Late arriving Cellular Bill - Am I culpable?

[Olas]

Does the DirectDebit system operate in America?

Give the provider your account number and your signature, and they claim the billed amount from your account. You never have to look at a bill. You never have to go anywhere, call anyone or mail anything.

Look into it

 

[earlyre]

Originally Posted By: Olas
Does the DirectDebit system operate in America?

Give the provider your account number and your signature, and they claim the billed amount from your account. You never have to look at a bill. You never have to go anywhere, call anyone or mail anything.

Look into it


Yes, it does. In fact, the apt.complex my buddy lived in a few years back, that was the ONLY method they accepted for rent payments.
But despite that (direct debit) being the norm in most of the rest of the developed world, as you can tell by this thread, many 'muricans are very reluctant to use it.

 

[QuietPortage]

Originally Posted By: Olas
Does the DirectDebit system operate in America?

Give the provider your account number and your signature, and they claim the billed amount from your account. You never have to look at a bill. You never have to go anywhere, call anyone or mail anything.

Look into it

It does operate. They're also able to bill a credit card monthly. The OP fears either will cause Skynet to empty his accounts.

 

[exranger06]

The problem with your argument is it turns into a "he said/she said." If I was a deadbeat who didn't want to pay my bill on time and didn't want to be charged a late fee, what's to stop me from calling the phone company and saying "I never received a bill," even if I actually did? Or tell them "I mailed the check, didn't you receive it?" even if I never mailed anything. What do you propose the phone company do to prevent that from happening?

Yes, the company offers payment by mail as an option for those stubborn enough to use it. But if you choose to use it, you should do so realizing it's antiquated and unreliable, and that there are downfalls to using it. And if you encounter one of those downfalls firsthand, suck it up and pay the late fee.

Also, all of your arguments against online payment are related to automatic payments. You do realize you can pay your bill online WITHOUT setting it up for automatic payments, right? Just log in once a month, enter your info, and click on the payment button. Nothing automatic about it, and no need to worry about lost mail.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: hatt
Troll thread grade: A- Good job!

lol....pretty much


Originally Posted By: SumpChump
Now I understand a few things about us modern Americans

I see why others think we are childish.

I see why others of the 7 Billion think we are rash and lack candor.

I see why we lost our core values that each person matters and the individual must be at least considered (not forgotten).

As if the person who chooses a paper bill is less worthy of respectful customer treatment?

I see why others, including myself, are bewildered at our unhealthy love affair with corporate power

and the trance that a new type of propaganda out us into.

We have become so attached to the corporate teat emotionally and so beaten down with low expectations of those who SERVE US of an individual.

I see why others, and many here, worry about dependance on technology.

Right on the news in our faces and who asks.. Is THIS safe? Do you even know what security encryption they use? Nope. But you want to know the name of your dog's groomer. Data breeches and all people get is a "Were sorry" .

The saddest part is the "It's just the WAY it is now" mentality

responsibility going out the window.

Sad sheeple.

You came up with all of this bc of one late bill??

 

[JustinH]

I like paper bills for everything also. I use my online bill pay to send the company a paper check in the mail, it works fantastic.

This way no company has my debit card number, or access to draw money from my account.

My bank sends them a paper check.

For cell phone service we pay them with paypal because they don't accept checks, again they never have my debit card number or bank info.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: JustinH
I like paper bills for everything also. I use my online bill pay to send the company a paper check in the mail, it works fantastic.

This way no company has my debit card number, or access to draw money from my account.

My bank sends them a paper check.

For cell phone service we pay them with paypal because they don't accept checks, again they never have my debit card number or bank info.

Your check has your bank information on it..lol
Papal has your credit card # and/or bank number.
Bank, phone, CC, and PayPal have your ss#

You are not responsible for CC frauds.

Your information is on so many places on the internet its not worth getting your panties in a bunch.

If you are worried..for a couple bucks a month you can get $30K more or less from your insurance company. That's what I did.....Oh yea your Insurance has your Bank number and/or CC# and SS#. Along with your cable company, electric company and any other utilities you have.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: SumpChump
My cellular bill has not arrived at its typical monthly point. As an intelligent customer and in good faith effort, I called them. Disclaimer: I am not posting this in hopes of being told about all of the convenient electronic automatic withdrawal. Methods of payment at my disposal. I have the right to pay and be billed on paper. Please read on to see the real crux of the issue at the bottom.

