primitives pay fees to pay bills; subway cat offers solution

[franksolich]

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x3737020

Oh my.

rpannier  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 12:11 AM
Original message

And now, a fee to pay your bill
   
Add another to the list of far-out fees: one for paying your bill. On time.

Say you like to give your financial details to a real person rather than a machine. That'll be $5. Or maybe you prefer, or need, to hand your money to someone at the phone or cable company at the last minute to avoid having service cut off. That'll be $5.

Though the practice may sound absurd, it's hardly a surprise given today's blossoming market for creative fee finding. As companies strive to keep listed prices low and earnings high, fees have become a quick and handy back-end way to raise revenue. (See "The 12 most outrageous fees.")

snip

Telecommunications companies provide little explanation for these charges, if any. T-Mobile USA, a cellular carrier with 30 million customers and profits of $1.57 billion in 2007, would not give any reason for its $5 charge. When the companies do explain, it's like this: It costs us money to provide this payment option, so we pass the cost along to users to keep our prices competitively low.

madeline_con  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 12:19 AM
Response to Original message

2. Our local utility tries that with the water bill.
   
They charge for a money transferon a third site.

I set up a bank transfer, so all they get is the amnount of the bill.

napi21  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 12:20 AM
Response to Original message

3. Charter Cable does that same thing. There's no charge if you pay on line at their web site or if you write a check and mail it, but if you want to pay by phone there's a $5.00 charge! You KNOW what they're trying to do don't you? ELIMINATE PEOPLE! Machines are a one time expense and don't get benefits, don't demand raises, and other than a bit of maintenance, once you bought them, they just keep on working at no additional cost. It's those pesky PEOPLE that keep costing you more money!

AZDemDist6  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 12:22 AM
Response to Original message

4. I have a Sprint store in my little town, I took my payment into them and they wouldn't take it. I needed a "cash card" available at WalMart (of all places)for $5 in order for them to accept the payment.

I went home, called the 800#, gave them the payment over the phone automatically then called and fired Sprint.

Funny they had no problem transfering me to a live person then! A live person who spent over 20 minutes trying to save the account by offering me everything from a new phone to 200 free minutes though. Probably would have been a lot cheaper for them to have just taken the payment in the first place eh?

Mind_your_head  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 12:23 AM
Response to Original message

5. I got a ticket not long ago for not wearing my seat belt - $55 fine
   
I went to go pay online and at the last screen, DISCOVERED that I would be charged a $5.00 "convenience fee" for paying online.

Raped and pillaged!

cat_girl25  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 12:43 AM
Response to Original message

12. My water company charges a fee of $2.25 for pay online.
   
I will start mailing in my bill for 48 cents thank you.

orleans  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 05:07 AM
Response to Original message

18. ahem. some credit cards used to charge $8 to pay over the phone then it went up to $12

if i remember correctly, it's a $15 charge to pay on time over the phone--in an automated push button transaction.

Now, this one (below) I could never understand--anybody know why this is?

tbyg52  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 06:37 PM
Response to Original message

19. Yeah, and the phone company charges me $6 a month to *not* put my number in their book.

Lisa0825  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 06:41 PM
Response to Original message

20. My mortgage co charges $20 to pay a bill via customer service rep by phone.
   
$12 to pay via automated service by phone.

JFN1  Donating Member  (863 posts) Wed Aug-06-08 06:44 PM
Response to Original message

21. I have to give my mortgage company $15 to pay by phone
   
otherwise, I have to trust a check to the mail (which I don't like to do) since they don't have Internet payments, and they have no offices in my State where I can make payments in person...and when I complain to Customer Service about this, they point to the contract and say, "We are allowed to charge fees..."

And similarly, if I pay my car payment by phone (which I don't since they have Internet payments) they charge $9 for that...

undergroundpanther  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 10:40 PM
Response to Original message

22. hmmm
   
if there was a way to coordinate this...

what if everyone just stopped paying bills. stopped paying until these companies checked thier greed?

Let them send out bills time and again,and get NOTHING. Sure they'd threaten but if EVERYONE with said service could just not obey,it would be interesting to watch the piggies panic when it rounds three months and nobody gives a shit or a dime to those greedy sacks of shit.

What about if the taxpayers stopped sending the subway cat a welfare check every month, until the subway cat reins in her greed and ingratitude?

It would be interesting to watch the subway cat panic, and nobody gave a shit.

[Miss Mia]

I pay all my bills online.  I don't pay any of these "fees."

