Verizon backtracks on convenience fee

Just hours after an FCC investigation began, Verizon has said it will drop the contentious $2 "convenience fee." It directly acknowledged the customer backlash as the core reason. In a questionable justification, though, it claimed the fee had been implemented to "improve the efficiency" of payments, although it decided that simply educating customers would be easier.

"We believe the best path forward is to encourage customers to take advantage of the best and most efficient options, eliminating the need to institute the fee at this time," CEO Dan Mead said.

The cost was generally considered an attempt to steer more subscribers towards automatic payments, where the $2 fee would be waived. It recently doubled profit and can't point to financial hardship as the primary motivation.

By Electronista Staff