On 16 Mar 2007, Malcolm Lee <news@malREMlee45.ukfsn.org> wrote:

> The point is that if fees are regulated then a company
>that removes a "discount" for a certain group of people and
>replaces it with a "charge" on the non-discount people
>effectively enables said company to evade regulation of its
>fees and charge more to everyone than they otherwise would
>have been allowed to do.

I don't see any difference between calling it a "charge" or "fee"
nor do I see how this enables the company to evade regulation.

It does seem to be a way to allow the 'standard' price to be low
(to compete with others) and 'surcharge' only those not willing
to pay using the preferred methods (it will annoy a big? group
of customers, but those same customers will be 'out in the cold'
if they decide to 'vote with their feet' as the majority of other
services are also requiring DD payment, so the choice is between
(a) paying BT for the privilege of not using DD, or (b) using DD
(whichever firm they use)... Or very close to that choice if a
reader can come up with some alternative supplier that accepts
payment in cash/cheque. Some of the other services need CCA,
which is IMO *worse* than using DD, given the lower control the
customer has over cancelling a CC authority. NB I've not switched
service, nor looked too closely. If someone has found a 'Which?'
report on the subject, does it list payment methods, please?