Elon Musk Slams DTE Energy's New $2. 99 Monthly Credit Card Fee

• DTE Energy customers are protesting a new $2.99 monthly processing fee for using credit or debit cards for bill payments, effective February 27th.
• Customers enrolled in automatic credit/debit card payments will be unenrolled but can switch to a free automatic deduction option from a bank account.
• A Change.org petition opposing the charge garnered over 1,500 signatures quickly, urging greater transparency regarding utility fees.
• DTE states the fee does not benefit the utility but is paid directly to the payment processor, preventing other customers who pay by check or bank transfer from absorbing the expense.

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DTE Energy has notified customers that beginning February 27th, a new monthly processing fee will be applied to payments made via credit or debit cards. Customers currently using automated credit or debit payments for their monthly bills will be automatically unenrolled from that specific program. They have the option to switch to a deduction program directly linked to a bank account at no additional charge. Alternatively, customers may re-enroll in the card payment program, but doing so will require a $2.99 monthly processing fee.

Fees are adding up. This change comes amidst long-running regulatory disagreements between credit card companies and lawmakers regarding the appropriate oversight and cost distribution of payment processing fees, which are increasing, disproportionately affecting vulnerable households.

Customers are mobilizing quickly to express their dissatisfaction with the new structure. Within days of this policy change being announced, more than 1,500 individuals signed a Change.org petition demanding transparency, accountability, and a reasonable cap on mandatory utility payment fees. Several customers submitted formal complaints directly to the Detroit-based utility and forwarded copies of their correspondence to public officials and news outlets, highlighting that this type of charge is both inappropriate and unfair.

The online petition argues that utilities should recover their operational costs exclusively through transparent, regulated rates, not through additional charges that penalize customers based on their chosen method of payment for a mandatory service. DTE, one of the nation’s largest publicly-traded utilities, contends that the new charge is structured to cover the cost assessed by the payment processor and is essential to ensure that customers paying by check or bank account deduction are not subsidizing the costs associated with card payments.

For many households already navigating thin margins, the imposition of additional monthly fees on essential services creates critical strain. Consumers often perceive these new charges as tactics by large corporations to secure additional revenue streams, even when the utility publicly asserts that the funds are solely diverted to a third-party payment processor. Customers are actively engaging in the regulatory process, signaling a strong desire for accessible and cost-effective methods for handling essential monthly obligations. Their prompt and organized action demonstrates a constructive commitment to oversight and fair practices.

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Tell us what you think! DTE customers are voicing their concerns and demanding transparent utility billing practices. What are your thoughts on charges related to payment processing for mandatory services? Share your experiences and opinions below regarding how utilities should structure their fee recovery methods.

DTE Energy has begun sending customers a letter notifying them that if they are automatically paying their monthly bills with a credit or debit card...

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