Verizon Wireless on Thursday announced plans to charge customers $2 for making single payments online or by phone.
The fee will take effect Jan. 15 and will be revealed up-front and throughout a transaction, the company said.
The mobile-phone giant noted it will waive the fee for customers who pay by electronic check or AutoPay.
"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)," Verizon Wireless explained in a press release.
Verizon Wireless said customers have a number of payment options where either no fee applies or the company waives the fee.
They include the following:
- Electronic check online
- Electronic check through the phone
- Enrollment in AutoPay using an electronic check or credit, debit or ATM card
- Online from the customer's home-banking service provider website
- A credit, debit or ATM card, electronic check or cash at a Bill Payment Kiosk, Panel or with a representative at a Verizon Wireless Communications Store
- Use of a Verizon Wireless Gift Card or device Rebate Card to pay a bill in a store, online or by phone
- Paper check or money order mailed to the VZW remit address on a customer's bill
