Beginning August 3, the City of Douglas will implement a $2 fee for each credit/debit card transaction used in person or over the phone and will increase the processing fee from $20 to $30 for new utility service, transfer of service, and service re-connections.
The processing fee associated with new utility service, transfer of utility service, and re-connect utility services has been in effect for a long time, according to a press release issued by the City of Douglas on Monday. They stated the last time the fee was increased was in 2004, when the charge went from $15 to $20.
City officials added the current increase is an administrative fee to cover costs associated with research, setup, and processing for these services. The credit/debit card courtesy fee is being added, they said, to offset some of the fees charged to the city by the credit/debit card companies.
“With the addition of debit cards and more people using debit cards, the fees charged to the city have greatly increased in the last three years”, City Manager Terrell Jacobs stated.
The City of Douglas offers customers other payment methods that include paying with check, cash, cashier’s check or money order without any additional charges. Customers can also have their utility bill drafted from their checking account.
Customers who wish to pay online can still establish an on-line bill pay account through the City of Douglas website. However, there is a $.50 charge per transaction that is charged by the website host provider.
For more information, city residents can call 311 or (912) 384-3302.