Advocacy group urges stronger consumer protection

The Barbados Consumer Empowerment Network (BCEN) is urging SurePay (Barbados) to introduce consumer protection measures following the announcement of planned changes to its bill payment services, which the group says could disproportionately affect vulnerable Barbadians.

The concerns come after the company announced it would introduce a 30-cent fee for cash and cheque bill payments made over the counter, effective March 16.

In a statement on the matter, BCEN called for exemptions or fee waivers for pensioners, persons with disabilities, and low-income users, as well as a clear timeline outlining when and under what conditions the 30-cent transaction fee will be reviewed, reduced, or removed.

It is also asking the government to urgently review the VAT treatment applied to transaction fees for essential services, warning that the current policy may unintentionally penalise individuals who are financially or digitally excluded.

In addition, the group wants the Fair Trading Commission to assess whether the increasing reliance on third-party payment intermediaries and their fees is creating barriers to accessing regulated utilities, even when the charges fall outside direct tariff regulation. BCEN stressed that access to essential services is a matter of public interest and should not be indirectly restricted by payment system design.

According to the BCEN, while the Barbados Light & Power Company has clarified that it does not receive any portion of the fee, the impact on consumers is the same: paying essential bills in person has become more costly.

BCEN said the combined effect of new fees and reduced access points must be considered together, particularly in the context of rising living costs. The organisation warned that this could increase travel expenses, waiting times, and inconvenience, especially for those who rely on face-to-face payment. (BT)