 or $4.50 (I forget, I won't do that).
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Malware?
Warning: Visiting this site may harm your computer!
The website at www.techdirt.com contains elements from the site 83.69.226.221, which appears to host malware – software that can hurt your computer or otherwise operate without your consent. Just visiting a site that contains malware can infect your computer.
For detailed information about the problems with these elements, visit the Google Safe Browsing diagnostic page for 83.69.226.221.
Learn more about how to protect yourself from harmful software online.
Warning: Visiting this site may harm your computer!
The website at www.techdirt.com contains elements from the site qeniguq.co.cc, which appears to host malware – software that can hurt your computer or otherwise operate without your consent. Just visiting a site that contains malware can infect your computer.
For detailed information about the problems with these elements, visit the Google Safe Browsing diagnostic page for qeniguq.co.cc.
Learn more about how to protect yourself from harmful software online.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Malware?
Yes, we've been looking into these claims. In the future, please use the contact us link above to send in such reports (or alert us via Twitter), so as not to post off-topic comments on a thread.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
It took the call rep and their managers about 15 minutes to decide to credit my account to nearly $20 in voice mail checking fees. BTW: My account does clearly state that checking my voice mail is free from my cell phone.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Real reason
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Meh
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
They will probably..
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Can't afford to pay the entire 12 month policy at once? That's OK, we'll split it up monthly and charge you a fee for that.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I guess today the stores have more power in this struggle because I see it in quite a few places. Guess the stores just said "fine, pull the account"
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
What payment method do they want you to use? Cheques?
Come join the 21st Century.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
not a surprise
FOURTEEN frickin' dollars!
That's outrageous in anybody's book.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Enough of this nickle-and-dime crap
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
130 1/2 Garhart Lane
In return for this injustice, I make them send me a paper bill anyhoo. Phooey on them...and their stinkin' fees!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]