Verizon: Credit Card Payments To Cost $2 Starting Mid-January

Verizon confirmed this morning that it will be charging its customers a $2 “convenience fee” for credit card payments. The news appeared on the Verizon site this morning. The policy, reps said, will go into effect Jan. 15.

Here’s an excerpt from Verizon’s release:

Verizon Wireless offers customers numerous free and simple payment options and we encourage customers to use those options. Starting January 15, a new $2 payment convenience fee will be instituted for customers who make single bill payments online or by telephone. There are a couple of exceptions. See below. The fee will help allow us to continue to support these single bill payment options in these channels and is designed to address costs incurred by us for only those customers who choose to make single bill payments in alternate payment channels (online, mobile, telephone). It is waived for those who pay by electronic check or enroll in AutoPay — we encourage customers to use those or other payment options that incur no fees. [See complete list below.] The telephone and online single payment fee, which takes effect January 15, will be disclosed up-front and throughout the transaction.

According to Verizon, there will be no fee for electronic check payments, autopay via credit or debit cards, payment through gift cards, paper checks or money orders. Find more details here.