There is a fee for taking the biometrics, which includes the visa application centre fee, of $85. For dealing with the visa application centre, there is a fee as well.
Our experience is that where people have had the option of either going to the visa office or going through the visa application centre, they have overwhelmingly chosen the visa application centre. There is much better service provided, and in their language.
So our experience has been that our clientele have very much welcomed the visa application centre and have seen it as a significant client service improvement.