Press & PR

The Association of Payment Clearing Services (Apacs) has expressed its opposition to BT's policy of charging customers who refuse to pay by direct debit.

Sandra Quinn, director of communications for Apacs, has said that because a new system is being introduced in the UK that will make it cheaper to pay via alternative methods such as the internet or telephone, the charge imposed by BT and other companies is not representative of the additional cost of processing payments other than direct debits.

"I can see why companies want customers to pay by direct debit - it gives them the guarantee of income on a certain date," she told This is Money.

However, she added that by targeting customers who didn't pay by direct debit, providers were making the new payment system less appealing.

As well as BT, Virgin and TalkTalk also charge customers to pay by methods other than direct debits.

Industry regulator Ofcom has undertaken a review into how much may be charged for payments made by other means, with the aim of establishing whether the fees imposed are proportionate and fair.

Vonage is committed to providing a cost-effective internet phone service, with flat-rate tariffs that allow people to take control of the calls they make.