The mortgage company will charge you an extra $15 if you pay over 15 days late (I've never run into this) otherwise, free online
The cell phone - free online. 
Electricity - free online.
Gas - free online
Water/Sewage - comes out of my checking account automatically.
Car payment - free over the phone, free online.
Cable/Internet - free online.


All of these people posting on DU obviously have internet access, why not just pay online.  Or for god's sake, plan ahead and put a check in the mail at a whopping $0.42.

[Lord Undies]

The DUmbass doesn't understand that some companies use a third person (business) to process these E-Z over-the-phone and internet payments.  That company makes its money by charging these fees.  It isn't the company they are paying who benefits.  It's no different than giving your dealer gas money for delivering your $200.00 bag of pot or tipping the pizza/Cheetos guy.

I will admit sometimes it is hard to justify these fees when you are dealing directly with a company, like a mortgage company.  Mine charges $10.00 for a phone payment (no, I've never had to pay it).  That is about double their actual expense processing the payment.  But, if it's between $10.00 and having your credit ruined or paying a $40.00 late fee, $10.00 sounds like a bargain.  

[Chris_]

The DUmbass doesn't understand that some companies use a third person (business) to process these E-Z over-the-phone and internet payments.  That company makes its money by charging these fees.  It isn't the company they are paying who benefits.  It's no different than giving your dealer gas money for delivering your $200.00 bag of pot or tipping the pizza/Cheetos guy.

I will admit sometimes it is hard to justify these fees when you are dealing directly with a company, like a mortgage company.  Mine charges $10.00 for a phone payment (no, I've never had to pay it).  That is about double their actual expense processing the payment.  But, if it's between $10.00 and having your credit ruined or paying a $40.00 late fee, $10.00 sounds like a bargain.   

That would require the primitive understand this "capitalism" thingy that he has heard rumors about.

[Lord Undies]

I pay almost all my bills through my bank website.  It is so easy and free.  Most of it is electronic transfering, of course.  Those that don't do transfers (like my mortgage company), the bank actually makes out a paper check and mails it.  I pay no charges for this service.

There was a problem with my mortage payment in July.  They claimed to not have received the check my bank mailed.  We went back and forth on this all month.  My bank didn't want to stop payment (without charging me $25.00) because they had proof it was mailed.  The mortgage company was willing to wait it out.  Finally, on the 31st, I paid my mortgage by phone directly to the mortage company (fee waived) and the bank stopped payment to the lost check (fee waived).

Just a bump in the road. 

[Rebel]

I don't buy this shit:

Say you like to give your financial details to a real person rather than a machine. That'll be $5. Or maybe you prefer, or need, to hand your money to someone at the phone or cable company at the last minute to avoid having service cut off. That'll be $5.

The ONLY fees I pay for paying my bill are when I pay some companies, not all, but some. Paying in person? ALWAYS free. The DUmmie is trying to say it costs you 5 bucks to pay in person.

I call 

[Chris_]

I pay almost all my bills through my bank website.  It is so easy and free.  Most of it is electronic transfering, of course.  Those that don't do transfers (like my mortgage company), the bank actually makes out a paper check and mails it.  I pay no charges for this service.

There was a problem with my mortage payment in July.  They claimed to not have received the check my bank mailed.  We went back and forth on this all month.  My bank didn't want to stop payment (without charging me $25.00) because they had proof it was mailed.  The mortgage company was willing to wait it out.  Finally, on the 31st, I paid my mortgage by phone directly to the mortage company (fee waived) and the bank stopped payment to the lost check (fee waived).

Just a bump in the road. 

Mrs. FD has been paying 100% of the bills online for about 6 or 7 years.

Few, if any problems.  None in the last few years.

Anyone who doesn't pay everything online i smaking unnecessary trouble for them self.

[Rebel]

Mrs. FD has been paying 100% of the bills online for about 6 or 7 years.

Few, if any problems.  None in the last few years.

Anyone who doesn't pay everything online i smaking unnecessary trouble for them self.

Yeah, I pay ALL bills online. I've become conditioned. Probably why my water, which I HAVE to pay in person, has been turned off probably 3 times in the past year. 

I keep forgetting the damn thing. I have a folder in my bookmarks labeled "Bills". Of course, Columbia County water isn't in it. ....and with my job, Kim's job, these damn boards, I'm a forgetful sumbitch.

[Lord Undies]

Mrs. FD has been paying 100% of the bills online for about 6 or 7 years.

Few, if any problems.  None in the last few years.

