Bill pay internet Convenience FEE - Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating

PRBuzz · 12-30-2011, 06:26 AM

We already pay $1.30 to renew MA fishing license, etc by internet but now:

Verizon Wireless will soon make some customers pay for the privilege of paying their bills. The nation's largest wireless company is instituting a $2 "convenience charge" for those customers who make one-time bill payments using a debit or credit card, either online or by telephone. The fee will go into effect on Jan. 15. "The fee will help allow us to continue to support these single bill payment options ... and is designed to address costs incurred by us for only those customers who choose to make single bill payments,"

BS

BigBo · 12-30-2011, 07:12 AM

You're right. It is total BS and it's happening everywhere. Do you pay your taxes online in Brockton Phil? They charge a convenience fee as well. They real convenience is for them. They employ fewer people and then up the fees to the consumers. It's only getting worse as this practice becomes more wide spread.

PRBuzz · 12-30-2011, 07:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBo

Do you pay your taxes online in Brockton Phil?

Did it once, now one of the few checks I write & mail. The other (since I usually owe) is the MA state income taxes: I am NOT paying them ~$15 to file electronically. I happily electronically file the Feds with H&R Block software.

BigBo · 12-30-2011, 07:38 AM

They've been conditioning people for years now. Pay online! No stamps, No Post Office! Now that they have everyone conditioned, they're going to start stuffing it up our azzes with fees. And those fees will continue to go up.

Rockfish9 · 12-30-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigBo

They've been conditioning people for years now. Pay online! No stamps, No Post Office! Now that they have everyone conditioned, they're going to start stuffing it up our azzes with fees. And those fees will continue to go up.

No truer words were ever spoken...

Raven · 12-30-2011, 08:22 AM

I use the Bill Payer in my DCU Bank.... all free...

that being SAID ....i fired Verizon (because of their ridiculous charges)except for cell phones (thus far) .....but i refuse to
upgrade to 4G so i can do everything by phone instead of by PC.
personally
i think it's totally Stupid to shrink your monitor down to the size of the palm of your hand and strain your eyes.

JohnnyD · 12-30-2011, 10:23 AM

This is a way for Verizon to get more people onto their Automatic Bill Pay. They are creating incentive.

What pisses me off is my college loans. Even with them on automatic payments, I get a service charge by paying online. I stopped that crap and now have payments setup through my bank.

striperman36 · 12-30-2011, 10:25 AM

Don't forget about the new surcharge for underusing long distance
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

WESTPORTMAFIA · 12-30-2011, 11:37 AM

I dumped them a few years ago after my unlimited everything plan was mysteriously changed to a plan that had only a certain amount of minutes so after a month and a half my bill was over 500 bucks. They said I agreed to change my plan which I never did and they wouldn't fix it. It went on my credit but 2 years later I gave them the 100 something bucks and it was done. Instead of fixing the bill and mistake they lost a customer and spent money trying to get me to pay them. End result they lost money and a customer. I couldn't give a crap less about my credit scores dropping in that situation. I couldn't believe how they treated me.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

ecduzitgood · 12-30-2011, 12:19 PM

If they don't charge a fee when you pay by check I suspect the USPS is behind the convenience fee to get more people to use the mail service.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

JohnnyD · 12-30-2011, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecduzitgood

If they don't charge a fee when you pay by check I suspect the USPS is behind the convenience fee to get more people to use the mail service.
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

How would USPS force a business to initiate a service fee for online payments so that they get an extra thousand bucks or so total per month from customers that mail their payment?

Even with say 100,000 customers started mailing their checks instead of paying the online fee (or more likely, setting up automatic payments), that's only $50,000/month - pennies compared to how much this would piss off Verizon customers.

ecduzitgood · 12-30-2011, 02:13 PM

I don't trust anyone. It is a win win situation for both entities which makes me suspicious. I don't think it would take force, perhaps a suggestion between CEO's
Posted from my iPhone/Mobile device

JohnnyD · 12-30-2011, 03:42 PM

Guess it's a moot point...

ecduzitgood · 12-30-2011, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JohnnyD

Guess it's a moot point...

This is further proof that something may have been going on that they didn't want exposed

likwid · 12-30-2011, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecduzitgood

This is further proof that something may have been going on that they didn't want exposed

More likely they were hoping they could squeeze people for a buck (or two) but when negative press hit, they changed their minds. Quickly.

I deal with Verizon (unfortunately not Vodafone, I wish) on a very close business relationship and they do listen.

Hanging out with Raven lately?