The annual charge is from Visa / MC themselves - Not the billing companies. Pretty much all REPUTABLE billing companies will be charging you this fee, as they have to pay it VISA / MC...
Some companies used to offer to cover the fees themselves, in order to gain your business, but that was some time ago, when billing was a lot more lucrative for ALL concerned...
I'd just simply call it a 'cost of doing business' and write it off against your tax return. That said though, iirc correctly Zombaio didn't 'charge' the fees, but covered them themselves, however I have yet to hear a good report about them, from either a merchant or an affiliate...