Anyone who doesn't pay everything online i smaking unnecessary trouble for them self.

Yeah, I pay ALL bills online. I've become conditioned. Probably why my water, which I HAVE to pay in person, has been turned off probably 3 times in the past year. 

I keep forgetting the damn thing. I have a folder in my bookmarks labeled "Bills". Of course, Columbia County water isn't in it. ....and with my job, Kim's job, these damn boards, I'm a forgetful sumbitch.

For Pete's sake, even my little water co-op accepts internet payments.  I guess that's the advanatge to living in Texas.  Even the rubes are on the cutting edge.

 :innocent: 

[Chris_]

Mrs. FD has been paying 100% of the bills online for about 6 or 7 years.

Few, if any problems.  None in the last few years.

Anyone who doesn't pay everything online i smaking unnecessary trouble for them self.

Yeah, I pay ALL bills online. I've become conditioned. Probably why my water, which I HAVE to pay in person, has been turned off probably 3 times in the past year.  :lmao:

I keep forgetting the damn thing. I have a folder in my bookmarks labeled "Bills". Of course, Columbia County water isn't in it. ....and with my job, Kim's job, these damn boards, I'm a forgetful sumbitch.

For Pete's sake, even my little water co-op accepts internet payments.  I guess that's the advanatge to living in Texas.  Even the rubes are on the cutting edge.

 :innocent: 

Hey, can you scout locations for me?  Mrs. FD and I agree that if California raises taxes we are Texas-bound.  I have spent a lot of time there and it is wonderfully central in terms of flying places.

[Rebel]

For Pete's sake, even my little water co-op accepts internet payments.  I guess that's the advanatge to living in Texas.  Even the rubes are on the cutting edge.

 :innocent: 

I ask'em ever friggin' time I pay the bill. WHEN ARE YOU GOING ONLINE?

[Chris_]

I pay my smaller bills six months ahead of time.  Phone, water, electric are all paid up until December.

[Lord Undies]

Mrs. FD has been paying 100% of the bills online for about 6 or 7 years.

Few, if any problems.  None in the last few years.

Anyone who doesn't pay everything online i smaking unnecessary trouble for them self.

Yeah, I pay ALL bills online. I've become conditioned. Probably why my water, which I HAVE to pay in person, has been turned off probably 3 times in the past year. 

I keep forgetting the damn thing. I have a folder in my bookmarks labeled "Bills". Of course, Columbia County water isn't in it. ....and with my job, Kim's job, these damn boards, I'm a forgetful sumbitch.

For Pete's sake, even my little water co-op accepts internet payments.  I guess that's the advanatge to living in Texas.  Even the rubes are on the cutting edge.

 :innocent: 

Hey, can you scout locations for me?  Mrs. FD and I agree that if California raises taxes we are Texas-bound.  I have spent a lot of time there and it is wonderfully central in terms of flying places.

Why wait?  No income tax and real estate is 1/3rd the price.  

The coast is nice.  I've always wanted to live on South Padre Island.  



http://www.townspi.com/

[Lord Undies]

I pay my smaller bills six months ahead of time.  Phone, water, electric are all paid up until December.

Being an old accountant, I don't let go of one penny until I must.  :innocent:

[Chris_]

ooh, that looks nice.

The Outer Banks look similar... a long stretch of sand with two major highways running north/south.  Rush hour is hell.

[Lord Undies]

ooh, that looks nice.

The Outer Banks look similar... a long stretch of sand with two major highways running north/south.  Rush hour is hell.

I have always been in love with Galveston, but now it has lost most of its charm.  It's just a suburb of Houston.

[Chris_]

I pay my smaller bills six months ahead of time.  Phone, water, electric are all paid up until December.

Being an old accountant, I don't let go of one penny until I must.  :innocent:

I'd rather go to the dentist than pay a bill.  The longer I go between talking to someone who wants my money, the happier I am.

[RobJohnson]

The DUmbass doesn't understand that some companies use a third person (business) to process these E-Z over-the-phone and internet payments.  That company makes its money by charging these fees.  It isn't the company they are paying who benefits.  It's no different than giving your dealer gas money for delivering your $200.00 bag of pot or tipping the pizza/Cheetos guy.

I will admit sometimes it is hard to justify these fees when you are dealing directly with a company, like a mortgage company.  Mine charges $10.00 for a phone payment (no, I've never had to pay it).  That is about double their actual expense processing the payment.  But, if it's between $10.00 and having your credit ruined or paying a $40.00 late fee, $10.00 sounds like a bargain.  

