Retailers criticised over top-up charge

Retailers have come under pressure to remove a surcharge of up to 50c imposed on customers topping up their pay-as- you-go electricity and gas cards.

The Money Advice and Budgeting Service (Mabs) has claimed seven out of nine retailers surveyed in one Dublin suburb alone were making customers pay surcharges ranging from 20c to 50c.

Michael Culloty of Mabs said it had been asked to advocate for the top-up service because it was a means of ensuring people were not cut off if they fell into arrears on their bills.