Verizon Wireless Confirms $2 Fee for Making One-Time Payments
Dec 29, 2011, 10:46 AM by Eric M. Zeman
Verizon Wireless today confirmed to Phone Scoop via email that it plans to institute a new $2 charge for customers who make single bill payments online or by telephone. The change goes into effect starting January 15. Verizon said that the fee will be waived in a number of circumstances, including: electronic checks sent through My Verizon Online, My Verizon Mobile, or via telephone; autopay enrollees who pay using credit/debit/ATM cards or electronic checks; payments made through customer home-banking services; credit/debit/ATM card or electronic check payments made at in-store kiosks; Verizon Wireless gift cards or Verizon Wireless device rebate cards to pay a bill in-store, online or by telephone; or a standard paper check or money order mailed directly to Verizon Wireless with a monthly invoice/bill. The telephone and online single payment fee will be disclosed up-front and throughout the transaction so that customers know it will be levied at the time of payment.
source: Verizon Wireless
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Comments
Really more of a credit card fee...
You can pay your bill online without setting up auto-pay and without incurring this fee.
Just use your bank's online bill payment service. That's ACH and therefore this fee doesn't apply. You can do it manually each month even if you use paper billing. (That's how I pay most of my bills.)
This fee is only if you're using a credit card. Credit cards do come with fees, paid by the merchant. 2 percent is typical for any kind of rewards card. So on a $100 phone bill, that's $2. Verizon is simply passing that on to you.
I do think it's a stupid move on Verizon's part, but that's what's going on.
Just use your bank's online bill payment service. That's ACH and therefore this fee doesn't apply. You can do it manually each month even if you use paper billing. (That's how I pay most of my bills.)
This fee is only if you're using a credit card. Credit cards do come with fees, paid by the merchant. 2 percent is typical for any kind of rewards card. So on a $100 phone bill, that's $2. Verizon is simply passing that on to you.
I do think it's a stupid move on Verizon's part, but that's what's going on.
Rich,
Thank you for the clarificiation, that all makes sense. I understand the added cost to Verizon for credit-card payments being passed on to the customer. That's a fair cost pass-through on their part, IMO.
Thanks again for clarifying.
Thank you for the clarificiation, that all makes sense. I understand the added cost to Verizon for credit-card payments being passed on to the customer. That's a fair cost pass-through on their part, IMO.
Thanks again for clarifying.
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Rich Brome said:...
You can pay your bill online without setting up auto-pay and without incurring this fee.
Just use your bank's online bill payment service. That's ACH and therefore this fee doesn't apply. You can do it manually
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Wow! They really bungled this. Of course, their reasons are legitimate. There is still no excuse for this public relations disaster. Why would anyone with online banking pay through My Verizon anyway?
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I could understand if VZW were merely passing on a credit card processing fee. However, this fee will apparently also apply to check by phone or online, which should not incur a merchant fee as a credit card does. Same thing with a visa check card...
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Wall Mart, 7-11, numerous fast food places and restaurants. So when I see something like this, I think about alllll the businesses that don't charge, and think of the ones that do as bad business.
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It's funny what some people say
"they're charging it to offset a fee"
FIRST.. they're a how many billion dollar a year company?
SECOND.. what bank company is charging VZW this "fee" to process their customer's credit card fees and what kind of a hold do they have on VZW that they can't just say "HELL NO"
THIRD.. how much could it possibly cost? I highly highly highly doubt it's $2 each time I pay with my credit card when I choose to.
NO, I will not authorize you to take money out of my account each month.. bc you're billing is always so perfectly accurate, right?
I don't know what anyone could possibly say to make this acceptable.
FIRST.. they're a how many billion dollar a year company?
SECOND.. what bank company is charging VZW this "fee" to process their customer's credit card fees and what kind of a hold do they have on VZW that they can't just say "HELL NO"
THIRD.. how much could it possibly cost? I highly highly highly doubt it's $2 each time I pay with my credit card when I choose to.
NO, I will not authorize you to take money out of my account each month.. bc you're billing is always so perfectly accurate, right?
I don't know what anyone could possibly say to make this acceptable.
It's very obvious you have never been on the other side of things. So put yourself in their shoes for a moment.
The answer is that the...
