After a customer backlash, Verizon Wireless announced it is dropping a plan to start charging $2 for every payment subscribers make over the phone or online with their credit cards.
In a statement on its website Friday, it says "customer feedback" prompted the decision to drop the "convenience fee" it wanted to introduce on Jan. 15.
Verizon, the country's largest cellphone company, wanted to steer people to electronic check payments and automatic credit card payments.
A petition on Change.org against the fees had gathered more than 57,000 names on Friday afternoon.
Social media also served as a forum for customers to voice displeasure.
On Facebook, several pages popped up where angry customers protested the convenience fee. Some posts gave corporate information and resources to make it easier to complain.
Verizon released a statement Friday afternoon saying in part quote, " At Verizon, we take great care to listen to our customers. Based on their input, we believe the best path forward is to encourage customers to take advantage of the best and most efficient options, eliminating the need to institute the fee at this time."
The Federal Communications Commission was also looking into the proposed fee before Verizon dropped it.
Local folks News 2 talked with Friday morning knew the power customer complaints have on a company's decision.
"I think there's power in the consumer and I think if enough of them are heard, Verizon will probably back off of it", says Verizon customer, Susan Bowes.
Alison McMillian adds, "I think we as consumers do have power. Number one, we can boycott the companies that are charging the extra fees for things that seem unreasonable."
Verizon isn't the first time consumers have made a difference. Debit card fees were dropped at Bank of America after so many people complained. Netflix lost 800,000 subscribers after raising prices and attempting to separate the DVD By-Mail service to Qwikster. After customers complained, Netflix ditched Qwikster but kept the price increases. Locally, Duke Energy originally wanted to increase rates for homes by nearly 18-percent. Customers complained and Duke dropped its request twice.
AP, WFMY News 2, Verizon Media Relations