Yup.

With the case of the cell phone agents, many of them are independent and do not get paid for taking your money and the extra accounting steps...so if you need to drop off the money in person, there is a $5 charge. Not a big deal if you are out of options.

[LC EFA]

undergroundpanther  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 10:40 PM
Response to Original message

22. hmmm
   
if there was a way to coordinate this...

what if everyone just stopped paying bills. stopped paying until these companies checked thier greed?

Let them send out bills time and again,and get NOTHING. Sure they'd threaten but if EVERYONE with said service could just not obey,it would be interesting to watch the piggies panic when it rounds three months and nobody gives a shit or a dime to those greedy sacks of shit.

Sure, just see how that works when they cut off your electricity , gas , water , INTERNET and food for nonpayment.

They say that hunger will tame the most savage beast.. perhaps UGP could do with a bit of hungry, cold and dark.

Why is it that the folks who complain most about poverty are "donating members" to an internet forum, implying that they at least have a roof, computer, electricity and internet, and enough free coin to chip in to $kinners holiday fund.

[JohnnyReb]

Just call me old fashion. I make a circle around town on the tenth and pay all my bills in person. When I was in business that usually ment 3 stops for personal bills, (water, lights, telephone,), maybe 3 or 4 for business, a stop at the post office to drop a couple of letters(checks) in the mail and a stop at the accountants office to take care of business and Uncle Sam.

On a side note. When my son was small, he loved to go with me to pay the bills. I'd let him pay the personal bills. The places for personal bills all had drive thru windows but he liked taking the checks inside (like daddy did at those other places). The girls at those places all knew who he was and loved to see him come in. You know how women make over young'n's.....and he ate it up....    

[Chris_]

undergroundpanther  Donating Member  (1000+ posts) Wed Aug-06-08 10:40 PM
Response to Original message

22. hmmm
   
if there was a way to coordinate this...

what if everyone just stopped paying bills. stopped paying until these companies checked thier greed?

Let them send out bills time and again,and get NOTHING. Sure they'd threaten but if EVERYONE with said service could just not obey,it would be interesting to watch the piggies panic when it rounds three months and nobody gives a shit or a dime to those greedy sacks of shit.

OR

If there was a way to coordinate this...

What if everyone could just stop paying the taxes that go to entitlement programs? Stopped paying these until the leeches got off of their arses and went to work?

Let them rant and rave on DU time and again, and get NOTHING. Sure they'd bitch and moan, but if EVERYONE who worked said "get a job", it would be interesting to watch the leeches freak when it rounds day two and nobody gives a shit or a dime to those greedy sacks of shit leeches.

[jtyangel]

I pay all my bills online.  I don't pay any of these "fees."

The mortgage company will charge you an extra $15 if you pay over 15 days late (I've never run into this) otherwise, free online
The cell phone - free online. 
Electricity - free online.
Gas - free online
Water/Sewage - comes out of my checking account automatically.
Car payment - free over the phone, free online.
Cable/Internet - free online.


All of these people posting on DU obviously have internet access, why not just pay online.  Or for god's sake, plan ahead and put a check in the mail at a whopping $0.42.

They could set up bill pay from their bank accounts as well. Even if they aren't automated, you can set the accounts ready to go and manually go in and pay the bills. Most banks now don't charge for bill pay and when they did it was 5 bucks a month--surely cheaper then all the accumulated fees on the individual accounts.

[DixieBelle]

online bill payer here too. We have a handful of things autodrafted every month. I don't use the checkbook. It's sitting in locked drawer.

I have noticed that some businesses are charging a fee to talk to a real person and/or conduct your business via phone. I believe on the airlines did this recently.

But, that's the cost of doing business. The free markets correct things that are "outrageous" in time. The DUmmies are idjits.

[Toastedturningtidelegs]

what if everyone just stopped paying bills. stopped paying until these companies checked thier greed?

You first and btw...I don't believe that you pay your own bills anyway I have a feeling mom does that for you dear!

[franksolich]

I dunno.

I pay all of my bills in person.

Of course, I don't have a whole lot of bills anyway, and they're all local.

All sorts of methods of payment are offered by everybody here (in person, mail, bank transfer, internet), and it might be a waste of time and gasoline, but I do it anyway.

It's part of my ongoing self-improvement program.  It's a natural, almost a supernatural compulsion, for the deaf to withdraw, recede, stay out, and this is one of those little "tricks" I use on myself to stay out in the real world, forcing myself against my natural tendencies to deal with human people.