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melisma0620 said:
FIRST.. they're a how many billion dollar a year company?
The answer is that the...
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More Fees
This is just stupid and anti-consumer. I can't figure out for the life of me how the top 2 carriers keep their customers.
This is completely ridiculous even as an employee of Verizon. Hopefully lots of customer's and employees stress their concern over this as even as an employee we will be charged.
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This makes even less sense when you consider that the postal service is begining to cut mail sorting facilities to shed cost and drive up delivery times. The turnaround on a traditional mailed bill will not be able to be met its due date unless it is...
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It's just 2 lousy bucks a month, people. Is it gonna make you poor? You can't even get much for $2 these days. Why are you crying over it?
you dont have to take this!!!!
http://www.verizonwireless.com/b2c/globalText?textNa ... »
Can Verizon Wireless Change This Agreement or My Service?
We may change prices or any other term of your Service or this agreement at any time,but we'll provide notice first, including written notice if you have Postpay Service. If you use your Service after the change takes effect, that means you're accepting the change. If you're a Postpay customer and a change to your Plan or this agreement has a material adverse effect on you, you can cancel the line of Service that has been affected within 60 days of receiving the notice with no Early Termination Fee.
Can Verizon Wireless Change This Agreement or My Service?
We may change prices or any other term of your Service or this agreement at any time,but we'll provide notice first, including written notice if you have Postpay Service. If you use your Service after the change takes effect, that means you're accepting the change. If you're a Postpay customer and a change to your Plan or this agreement has a material adverse effect on you, you can cancel the line of Service that has been affected within 60 days of receiving the notice with no Early Termination Fee.
"Material adverse effect" is the key phrase.
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The fee wouldn't allow you to get out of your contract since the fee isn't a change to your plan and there are multiple options that allow you to pay without the fee so there is no material adverse affect.
Why I Won't AutoPay or allow ACH
This is just Verizon's way of "passing the buck". They have to pay a fee in order to accept credit cards, and are passing that fee on to the consumer. That is wrong. In fact, both Mastercard and Visa have in their merchant contracts that they can offer a discount for cash, but can not charge a fee to use a credit card. (http://www.merchantcouncil.org/merchant-acco unt/operation/pass-fee-customer.php) I'm sure Verizon will get around this by making sure they call it something else since you don't get charged a surcharge for paying by credit card in person.
So my choices are Auto-Pay or ACH, neither of which is something I will do. I prefer to know ever bill that comes through and pay for it myself, when I want to. If something has caused m...
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So my choices are Auto-Pay or ACH, neither of which is something I will do. I prefer to know ever bill that comes through and pay for it myself, when I want to. If something has caused m...
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There are other options if you read the article again, its confusing but there are more scenarios where they dont charge the fee. You can always pay on your own from your banks site, for example I have Chase, so you can just make payments whenever fro...
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You can pay your bills via ACH from your bank's web site, and then it's just an electronic check. That's how I pay all of my bills.
There doesn't need to be anything automatic. You can receive a paper bill, examine it for any billing errors, then g...
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There doesn't need to be anything automatic. You can receive a paper bill, examine it for any billing errors, then g...
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Reighvin said:
This is just Verizon's way of "passing the buck". They have to pay a fee in order to accept credit cards, and are passing that fee on to the consumer. That is wrong.
I don't think your description is ...
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I have to pay, to pay you?
The only thing I hate about this, is that AT&T& will be next! Ugh! This is ridiculous...
Sad but probably true.
The Charge is Valid!
Credit card companies and banks charge companies a small fee to process credit card payments. This is how a bank stays in business (you think they stay in business by holding your $500 check and then giving your $500 back at the end of the week...there's no income there at all!)
Verizon is saying "enough is enough" to this charge as they're losing capital and need to make up for it. So, they pass the charge onto customers.
My local breadstore does the same thing if you pay with a debit card. They charge a debit fee.
I'll call it a "lazy/convienence fee", essentially that's what it is. You can still pay by cash at a store, by check at a store, or by check by mail...however if you want the LAZY/convient way of going through...
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Verizon is saying "enough is enough" to this charge as they're losing capital and need to make up for it. So, they pass the charge onto customers.
My local breadstore does the same thing if you pay with a debit card. They charge a debit fee.
