FARK.com: (6860707) While you were busy being outraged over Verizon's $2 fee to make a payment other utilities were already charging $4.95

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		While you were busy being outraged over Verizon's $2 fee to make a payment other utilities were already charging $4.95 (boston.com)		93
		More: Followup, Verizon, RCN, Nstar, customer service representatives, T-Mobile USA, Dish Network, Brandeis University, payments

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5401 clicks; posted to Main » on 05 Jan 2012 at 10:44 AM | Favorite | share:

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Nightjars

2012-01-05 10:45:39 AM

I have no utilities that charge this type of fee.

Lost Thought 00

2012-01-05 10:47:57 AM

Just pay using a damn check

MCStymie

2012-01-05 10:48:52 AM

I used to pay $4.95 for the privilege of squaring my BGE (Baltimore Gas and Electric, for those not in the know) on the phone with my credit card.

Expensive? You betcha. Would I do it for, say, $1.00? No problem.

jaylectricity

2012-01-05 10:49:15 AM

I have National Grid, I wonder if they charge a fee. I'm not sure because most of my utilities are paid by electronic check rather than through my debit or credit card.

meat0918

2012-01-05 10:51:29 AM

My mortgage company charge $13 to pay online or over the phone.

smerfnablin

2012-01-05 10:51:53 AM

My city water department started charging $2.95 per online payment or $1.00 check fee if you mailed your payment in (plus the .44 cent stamp)

Basically, the only way to avoid paying

To try to make the best of this and save money? Send a double payment every other month to only pay the fee 6 times a year instead of 12...

Rich Cream

2012-01-05 10:52:01 AM

At first glance one would think it's cheaper to use electronic transactions but this is about paying with a credit card. The cards take 3% off the top (minimum) and the utility ain't paying that for you.

That's why gas stations charge different amounts for credit and cash. At $3+ a pop that's ten cent a gallon.

/the rest you directly pay for the services of another human.

Scurvy Dog

2012-01-05 10:52:42 AM

We have three Verizon stores where I live, all of them independently owned. When the last Verizon-owned store changed hands recently, their management started charging customers an extra $3 for paying in the store. This is a fee that that store is charging on their own, not ordered by Verizon. It was kind of a dumb move right after all the outrage over Verizon's $2 charge for paying online.

/glad they changed their mind about that $2 charge
//now I can go to Taco Bell

Nightsweat

2012-01-05 10:53:41 AM

Nightjars: I have no utilities that charge this type of fee.

Ditto.

Rich Cream

2012-01-05 10:53:43 AM

smerfnablin: My city water department started charging $2.95 per online payment or $1.00 check fee if you mailed your payment in (plus the .44 cent stamp)

Basically, the only way to avoid paying

To try to make the best of this and save money? Send a double payment every other month to only pay the fee 6 times a year instead of 12...

Wow, monthly water bills? Gah. I was going to say just go down and pay in person but maybe you could pay in quarterlies or half year increments

InfrasonicTom

2012-01-05 10:54:47 AM

smerfnablin: My city water department started charging $2.95 per online payment or $1.00 check fee if you mailed your payment in (plus the .44 cent stamp)

Basically, the only way to avoid paying

To try to make the best of this and save money? Send a double payment every other month to only pay the fee 6 times a year instead of 12...

Or you could line the envelope with anthrax until they stop.

/don't really do this
//i'm sure that comment set off some sort of NSA/FBI/HLS alarm

Splinshints

2012-01-05 10:55:11 AM

Lost Thought 00: Just pay using a damn check

I usually just drive my horse and buggy down to the local grocer and obtain a money order. It's convenient because I can do it while I do my grocery shopping which, of course, means green stamps, which I then use to purchase new whips for the aforementioned buggy.

They're not doing this for any good reason other than that they can. Virtually every other business out there manages to work this newfangled processing fee thingy into the business model, there's no reason utilities can't. They just don't because what are you going to do? Plug into somebody else's grid?

swangoatman

2012-01-05 10:55:32 AM

SouthEast Toyota Charges $10.00 to "make a payment" online, using a convoluted third party cash grabber.
But I use my Credit unions BILL PAY, so suck it SET.

dj1s

2012-01-05 10:56:54 AM

InfrasonicTom: smerfnablin: My city water department started charging $2.95 per online payment or $1.00 check fee if you mailed your payment in (plus the .44 cent stamp)

Basically, the only way to avoid paying

To try to make the best of this and save money? Send a double payment every other month to only pay the fee 6 times a year instead of 12...

Or you could line the envelope with anthrax until they stop.

/don't really do this
//i'm sure that comment set off some sort of NSA/FBI/HLS alarm

Knock Knock...

Zizzowop

2012-01-05 10:56:58 AM

I had a friend complaining about the Verizon fee, and I pointed out the same thing, and that $2 was actually cheap, and my answer was to use a check, you know, those things we use to always use to pay bills, and I still do.

