CRTC rejects Telus application to charge credit card fee on some customer bills | 24CA News

Canada’s telecom regulator has rejected an utility by Telus to cost some clients who pay their invoice for a house cellphone line with a bank card.

The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) mentioned Thursday it has rejected a latest utility from the Calgary-based telecommunications supplier to cost clients in distant areas of Alberta and B.C. a charge in the event that they pay their invoice for a landline with a bank card.

Telus first floated the thought in August, warning clients it will begin charging a charge of as much as 1.5 per cent to clients who paid their payments with a bank card. That was associated to a latest settlement that permits retailers to cross on so-called interchange charges on to clients.

Telus’s present charge applies on virtually any service in any a part of the nation, however the firm needed to formally apply for the CRTC’s permission to take action for landline providers in rural areas, for the reason that regulator has jurisdiction over that.

Regulator not proud of charges

The telecom regulator sought enter from the general public on the plan, and greater than 4,000 Canadians wrote in to share their views. The overwhelming majority have been towards the plan.

So the CRTC rejected the charge request, however Telus nonetheless has carte blanche to levy the surcharge on payments for different providers. 

The regulator makes it clear, nevertheless, that it is not happy to see these charges coming in in any respect.

“While Telus didn’t need the CRTC’s approval to add the surcharge to its unregulated services, the CRTC is very concerned about this practice as it goes against affordability and consumer interest,” the regulator mentioned, noting that the charges disproportionately damage probably the most susceptible customers.

“The CRTC is sending a clear message to Telus and other telecommunications service providers that are thinking of imposing such a fee on their customers.”

The common mentioned that if the observe continues, it should take into account all regulatory choices.

“While Telus didn’t need the CRTC’s approval to add the surcharge to its unregulated services, the CRTC is very concerned about this practice as it goes against affordability and consumer interest.”