I'll call it a "lazy/convienence fee", essentially that's what it is. You can still pay by cash at a store, by check at a store, or by check by mail...however if you want the LAZY/convient way of going through...
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Payment Cost through MyT-Mobile.com
Credit Card $2.05
ATM/Debit $0.84
Electronic Check $0.03
Thats what it costs us to take a payment ONLINE, its much more through a rep or sivr.
Credit Card $2.05
ATM/Debit $0.84
Electronic Check $0.03
Thats what it costs us to take a payment ONLINE, its much more through a rep or sivr.
Except for one thing, Whats the difference if I pay by check on their website or my banks, not even using a credit card.
You may call it a lazy/convince fee, I call you a fanboi. And can pay within the same 3 mins on their site.
You may call it a lazy/convince fee, I call you a fanboi. And can pay within the same 3 mins on their site.
Eff you, Verizon--
--you nag me incessantly every time I log into your site about 'Go Paperless!' so you can save money, but you want me to pay you $2 to pay my bill.
I'll just write you a check every month--old school. That'll keep YOU spending money to process my bills.
A**holes.
I'll just write you a check every month--old school. That'll keep YOU spending money to process my bills.
A**holes.
Better yet... Have your bank send them the check and save a stamp.
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Maybe I'm a total dud...
But why is there no fee if it's set up as an auto bill pay? Isn't it the same process? Or can they make a deal with your company of choice to always have it set on a certain date and therefore it gets rid of the fee? It doesn't make any sense to me unless it's that. Processing a CC is the same regardless, so please do enlighten me!
been done before
When I worked for VZW in 2000, we charged the same fee then it went away. Just another reason TMO is Superior.
Tmobile charges $5 to make a payment over the phone now. Free online, in store, or through automated system though.
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While they're at it
Maybe they can charge a $2.00 fee every time they restore service after an outage. Call it a "Reestablishment Fee." With three outages this month, that'd make up for lost revenue!
It's hard to make AT&T look good with their T-Mobile failure, but Verizon is doing an excellent job.
It's hard to make AT&T look good with their T-Mobile failure, but Verizon is doing an excellent job.
bluecoyote said:...
Maybe they can charge a $2.00 fee every time they restore service after an outage. Call it a "Reestablishment Fee." With three outages this month, that'd make up for lost revenue!
It's hard to make AT&T look go
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Much like BofA Debit Card Fee
I've already seen quite the backlash about this... Enough that I'd be willing to bet that this doesn't go through.
Same thing happened when Bank of America said they were going to charge a $5 fee per month to use your debit card... enough backlash caused them to cancel that idea.
I work at a Verizon Retailer and we use the phone system to aid customers with their payments... can only imagine how fun it's going to be to tell them we have a convience fee for every form of payment (we currently have one on cash).
...why can't they just do the right thing
Same thing happened when Bank of America said they were going to charge a $5 fee per month to use your debit card... enough backlash caused them to cancel that idea.
I work at a Verizon Retailer and we use the phone system to aid customers with their payments... can only imagine how fun it's going to be to tell them we have a convience fee for every form of payment (we currently have one on cash).
...why can't they just do the right thing
Lack of clarity
I wonder if they should have just listed the specific circumstances which will trigger the new charge, rather than confusingly list 8-10 circumstances for which the fee will be waived. I've read the PhoneScoop article twice, and it is still not clear if we will incur the fee in our circumstance.
Regarding comments that we should all just enroll in auto-pay: Not me, I want the power to disburse the funds only when I allow it, never to let automated systems go into my accounts and extract the money. These online & automated systems are still too non-secure and non-trustworthy. They have a lot of work to do in terms of making these systems properly secure & trustworthy.
Regarding comments that we should all just enroll in auto-pay: Not me, I want the power to disburse the funds only when I allow it, never to let automated systems go into my accounts and extract the money. These online & automated systems are still too non-secure and non-trustworthy. They have a lot of work to do in terms of making these systems properly secure & trustworthy.
Huh? What is insecure about a secure system accessing your secure bank to withdraw the funds? All of that transaction history is encrypted.. If its being over billed you are worried about that why they invented credits.
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I'll Tell You Why The Did It...
For The Same Reason a Dog Will Lick His Balls...
Because They CAN!
Because They CAN!