LockeOak

2012-01-05 10:57:14 AM

Our local water/trash utility charges for paying online. I believe it's $3. It's the only bill I have that I have to mail.

wichitaleaf

2012-01-05 10:58:27 AM

Cox cable wanted to charge me $10 to turn on one of their receiver boxes yesterday. Ya right.

Zizzowop

2012-01-05 10:58:28 AM

Splinshints: Lost Thought 00: Just pay using a damn check

I usually just drive my horse and buggy down to the local grocer and obtain a money order. It's convenient because I can do it while I do my grocery shopping which, of course, means green stamps, which I then use to purchase new whips for the aforementioned buggy.

They're not doing this for any good reason other than that they can. Virtually every other business out there manages to work this newfangled processing fee thingy into the business model, there's no reason utilities can't. They just don't because what are you going to do? Plug into somebody else's grid?

So, pay with a check then?

elffster

2012-01-05 10:59:08 AM

Poor money....people think you are the root of all evil.

Its the farking people that are the root of all evil.

A Terrible Human

2012-01-05 11:00:04 AM

Kentucky Utilities charges $2.95 to make a payment over the phone or online.

Rich Cream

2012-01-05 11:01:13 AM

Zizzowop: Splinshints: Lost Thought 00: Just pay using a damn check

I usually just drive my horse and buggy down to the local grocer and obtain a money order. It's convenient because I can do it while I do my grocery shopping which, of course, means green stamps, which I then use to purchase new whips for the aforementioned buggy.

They're not doing this for any good reason other than that they can. Virtually every other business out there manages to work this newfangled processing fee thingy into the business model, there's no reason utilities can't. They just don't because what are you going to do? Plug into somebody else's grid?

So, pay with a check then?

Apparently only old out-of-touch geezers do that.

/it's the 3%, stupids

Katie98_KT

2012-01-05 11:01:25 AM

the article mostly mentions fees for paying your bill by taking to a person (on the phone or in person) or for using a credit card.

The issue with Verizon's fee was that it wasn't for those purposes. A company can legitimately claim that there are additional costs if you insist on talking to someone instead of a computer to pay your bill.

HotWingConspiracy

2012-01-05 11:01:53 AM

I think the most annoying part is calling it a "convenience" fee. Just call it a "Because fark you" fee to add some honesty to the process.

CruJones

2012-01-05 11:02:16 AM

Our power company has always charged a fee to pay via credit or debit card. No fee for electronic check. Lots of companies have charged fees for paying over the phone, as it is more expensive for them, having to pay those people on the phone.

Do I care? Not really.

s1ugg0

2012-01-05 11:03:49 AM

Can anyone explain to me why we have to pay any fee what so ever when online bill saying saves the company money by not needing employees to open and cash each check?

InfrasonicTom

2012-01-05 11:06:04 AM

CruJones: Our power company has always charged a fee to pay via credit or debit card. No fee for electronic check. Lots of companies have charged fees for paying over the phone, as it is more expensive for them, having to pay those people on the phone.

Do I care? Not really.

I don't really think in this day and age when when it nearly takes an act from Baby Tebow to talk to a person when calling customer service that it's necessary to have a person on the other end to take the payment information.

Rich Cream

2012-01-05 11:06:16 AM

My Verizon fees, taxes and surcharges. Go ahead slip another in there. It only takes three click-thrus on my statement to see this info.

/still supporting that Spanish-American war.

Zizzowop

2012-01-05 11:06:38 AM

s1ugg0: Can anyone explain to me why we have to pay any fee what so ever when online bill saying saves the company money by not needing employees to open and cash each check?

Yeah, that's really the big question isn't it. You would think the technology makes things easier, therefore cheaper. I don't get it at all. Like others have said, it's a Fark you fee.

CruJones

2012-01-05 11:08:09 AM

Trance750

2012-01-05 11:08:40 AM

Nightjars: I have no utilities that charge this type of fee.

TXU charges a fee if you make a payment with one of their customer service reps

Rich Cream

2012-01-05 11:10:25 AM

s1ugg0: Can anyone explain to me why we have to pay any fee what so ever when online bill saying saves the company money by not needing employees to open and cash each check?

Yet again, if you pay with a credit card, the credit card company takes 3% off the top, gross. The utility does not want to pay that just for your convenience, so you have to pay it, because you want it.

Other than that, they are setup to deal with large amounts of mail and checks so when you deviate from that process it costs more money.

CruJones

2012-01-05 11:11:40 AM

Zizzowop: s1ugg0: Can anyone explain to me why we have to pay any fee what so ever when online bill saying saves the company money by not needing employees to open and cash each check?

Yeah, that's really the big question isn't it. You would think the technology makes things easier, therefore cheaper. I don't get it at all. Like others have said, it's a Fark you fee.

Not sure really, but being PCI compliant, and taking cards online is really expensive. At least for the companies who do it right. Sadly, I'd say a vast majority of companies who take card payments are not compliant.

