Level 1

19 points

Nicor Gas bill pay convenience fee

A mailer describing a way to use the Wallet App to pay my Nicor Gas bill was included in my latest bill. No where in the mailer do they disclose that a $2.95 convenience fee is charged if you pay your bill using Wallet. They do disclose that in the fine print near the bottom of the "learn-more-about-it" site

nicorgas.com/mobil

Can/will Apple prevent companies from charging a fee like this? Can they at least insist that the fee is disclosed up front and not hidden in the fine print?

iPhone 8 Plus

Posted on Aug 13, 2019 9:07 AM

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27 replies

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,763 points

Aug 13, 2019 2:39 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

They do this to compensate for the fees that they pay the credit card company when you charge a purchase or payment.

Where I live, gasoline stations have one price for cash and a higher price for credit card purchases.

MRBarrett27 Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 13, 2019 3:20 PM in response to Philly_Phan

Credit card companies charge 3 percent—which means on my recent bill of $22.31 they would have charged me 13.2 % or $2.28 more than my credit card would have charged them. It must be cheaper for them if I used the Wallet App yet they want to charge me more for it!"

I also sent a note to the Consumer Reports Hidden Fee action website

https://action.consumerreports.org/whatthefee?INTKEY=I000G0000

MRBarrett27 Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 13, 2019 3:25 PM in response to Philly_Phan

But they are not getting away with it because anyone paying attention would avoid the $2.95 fee by not using the App which is a shame because it would actually be more convenient for me and cheaper for them.

Kurt Lang

Level 9

72,075 points

Aug 13, 2019 3:31 PM in response to MRBarrett27

Yes, they charge the vendor 3 percent of the sale total. Not YOU! The vendor loses money on every sale payed with a charge card. They accept those fees as a convenience for the customer.

And yet, you want to stiff your gas company a lousy $3 you were told would be applied. No business needs, or wants customers like you.

MRBarrett27 Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 13, 2019 11:33 AM in response to Kurt Lang

Nonsense, Apple sets all kinds of conditions for vendors to use their Apps.

MRBarrett27 Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 13, 2019 1:41 PM in response to Kurt Lang

In your example the store is responsible but VISA would help in the same way that Apple should help in this case.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,763 points

Aug 13, 2019 2:13 PM in response to MRBarrett27

You’re not describing a situation involving error, deception or fraud. You want Apple to challenge a LEGITIMATE charge.

MRBarrett27 Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 13, 2019 2:25 PM in response to Lawrence Finch

No, only mobile wallet payments involve a convenience fee.

MRBarrett27 Author

Level 1

19 points

Aug 13, 2019 3:13 PM in response to Kurt Lang

Actually they will just politely say no if they think that they can get away with that.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,763 points

Aug 13, 2019 3:14 PM in response to MRBarrett27

Yes, "get away" with a legitimate charge.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,763 points

Aug 13, 2019 4:24 PM in response to MRBarrett27

If you were my customer I’d tell you to take your business elsewhere.

Philly_Phan

Level 7

20,763 points

Aug 13, 2019 3:29 PM in response to MRBarrett27

it’s still a LEGITIMATE charge as far as the CC company is concerned. If you think that the price is too high, take it up with Nicor Gas or find another supplier.

You could always drive to the Nicor office and pay cash.

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Nicor Gas bill pay convenience fee