Meralco rebuts claim of earning from convenience fees

ENERGY NEEDS. An engineer of Manila Electric Company on a boom lift inspects electric posts along New York Street in Cubao, Quezon City on Thursday (May 30, 2024). (PNA photo by Joan Bondoc)

By Kris Crismundo | Philippine News Agency

The Manila Electric Company (Meralco) on Monday said it does not earn from convenience fees from online payment but only processes it for its payment partners.

“We would like to reiterate that there is no charge if customers use Bayad e-wallet and that convenience fees for other providers go to our payment partners,” Meralco vice president and head of corporate communications Joe Zaldarriaga said in a statement. 

“We do not earn a single centavo from these convenience fees contrary to what was inaccurately stated,” he added.

Zaldarriaga issued the clarification following the call of House Committee on Legislative Franchises vice chair Rep. Johnny Pimentel for Meralco to do away with the online payment convenience fee of P15 per transaction.

The Surigao del Sur 2nd District congressman said in a news release on Sunday that the fee goes to Meralco’s sister unit, CIS Bayad Center, Inc.

Zaldarriaga said Bayad has waived the fee when paying via Meralco Online.

On the other hand, those paying through e-wallets like GCash and Maya are processed with P6 and P7 charges, respectively, while those paying through Visa, Mastercard, and JCB cards are charged P15 to ensure that the transactions are reliable and secured.

The Meralco spokesperson reiterated that the company does not profit from the convenience fees and the charges go to its payment partners.

“Our customers are empowered to use whichever secure payment channel they prefer when settling their electricity bills,” Zaldarriaga said.

Popular

PBBM hails upcoming implementation of facial recognition tech at NAIA

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet Upon assuming the role of presidency after his triumph at the 2022 polls, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has vowed to...

Public hospitals give free anti-rabies vaccines – Palace

By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet The threat of rabies is not to be underestimated, as the viral, zoonotic tropical disease remains an omnipresent public health concern...

PNP Chief Torre vows 3-minute response time nationwide

By Brian Campued New Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGen. Nicolas Torre III on Monday announced that the PNP will institutionalize a three-minute police response...

Western section of PH to get dampened as rainy season begins — PAGASA

By Brian Campued The rainy season in the Philippines has officially begun, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) announced Monday. In a press...