Our colleagues on the Bits blog have a post of interest to our readers, too. It says that Verizon Wireless plans to begin charging a $2 fee on Jan. 15 when customers use their credit cards to make a one-time payment online or over the phone.

The company, which calls the $2 charge a “convenience fee,” said that customers who make automatic monthly payments with their credit or debit cards or through their checking accounts will not have to pay the extra charge.

The company said it was encouraging people to use these free options, which also include sending a paper check or pushing money electronically to the company via your bank’s online bill-payment system. The fee also won’t apply to one-time credit card payments made in a Verizon store.

Companies like being able to deduct monthly payments from subscribers’ accounts because they are guaranteed the money. How do you feel about automatic payments? Do any of you pay in the way that Verizon is now trying to discourage?

Article source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=986b5c15a650a2999ba752c0374b18e3