OTTAWA – Telus may have to wait until the beginning of December for a decision from the CRTC on its application to amend its general tariff so it can start charging customers a 1.5% credit card processing fee, according to a letter the Commission sent the company last week.
The letter notes the CRTC’s staff are still working on the application and as such, a decision will not be possible within the timeframe initially given (45 business days). The Commission is now saying it will issue a decision within 120 calendar days of Aug. 8, the date of the application.
The CRTC received thousands of interventions on Telus’ application (the Commission’s website shows it received 3,917 interventions, one of which included 2,776 comments submitted in association with an OpenMedia campaign).
Telus however, argued in its reply to the interventions back in September that most of those opposing its application were commenting on issues beyond its scope as Telus is only seeking approval for the credit card processing fee in respect to its non-forborne telecommunications services.
“Commission approval is not necessary for any carrier or telecommunications service provider to charge processing fees in respect of forborne services,” the reply says.
Telus furthermore pointed out customers can choose another payment method to avoid the fee.
While Telus’ application may be directly relevant only to certain customers, it has brought attention more generally to the fact companies are newly able to implement the fee due to the settlement of a class action lawsuit.
Public Interest Advocacy Centre and the National Pensioners Federation have asked the Commission to launch a consultation on the implementation of the fee not just by Telus but by Canadian telecoms and broadcasting distribution undertakings more broadly.
