Verizon Wireless Backs Off Online Payment Fee after One
Day
Jan. 3, 2012
In response to consumer backlash and the specter of FCC
investigation, Verizon Wireless on Friday reversed a one-day-old decision to implement
a $2 fee for telephone and online payments. "At Verizon, we take great
care to listen to our customers,” said Verizon Wireless president and CEO Dan
Mead. “Based on their input, we believe the best path forward is to encourage
customers to take advantage of the best and most efficient [payment] options, eliminating
the need to institute the fee at this time.” On Thursday, Verizon Wireless said
it would institute a $2 fee starting on Jan. 15 for one-time payments made
online or by telephone. Dow Jones Newswires reported earlier Friday that the Federal
Communications Commission was "concerned" about the proposed fee and
planned to investigate the matter. Almost immediately after the announcement to
implement the fee, several petitions appeared on the change.org Website.
Published reports put the total number of signers of the various petitions at
more than 1 million.