You already know this, so I am not saying anything about this. It is your choice so you have to live with the problem(s) of your choice.

One thing I like to say is I have no problem with electronic automatic withdrawal with all monthly payments of any kind for more than 20 years. I'm not going to change my method, I am tired of looking at the mails and writing check then mail it on time.

 

[dishdude]

Originally Posted By: hatt
Troll thread grade: A- Good job!


So true, and I let myself get sucked in. Sigh.

 

[KD0AXS]

Originally Posted By: JustinH
I like paper bills for everything also. I use my online bill pay to send the company a paper check in the mail, it works fantastic.

This way no company has my debit card number, or access to draw money from my account.

My bank sends them a paper check.

For cell phone service we pay them with paypal because they don't accept checks, again they never have my debit card number or bank info.


Do you know what happens once they receive that paper check? They run it through a machine that reads your routing and account numbers off the check, and then your payment gets processed electronically just like it would if you paid online.

 

[raytseng]

One of the outcomes of 9-11 is that electronic check processing is fully legal. Producing the actual paper check is no longer required for any reason legal or otherwise.

So once the paper checks are electronically imaged, they can be immediately shredded; and the transfers can be done electronically using just the electronic image/electronic info from that image.

 

[QuietPortage]

Originally Posted By: KD0AXS
Do you know what happens once they receive that paper check? They run it through a machine that reads your routing and account numbers off the check, and then your payment gets processed electronically just like it would if you paid online.

Ah, excellent point. I had forgotten that checks are presented to the bank electronically. Even when you write a check to another person, their bank scans and processes it that way. Paying cash at the retail store is about the only way you can keep your credit card or checking account info from being wired through the intertubes.

 

[SumpChump]

#downwithautopay
#exactlywhohasfingersinyourcookiejar
#twosheepleistoomany
#myaccountmydecisions
#stayoffcorporateteat
#sendabillgetacheckaintbrokedontfixit
#soylentgreenendorsesautopay

 

[javacontour]

People probably said the same thing when checks were first being used.

"Just because everyone is writing checks doesn't mean I will."

You can adapt or not.

But don't be shocked if your choice to do things the "old fashioned way" is more and more difficult because the majority of customers choose another means.

The problem isn't just with the company choosing new technology. It's also with those who refuse to embrace the dominate technology.

Originally Posted By: SumpChump
Now I understand a few things about us modern Americans after this thread.

I see why others think we are childish. Evidenced by how many posters used the "but everyone is doing it" argument.

I see why others of the 7 Billion think we are rash and lack candor. Evidenced by the posters, except 2-3, refusing to keep the discussion to the idea of whether if I a MUST ensure the USPS gets it there... that THEY be held to the same requirement. Instead degenerating to the "old versus new" battle.

I see why others, and a good amount of citizens, believe we lost our core values that each person matters and the individual must be at least considered (not forgotten). Evidenced by the comments that "you're the only on that" , "who would even choose that method anymore". Really? As if the person who chooses a paper bill is less worthy of respectful customer treatment? I we can't ask a company to go or paper billing for the "one dummy" who wants it....how quickly do we let the "one who worships ____ " get shoved to the side and say "NO! You WILL work that day, it's only YOUR worship day".

I see why others, including myself, are bewildered at our unhealthy love affair with corporate power and the trance that a new type of propaganda out us into. Heck, I love the whole "company loyalty" thing But what I'm talking about is our allegiance to "the company must be right... They are big and official looking". This speaks again to the loss I respect for the individual, not the outlier, the individual. We have become so attached to the corporate teat emotionally and so beaten down with low expectations of those who SERVE US that a sense of pre-realease of responsibility is in the air. After all "companies will eventually spill XYZ, look how much they do, they bring us an important service". As if business can't be held to the standard of an individual.

I see why others, and many here, worry about dependance on technology. Notice I said DEPENDANCE not USE. It's a tool, great, technology saved my life a hundred times over. But the dependance and spoon feeding I dependance is sick and dangerous. I cited many valid concerns and weakness such as data breeches and tumbling errors which computers are so good at.... And nobody even really acknowledged it as genuine. We ram ahead letting someone else put their fingers into our accounts when even a family blood member couldn't. Not saying it's wrong. Just saddened that we really have lost most caution when it comes to just "signing up". Data breeches are common and we sign up. Right on the news in our faces and who asks.. Is THIS safe? Do you even know what security encryption they use? Nope. But you want to know the name of your dog's groomer. Data breeches and all people get is a "Were sorry" . Heck if your neighbor let someone into your garbage can area without permission you'd be upset and call police. Yet have no clue who is actually processing your bank auto data.

