Scrap 'convenience fee,' solon tells Meralco
Published May 21, 2020 03:02 pm
By Ellson Quismorio
The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) should permanently stop charging its customers the much-criticized P47 online transaction fee, Deputy Speaker Rep. Johnny Pimentel (Surigao del Sur 2nd district) said Thursday.
Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel
(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) “Based on our initial inquiry, it would seem there is a new financial intermediary involved--an interloper of sorts--where there used to be none between Meralco and the customer paying bills online,” said Pimentel, a former chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability. On Thursday, Meralco decided to temporarily waive the controversial "convenience fee" for online payments amid the persisting COVID-19 pandemic. Pimentel said the fixed fee of P47 appears to be going to a financial firm that happens to be a sister company of the power distribution giant. He did not name the financial go-between. “Meralco should get rid of the P47 transaction fee permanently. Otherwise, we may raise the issue of ‘abuse of dominance’ against Meralco and its sister firm-payment partner,” he warned. Pimentel urged the House Committee on Energy to investigate Meralco’s transaction fee “to protect the interests and general welfare of consumers based on established standards of conduct for business, as provided for by the Consumer Act of 1992.” “The question now is: Is it possible for the public to pay their utility bills online without a financial intermediary or interloper involved? And the answer is yes,” he said. “For instance, if you pay your PLDT Inc. bill online now, you can do so without any add-on charges or so-called convenience fees,” said Pimentel, spokesman of ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). The Deputy Speaker cited the importance of looking into the matter now, given the issue's implication on online transactions especially during the pandemic when people are discouraged from leaving their homes. "In the future, we do not want Filipinos to be burdened by extra transaction fees when they pay their broadband or water bills online, or when they pay their contributions to the Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund or the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. online,” he said. “Online facilities are supposed to make it easier for the public to perform transactions at no extra cost,” Pimentel underscored.
Surigao del Sur 2nd district Rep. Johnny Pimentel(FACEBOOK / MANILA BULLETIN) “Based on our initial inquiry, it would seem there is a new financial intermediary involved--an interloper of sorts--where there used to be none between Meralco and the customer paying bills online,” said Pimentel, a former chairman of the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability. On Thursday, Meralco decided to temporarily waive the controversial "convenience fee" for online payments amid the persisting COVID-19 pandemic. Pimentel said the fixed fee of P47 appears to be going to a financial firm that happens to be a sister company of the power distribution giant. He did not name the financial go-between. “Meralco should get rid of the P47 transaction fee permanently. Otherwise, we may raise the issue of ‘abuse of dominance’ against Meralco and its sister firm-payment partner,” he warned. Pimentel urged the House Committee on Energy to investigate Meralco’s transaction fee “to protect the interests and general welfare of consumers based on established standards of conduct for business, as provided for by the Consumer Act of 1992.” “The question now is: Is it possible for the public to pay their utility bills online without a financial intermediary or interloper involved? And the answer is yes,” he said. “For instance, if you pay your PLDT Inc. bill online now, you can do so without any add-on charges or so-called convenience fees,” said Pimentel, spokesman of ruling party Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban). The Deputy Speaker cited the importance of looking into the matter now, given the issue's implication on online transactions especially during the pandemic when people are discouraged from leaving their homes. "In the future, we do not want Filipinos to be burdened by extra transaction fees when they pay their broadband or water bills online, or when they pay their contributions to the Social Security System, Pag-IBIG Fund or the Philippine Health Insurance Corp. online,” he said. “Online facilities are supposed to make it easier for the public to perform transactions at no extra cost,” Pimentel underscored.