The big corporations are at it again...instituting a fee for the privilege of paying them with our own money. This time it's Verizon. Join me over the squiggle.
Verizon Wireless announced today that, beginning January 15th, they will be instituting a $2.00 fee every time you pay their bill via credit card whether online or over the phone.
The company announced that this "convenience fee" (convenient for whom, I wonder?) won't apply to electronic check payments or to automatic credit card payments set up through Verizon's AutoPay system. Paying by credit card in a Verizon store will also be free, as will mailing a check.
Unfortunately, I'm locked into a contract, but I don't plan on paying them one red cent for the "privilege" of paying my bill. They were pretty pushy about moving to paperless billing, thus freeing them of the expense of printing and mailing my bill. I complied, because I'm not fond of getting a ton of junk in the mail, and I'm always in favor of saving some trees.
Guess what, Verizon...I just signed up to receive my bill in paper form again. You can pay to buy the paper. You can pay someone for the programming to print the bill. You can pay to print the bill. You can pay for and provide the return envelope. You can buy equipment to fold and stuff the envelope. You can then pay to mail it all to me.
I hope you enjoy the "convenience fee" I've just instituted for the privilege of having me as customer. At least until my contract runs out.