Verizon drops $2 "convenience fee" after net outrage

Yes, we hear you now... NBC reports that less than 24 hours after it announced it would charge a $2 "convenience fee" for every one-time online or phone payment customers make, Verizon Wireless reversed course after consumer outrage spilled onto the Web. The decision also came hours the FCC said it would investigate the new fee. Dan Mead, president and chief executive officer of Verizon Wireless, said in a statement:

At Verizon, we take great care to listen to our customers. Based on their input, we believe the best path forward is to encourage customers to take advantage of the best and most efficient options, eliminating the need to institute the fee at this time.

RELATED: Recently, Qwest (now CenturyLink) tried a "convenience fee" to customers who paid via telephone robots through their checking account. They dropped the charge too, after evidently getting an earful from their customers though the fee, and its retraction, was not widely publicized.