Just a day after confirming a plan to charge for certain kinds of online and telephone bill payment, Verizon has dropped the fee in the face of unsurprising internet outrage.

Verizon acknowledged the discontent in a statement posted on their website:

Verizon Wireless has decided it will not institute the fee for online or telephone single payments that was announced earlier this week.

The company made the decision in response to customer feedback about the plan, which was designed to improve the efficiency of those transactions. The company continues to encourage customers to take advantage of the numerous simple and convenient payment methods it provides.

The statement suggests that the move was intended to encourage customers to enroll in Verizon’s autopay, which gives the provider more control over bill payment. But many critics were upset that the company did not offer positive incentives, like a discount or credit, first.

Customers still could have avoided the fee by paying several different ways: using electronic checks, through a bank’s website, by check or money order through regular mail, at Verizon pay kiosks, using Verizon gift or rebate cards, or using Verizon’s autopay, which automatically deducts the charges from a bank account or credit card.

Consumers have shown little tolerance for new fees lately, especially from large corporations. After announcing a $5 monthly fee on debit cards, Bank of America was forced to go back after major popular protest and an online petition.

Some Verizon customers were already circulating a petition.

Are you a Verizon customer? Were you upset by this momentary change?

[image via AndroidCentral]

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