The saddest part is the "It's just the WAY it is now" mentality. NO, it's 2015, theses years were to be more advanced, more peaceful more secure, more choice, more interdependent. No "that's the way it is". And failure bein the norm and conformity being the norm and responsibility going out the window. For cripes sake. A guy posts about a business perhaps being obligated to "work with him" on ensuring timely billing and it's HIS fault? It's HE who is out of date and DESERVED what happened because he chose different?

Sad sheeple.

 

[Al]

Originally Posted By: javacontour
People probably said the same thing when checks were first being used.

"Just because everyone is writing checks doesn't mean I will."

You can adapt or not.

But don't be shocked if your choice to do things the "old fashioned way" is more and more difficult because the majority of customers choose another means.

The problem isn't just with the company choosing new technology. It's also with those who refuse to embrace the dominate technology.

You are on a roll today. Of course 90% of folks would agree with you.

 

[SumpChump]

#lowexpectationsforcorporations
#ninetypercentofsheepleagree

 

[HerrStig]

Originally Posted By: Al
Originally Posted By: hatt
Troll thread grade: A- Good job!

lol....pretty much


Originally Posted By: SumpChump
Now I understand a few things about us modern Americans

I see why others think we are childish.

I see why others of the 7 Billion think we are rash and lack candor.

I see why we lost our core values that each person matters and the individual must be at least considered (not forgotten).

As if the person who chooses a paper bill is less worthy of respectful customer treatment?

I see why others, including myself, are bewildered at our unhealthy love affair with corporate power

and the trance that a new type of propaganda out us into.

We have become so attached to the corporate teat emotionally and so beaten down with low expectations of those who SERVE US of an individual.

I see why others, and many here, worry about dependance on technology.

Right on the news in our faces and who asks.. Is THIS safe? Do you even know what security encryption they use? Nope. But you want to know the name of your dog's groomer. Data breeches and all people get is a "Were sorry" .

The saddest part is the "It's just the WAY it is now" mentality

responsibility going out the window.

Sad sheeple.

You came up with all of this bc of one late bill??
+1 There are a lot of places the whiner could move too and find some REAL good stuff to complain about.

 

[Andrew1972]

It is getting much harder to hang onto ways of the past like writing an check based on a mailed bill. My mother in law is similar to you in hanging onto her ways. Sadly it takes a lot of her time and energy on her part upset that system and customer service is "down". She wastes energy complaining to them($1/month fee for paper based bank statement) instead of moving with the century on.

Just like this entire thread she spends just as much negative energy talking to reps who don't care because she insists on talking to someone and not very clearly her needs.

Good luck. Being "right" is not always easy so you have to pick your battles for sure.

 

[QuietPortage]

I was trying to figure out if this nonsense was started by an old man who was angry about those dang kids and their internets, or an entitled millennial who spends too much time on info wars. I believe this clears it up.

Originally Posted By: SumpChump
#downwithautopay
#exactlywhohasfingersinyourcookiejar
#twosheepleistoomany
#myaccountmydecisions
#stayoffcorporateteat
#sendabillgetacheckaintbrokedontfixit
#soylentgreenendorsesautopay
Originally Posted By: SumpChump
#lowexpectationsforcorporations
#ninetypercentofsheepleagree

 

[gathermewool]

Originally Posted By: SumpChump
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Originally Posted By: SumpChump
Originally Posted By: gathermewool
Your OP stated that you don't want to any posts about auto-payments, but I've got to ask why. I have every single bill that I can on auto-pay. I usually pay credit card bills off in full every two weeks, when I get my pay check, and review auto-pay bills, like my cell phone bill, as soon as I receive the email.

The email not only reminds me to check to ensure everything looks right, but it also has the bill amount, which should look the same every month.


I really didn't want to get into paper versus paperless which gets into internet access which gets into rural versus urban which gets into economi classes which gets into politics which isn't allowed here.

