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‘Convenience fees’ for paying bills are widespread

Verizon plan was far from unique

By Todd Wallack

 |  Globe Staff  

  January 05, 2012

After just a day of angry consumers and flaming comments on social networking sites, Verizon Wireless last week shelved plans to charge customers a $2 to pay their bills with credit or debit cards. But despite the outrage at Verizon’s “convenience fees’’ similar charges are almost everywhere, Such fees are routinely imposed by telecommunications providers, utilities, banks, schools and government agencies on consumers who pay bills with plastic or get help from an employee.

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