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Comment by josnyder | Hacker News Reader

Much as I like to jump on VZW, I don't think that Verizon should be vilified for this one. By my back-of-the-envelope math, Verizon is passing on the cost of credit-card processing to their customers, and no more (2% CC processing fee on a $100 phone bill == $2).

I would much prefer to see customers realize how much they are gouged by credit card companies every day. Some small businesses (e.g. gas stations, the deli on the corner) already do this, and I'd like to see other large businesses follow suit. It's time for people to realize the sorry state of payments at-present, perhaps opening the way for a better alternative. Some are saying that Verizon is abusing their captive customers, but I see this as Verizon trying to escape captivity as a customer of Visa, MC, and Amex.

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Humbug! CC fees, while annoying, are a cost of business which should already be included in the math they use to determine what I'm paying them each month.

If they had to mail out a paper envelope & invoice and then pay somebody to handle my check back to them, do you think that would cost them more or less than $2 each month? I'm thinking it would be pretty darn close to $2 to deal with that.

Should they be adding fees to my bill every time I visit their website, so that they can cover those costs too? Should they be charging me every time I contact a customer support representative?

This is as indefensible as Bank of America's ATM fee.

I've been a 5-line Verizon customer for at least 4 years, I've been out of contract for at least a year, and I'm calling them in the morning to express my extreme displeasure at this. If they don't reverse course on this I'm switching to Republic Wireless.

Given Verizon's size, 2% seems a little high, but it's sort of within the range of reasonableness. That said, I see this as nothing more than a way to get a few million dollars per month for doing nothing. If it were really to cover CC fees, as you say, then consider the following:

1) This isn't a new service they are offering, and CC fees are nothing new. Why only start charging now?

2) The fee is actually only charged for some CC payments - recurring payments or in-store payments, which would still be subject to similar CC fees, do not incur the $2 fee.

3) Since the CC fees that were being borne by all are now solely borne by those using CCs (well, some of them at least), why are customers utilizing cheaper payment methods not given a credit?

Are there charges for debit transactions, and if so are they comparable or less? If so why hasnt someone come up with a way to debit vice cc online.

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