BUT. Since only one poster has acknowledged the actual crux of the issue (Shouldn't a business ensure it makes it to my door as I am obligated that it makes it to their door)

LETS SPIRAL into a eventually fruitless (because of all the above litany of related societal issues) discussion of the super essential issue to all of this of... "Why don't I jest authorize them to take money out of my account ...poof!

Here goes...
I don't know your life situation so I will only speak of mine. I prefer the control and process which paper affords. Bottom line. And THAT is a choice my neighbor does not have. For him it is the way he gets his core utility bills.

So to list a few more:
1. Because the offer it. Yep, you offer to GET me a bill by paper, then it's a choice I can select and you the business should fulfill or not offer.
2. It provides me a manner with which I prefer for handling my books.
3. Because I beleive that I DECIDE when an what goes out of my account. Not a computer, not me of sound mine three months ago, not me of early onset Alzheimer's two years ago, not me who got a super convincing phishing phone call or email, not me with my nephew who "showed me how to do it" online and then whom makes bad life choices and gets into my accounts. ME today. That's who decides what leaves my account.
4. Computers make mistakes and it takes ALOT of phone calls to stop a process once it's rolling. The billing systems are like attack dogs, once there's an error and a computer records it as normal... You're word is toast. Hours of calls with the last four of your social security number please.
5. The direct deposit, which for many people get their paycheck money in from which to pay the bills, can fail falter or error. It has happenedto a family member of mine , who works for a Computer company. What then happens is all the perfectly functional auto withdrawals keep sucking at the teat of your account which no posts in default.

Bottom line.. I et paper because it's offered and I want it. See above.
And if their server should be expected to actually deliver a readable series of digits on your screen .... Then nobody's going to convince me that I don't have the right to expect readable digits on paper in my hand.


It kind of seems that, by getting so worked up over this, you've effectively lost control. What control would paper provide, anyway? I get your argument, but I don't get the motivation for it.

1. Auto-pay: If they charge me too much I'll call them and they'll fix it. This has happened, and it has been fixed every single time, without fail.

If VZW does not fix it, I'll call my credit card company and trust that they will take on my case.

If worse comes to worst I'll escalate appropriately.

2. Server: If their server is down they'll delay billing, since most people, including myself, have e-billing and paperless billing. This has happened in the past, and it has worked.

If you pay your bill on time, every time, they will cut you plenty of slack, and things will be fine.

3. Phone: I receive an email for my bill well before the payment is due. If the server was down and if any other hiccups prevented me from electronically paying my bill then I'd do it over the phone.

4. AUTO-PAY!!! Why would I need to worry about the servers, any phone calls or anything at all??? My bill is payed automatically, well before it is due. It's literally idiot-proof, so long as I keep sufficient funds in my checking account.

//

I'm sorry to say it, SumpChump, but it's pretty obvious no one here agrees with you, because there's no real logic to your argument (your analogies don't even make sense.) We sheeple like to waste as little time as possible on things that don't matter, so auto-bill-pay, online payments, and paperless invoices are the way to go. Not only that, but there are two lesser thought about benefits:

1. Personally identifiable information: The less paper being sent to me with sensitive information, the better. I know my info is probably being bought and sold constantly, but I still take precautions: I shred every piece of paper I receive in the mail that has my information on it, such as credit card offers and other promotions.

2. Tracking: Case in point for this entire thread: I receive an email when my bill is due, and then another email saying that I paid it. Sending in a check, when you do you figure out that your bill is in good standing? When an extra charge (and associated fees and penalties) is listed on your NEXT bill?


You pay with credit card for daily weekly monthly bills!? LOL.

You think that PAPER is how identification gets stolen?! How old fashioned.. It's hacking databases. Tots tally faulty point.

"It's pretty clear nobody agrees with me"... very 7th grade logic. LoL. "Everybody was smoking at the party
mom" sheesh.



Yes, my cell bill is paid by credit card, which offers points AND further protection against billing errors.

I pay my cards off every 2 weeks, pay NOTHING in interest, ever, and receive hundreds in cash back.

I covered the likelihood that my electronic data is likely being bought and sold. Personal experience: I know people who have had credit information stolen or cards opened in their name, because people got a hold of offers they tossed. This was back in the early 2000's, mind you, but still relevant today.

Again, with your terrible analogies. You should stick with insults and nix that form of rebuttal.