The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission ruled Thursday that Telus cannot charge a credit card processing fee for regulated home telephone services.
This ruling applies to Alberta and BC services regulated by the CRTC, which are generally home telephone services in certain smaller communities.
Since Oct. 6, most Canadian businesses, except in Quebec, have been able to charge their customers a fee for credit card transactions, following a class-action lawsuit filed by retailers against Visa, MasterCard and card-issuing banks.
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CRTC says it needs more time to weigh Telus’ request to add credit card fee
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CRTC says it needs more time to weigh Telus’ request to add credit card fee
Quebec was not included in this decision due to the province’s Consumer Protection Act, which prohibits the application of such surcharges.
On August 8, Telus filed an application with the CRTC to impose a credit card processing fee of 1.5 percent, plus tax, on payments made by credit card.
On. On Oct. 17, Telus began charging the fee to customers paying by credit card in areas where services are not regulated by the CRTC, which includes its wireless and Internet customers outside of Quebec.
Telus does not need to seek the CRTC’s approval to add the surcharge to its unregulated services, but the organization said it is “very concerned” about this practice as it goes against affordability and consumer interest.
“We heard Canadians loud and clear: nearly 4,000 of you told us you shouldn’t be subject to an additional fee based on the method you choose to pay your bill,” said Ian Scott, chairman and CEO of the CRTC, said. statement. “We expect the telecommunications industry to treat Canadians with respect and do better.”
The CRTC said with this ruling it sends a “clear message” to Telus and other telecommunications service providers that are considering charging a fee like this to their customers.
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