MERALCO has explained to the Department of Energy that the PHP 47 convenience fee for online payment is for PayMaya’s services.
In a letter, MERALCO President and CEO, Ray C. Espinosa, explained to Department of Energy Secretary, Alfonso G. Cusi, that MERALCO bills paid via the MERALCO App Online Payment Facility go through a payment gateway operated and maintained by PayMaya, which charges a convenience fee of PHP 47 per transaction.
Espinosa said that “the charging of a convenience fee by a payment gateway provider like PayMaya is a common commercial practice in the online payment service industry.” Although he added that MERALCO should have shouldered the Convenience Fee considering that MERALCO Business Offices and Bayad Center branches and partner outlets were closed during the ECQ period from March 16 to May 15, 2020.
Espinosa also apologized and said that MERALCO will shoulder the Convenience Fee charged during the ECQ period and refund to the customers the fees they paid during the said period.
Meralco says it will now shoulder the ?47 convenience fee intended for its online application system.
The Department of Energy called out the service provider, citing numerous complaints received by its consumer welfare and promotion office https://t.co/vdxMY6oZfs pic.twitter.com/mIn2SuOeP6
— CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) May 21, 2020
Isn’t PayMaya also one of MVP’s company? They should indeed shoulder that fee. It used to be 1.25% but they bloated it up to Php 47.00. If other companies can shoulder the cost of online payments, why can’t they? If you pay for your plan’s bill, cable, internet, do you see other charges on top of your bill? MERALCO and MVP is the pure epitome of greediness.