Elizabeth City officials say passing credit card fees on to city utility customers who pay their bills by credit card is fairer than the city’s previous policy of absorbing those fees.

The city, which accepts payments by cash or check, also began offering credit card payments online and by telephone two weeks ago. Credit card payments no longer are accepted at the Customer Service Department at City Hall, but a telephone is made available on-site for customers who want to pay their bills by phone.

City Manager Rich Olson reported last week that during the first six days under the new setup more than 150 credit card payments were made — 87 percent by phone and the remaining 13 percent online.

Olson said Wednesday that while it’s still early to know anything definite, it appears about the same number of customers are paying by credit card as before. It will take at least six months to know for sure, he said.