THE EDITOR, Sir:
I WISH to clarify the issues raised regarding bill payments in the Letter of the Day in The Gleaner of Saturday, April 22.
"Bill Express Fee Not for JPS"
It is a fact that at least one payment agency, Bill Express, has decided to charge customers a fee for bill payments. It must be noted, however, that this fee is not unique to electricity bills, but applies to all other utility bill payments collected by this payment agency.
The writer of the letter implies that the fee is being collected on behalf of JPS. This is not so. This fee that is charged by Bill Express is purely a business decision by the collection agency as it seeks to recover its costs. JPS in no way benefits from this fee - our contract with the bill collection agency is for the collection and remittance of bill payments only.
CUSTOMER CHARGE
The bills of customers reflect a customer charge, which includes bill collection costs to JPS. These costs continue to be incurred by the company, as we pay a contractual fee to the collection agencies for each bill payment collected on our behalf. The fee being charged to customers by Bill Express is therefore in addition to the fee that JPS pays to Bill Express. It does not reduce the fee that JPS pays to the agency.
PAYMENTS AT JPS OFFICES
The reader correctly states that JPS now has an arrangement with Paymaster for the collection of bill payments at some of our office locations. Paymaster is not currently charging a fee for bill payments. We remain committed to continuing to offer customers a payment option in our offices where no additional fees are charged.
OPTIONS
I maintain that customers do have the power of choice with regard to bill payment options. In addition to Paymaster and Bill Express, JPS has existing arrangements for bill collection with Scotiabank, National Commercial Bank, RBTT, First Caribbean International Bank, VMBS and Jamaica National Building Society. Customers are encouraged to select the option that suits them best. JPS is also always open to proposals from new entrants to the market to ensure that customers have maximum choice.
I am, etc.,
WINSOME CALLUM
wcallum@jpsco.com
Head of Corporate Communication
Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd.
6 Knutsford Boulevard
Via Go-Jamaica