Splinshints

2012-01-05 11:11:43 AM

CruJones: You'll pay for it somewhere, does it really matter if it's a handling fee or part of the normal bill?

It doesn't cost them $5 to take a $50 credit card payment on a website. They're not "working it in" this way, they're just using it as an excuse to raise your bill.

Rich Cream: Apparently only old out-of-touch geezers do that.

Well, yea, pretty much. If it weren't for my gas company I wouldn't even need a checkbook.

Rich Cream

2012-01-05 11:12:11 AM

Oh and by the way, when you pay $2.95 fee on a $300 bill? I'm subsidizing the other $7.05.

Igor Jakovsky

2012-01-05 11:12:11 AM

My water utility charges $4.95 if I use a card. Solution...I pay by check.

/its still lame though

Rich Cream

2012-01-05 11:13:13 AM

Splinshints:
Well, yea, pretty much. If it weren't for my gas company I wouldn't even need a checkbook.

They'll take cash, traveler's checks, money orders, stamps(? lol) etc

ringersol

2012-01-05 11:14:24 AM

s1ugg0: "Can anyone explain to me why we have to pay any fee what so ever when online bill saying saves the company money by not needing employees to open and cash each check?"

Because you *want* to pay electronically.
It's that simple.

big pig peaches

2012-01-05 11:17:42 AM

Does anyone really go to each individual website to pay their bills?

Just pay though your banks online bill pay, most larger companies are paid electronically with a one day turn around.

Rich Cream

2012-01-05 11:18:20 AM

big pig peaches: Does anyone really go to each individual website to pay their bills?

Just pay though your banks online bill pay, most larger companies are paid electronically with a one day turn around.

There's a fee for that.

Guyv

2012-01-05 11:18:55 AM

jaylectricity: I have National Grid, I wonder if they charge a fee. I'm not sure because most of my utilities are paid by electronic check rather than through my debit or credit card.

The Electric is free, the gas they charge you money BASED ON THE SIZE OF THE PAYMENT. Which always seemed the most ridiculous thing to me.

Cybernetic

2012-01-05 11:19:50 AM

That's exactly the point I made in an earlier thread about this. I couldn't understand why people got so exercised about the $2 fee when my power company and water company are both charging $4.95, and I don't even have the option of choosing another provider.

Progress Energy used to charge a $12.95 "convenience fee" at one point. Their voice response system still quotes that fee, but it's been reduced to $4.95.

The company that holds my auto loan will charge me $10.95 to pay over the internet.

All of these fees are a complete rip-off. Electronic payments are faster and cheaper for these companies to process than paper checks that arrive by snail mail. But they charge the fees anyway, because they can.

Hell, at least when I pay an ATM fee I'm paying for the service of receiving my cash from a bank where I'm not an account holder, so I'm getting something in return for the fee. With utilities, they're charging extra to pay for the service that they're already billing me for. It's maddening. And even though I love the convenience of paying online, the extra fees add up to enough that it's worth the effort to order more checks and buy a roll of stamps.

Rich Cream

2012-01-05 11:20:50 AM

A credit card and a debit card are completely different creatures. Despite the fact they look a lot alike. You can't keep conflating the two.

/apples-oranges

LarryDan43

2012-01-05 11:21:21 AM

My city gives you a $5 discount if you pay your water/sewage bill online instead of by check.

Rich Cream

2012-01-05 11:24:25 AM

LarryDan43: My city gives you a $5 discount if you pay your water/sewage bill online instead of by check.

Because it saves them money. These other companies aren't saving money by having to have extra departments to deal with other forms of payment. Yet.

deeproy

2012-01-05 11:26:22 AM

Cellular service is a utility?

jaylectricity

2012-01-05 11:35:36 AM

deeproy: Cellular service is a utility?

Do you use it?

Jon iz teh kewl

2012-01-05 11:38:24 AM

Rich Cream: A credit card and a debit card are completely different creatures. Despite the fact they look a lot alike. You can't keep conflating the two.

/apples-oranges

They aren't creatures. Regardless of what you think. I.E. you can put them through a shredder without being convicted of "cruelty"..

King Keepo

2012-01-05 11:39:20 AM

I just object to the idea of having to pay to pay a bill.

\\starts gathering pennies

hungry hungry cannibal

2012-01-05 11:39:35 AM

My gas company has Western Union handling their online payments. It's a 6.50 fee plus it counts as a cash advance on your credit card. It's the nastiest billing practice I've encountered personally.

A close second would be the fuel surcharge. None of my suppliers charged for fuel until gas went over $4/gallon. Gas prices dropped down but the surcharges are still in place.

mark_bert

2012-01-05 11:43:30 AM

Rich Cream: That's why gas stations charge different amounts for credit and cash. At $3+ a pop that's ten cent a gallon

No. No they don't. They used to but this has been illegal for quite some time. (At least in my state)

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