(Ottawa) The Canadian Radio, Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) has denied a request by Telus to impose processing fees on card payments in two provinces.
The federal telecoms regulator says the request applies to services it regulates, typically home phone services in some smaller communities.
Telus had asked the CRTC to approve credit card payment fees in Alberta and British Columbia for regulated home phone service.
Earlier this year, after settling a class action lawsuit against Mastercard, Visa and Canadian banks, the companies won the right to impose a surcharge on credit card transactions that they must clearly disclose.
Telus began charging 1.5% fees to customers who pay by credit card in areas where services aren’t regulated by the CRTC, including its non-Quebec mobile and internet customers, in October.
In Quebec, the provincial consumer protection law prohibits the use of this type of surcharge.
The CRTC noted that while Telus did not need its approval to add the surcharge to unregulated services, it is concerned about the practice as it is contrary to affordability and consumer interests.
Telus first applied for permission to add a 1.5% processing fee to its terms of service in August.
In its application, Telus said the surcharge was intended to cover processing fees for credit card payments.
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