Rogers to charge 1.6% fee on credit card bill payments

Rogers Communications will charge customers a 1.6 per cent “credit card processing charge” every time they pay their bill by credit card, starting Jan. 17, 2027, the company says.

The fee applies to both automatic and one-time credit card payments, CBC News reported, and was also reported by the technology site MobileSyrup. “The charge applies every time you pay your Rogers bill with a credit card,” Rogers says on its website. “This reflects the fees we are charged by credit card companies.”

The charge does not apply to customers in Quebec, to some customers on what Rogers calls “specialized plans,” or to former Shaw Mobile customers who moved to Rogers after it bought Shaw Communications in 2023, according to CBC News.

Other payment methods are not affected. They include direct debit, online banking, cheques, Rogers gift cards, prepaid cards, Debit Mastercard and Visa Debit.

“If you choose to pay your bill by credit card, it’s increasingly common across many sectors for a credit card fee to apply,” Rogers said.

Rival Telus asked the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission in 2022 for permission to add a 1.5 per cent surcharge for some landline customers paying by credit card. The CRTC refused, but its approval was only needed for landline services, and Telus went ahead with a 1.5 per cent fee for mobile and home internet customers. Telus dropped the fee in 2023.

Credit card surcharges are allowed in Canada under a class-action settlement between credit card companies and merchants that lets merchants pass card costs on to customers, CBC News reported.

The Rogers fee is the latest new charge for Canadian consumers this week. Air Canada said Wednesday it will add a $30 fee for bookings made by phone, and Airbnb is limiting the checkout chores hosts can ask of guests. Shoppers can also check their rights ahead of Black Friday 2026.

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With files from CBC News.