 | | They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did customers going to fight it and its going turn very ugly. | |
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 |  aztr0
join:2007-10-28
Brooklyn, NY | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did I guess, companies just don't learn.... | |
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| | pandoraPremium
join:2001-06-01
Outland
kudos:1 Reviews:
 ·Google Voice
 ·Comcast
·ooma
·Future Nine Corp..
|  I wish customers were a bit smarter overall
said by aztr0:I guess, companies just don't learn....
As someone who moved from Sprint post-paid in July (2011), there are a lot of changes over the past year or so to Sprints TOS, and all of them adverse to customers.
Here is my list, without checking google, just my own personal recollection.
Sprint removed discounts for lines 2-5 on family plans.
Sprint imposed a smart phone fee for new activations of $10 per line per month.
Sprint increased the ETF from $185 to $350 for smart phones.
Sprint increased the insurance on smart phones by $2 per month.
Sprint added a $36 activation fee, which is applied even to customers who used to be exempt. I think it started at $18 and went to $36.
Sprint cut the trial time for new customers from $30 days to 15, and no longer refunds all customer costs, only costs for phones and a pro-rated use of service refund.
Sprint reduced the premier phone upgrade policy from once every 12 months to once very 18 months.
Sprint is going to eliminate the discount for line 2 on family plans starting January 15, 2012 per Howard forums.
Now the $2 per month increase.
That's a lot of increases.
For someone with a 25% discount, it's $20 for 4 lines which will no longer be discounted, then an extra $10 per line with activation, so $50, then $2 per month for a paper bill. On 5 lines that's an increase of $72 per month in around a year.
Sprint is no longer a bargain, but this $2 fee is trivial compared to other increases the company has imposed on users recently. If those didn't get customers to switch, I doubt a new $2 fee will. 
It is amazing how much financial abuse people will endure.
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"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." | |
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| | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: I wish customers were a bit smarter overall don't forget to add to that list of yours that sprint dramatically improved their services provided to their customers.
To be honest, all I see in your post is that the company couldn't operate on a reduced income level and continue to give customers what they "demand" from a provider like sprint.
Running a business myself, I also cut my prices and fees to my retail customers for quite some time in order to give customers access to a service at an "affordable" price.. however, as those prices were kept low, it starved off my ability to provide the service at a level that was acceptable. While my competition continued to charge a higher price, they were constantly improving theirs while mine remained stagnant. They continued to provide great customer service, where I was struggling under the weight of low revenue to meet the demands. Eventually I was forced to raise prices and "stop being the low price leader" because price alone isn't enough to keep customers, and keep them happy.
For those of you who constantly complain that sprint has been adjusting their fees, adding fees for customer choices, and so on, just remember something, you're going to get what you pay for. You can't expect a company to operate at a loss, nor can you expect to get the best possible service when a company is showing losses.
It's amazing how much people will bitch with out engaging their brain first.
If you want a bargain, then go pre-paid. If you want all the bells and whistles of a post paid service, then you have to be reasonable and pay a reasonable cost. What Sprint HAD been charging was NOT reasonable.. or had you not looked at any of their P&L or financial earnings statements over the past few years? | |
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| | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: I wish customers were a bit smarter overall said by pandora:said by fiberguy:To be honest, all I see in your post is that the company couldn't operate on a reduced income level and continue to give customers what they "demand" from a provider like sprint.
Could you explain to me why the same network, same coverage and same Android phone costs me $25 a month on Sprints Virgin Mobile network but would cost me $60 on Sprint post-paid? I don't have the time or energy to explain to you the complete workings of economics.. and no matter what I said you'd not accept it anyway. So, no.. I won't.
And "Sprint has an inferior network", as you stated, is simply talking point opinion. I won't get into what will amount to a pissing match based on cheer leading.
I'd say that Dodge is inferior to Ford yet they still charge more for their vehicles too. Unless you're going to pay attention to the very line of mine you quoted, I don't see the need to engage into that level of a conversation with you. 
You clearly ARE okay with Sprint's inferior network because you're still on it. However, you've chosen to use a service that you're taking all the risks with out giving the provider a quantifiable budgetary item in return in a highly competitive industry. | |
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| | | |  tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI
2 edits | I love it when people who have no friggin clue about a company and then think because they run their own business, they have the pulse of a multi-billion corporation and can make a connection. 
Fiberbuy, nothing personal but unless you have worked for Sprint or currently work for Sprint, you're ONLY speculating about their financial background and mostly, their networks abilities and quality thereof.
Sprint is where it is today because of the follow boondoggles (note: these are only some of the big ones I care to share):
1. ION (2 billion wasted)
2. MVNOs (Millions upon Millions wasted in upgrades and testing that never went anywhere but south then ended in some bridges burned (roadrunner, Comcast just to name a couple)
3. Nextel (this needs no explaining)
4. WiMAX (Again, billions wasted only to jump ship on the LTE train)
5. LTE (On the fence. But again, they never finish anything they start and they are looking at just going hybrid. 3G/EVDO-RevA, after spending millions on the towers, they sold them off for pennies on the dollar)
6. Network upgrades. (Again, millions up on millions over the years just to keep those 5E's and DMS250's humming along. Even the new Nortel switches can't handle the needs so instead of getting new eqp, they just keep applying bandaids and moving one sand pile to another).
7. Customer service: (Digging themselves out of that hole has turned into a very very expensive attempt to fix what was the posterchild for churn. Opening up more call centers but not giving it's CSR's the power to fix the customers issue on the spot is something Dan can't fix. GM/Ford/Chrysler has been trying for years and still don't have it right. Sprint should just change it's name. It's cheaper)
8. And close to my heart: Laying off 8000 people from all divisions but mostly network operations in 2009 and another 2000+ in 2010. Transferring all remaining network employees and NOC's to Ericson (boy, that sure did help the stock). Then outsourcing it’s NOC’s to Poland where they can’t even say T1 without screwing it up. )
So, that's just a few of the many projects that Sprint started, waisted money and time that amounted to nothing more then price hikes. Wireless wouldn't be where it is today if not for Sprints wireline backbone and switches. The tit has all but run dry and they need to now get some revenue from it's customers. Instead of charging it's customers to give us a paper copy of our ITEMIZED bill, why not offer discounts to those of use who use autopay? The only incentive they are offering it's customers now is one to leave. If your going to pay more for your service, you might as well get one that works. And by the way, I've lived where I do for years. My service use to be outstanding. But the tower nearest me was decommissioned and moved. My 5 bars are now 2 at best. I live in area where there are no less the 1000 families in this sub. Sprint couldn't make a good decision if it landed on their face and took a dump.  | |
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| | |  Steve MehsGun Control Is Using A Steady HandPremium
join:2005-07-16 | I have ‘endured’ exactly zero ‘abuse’.
quote:
Sprint removed discounts for lines 2-5 on family plans.
I’m not eligible for any discounts, so this doesn’t apply to me. But shouldn’t you just be thankful that you can get discounts? Sprint is under no obligation to provide you a discount just based upon where you work.
quote:
Sprint imposed a smart phone fee for new activations of $10 per line per month.
Since both of the smartphones on my account are 4G, I would be paying the $10 fee regardless. And even with the premium data fee, Sprint is still cheaper than AT&T and Verizon.
quote:
Sprint increased the ETF from $185 to $350 for smart phones.
Considering I have no plans to leave Sprint, they could make the ETF $1000 and I wouldn’t care.
quote:
Sprint increased the insurance on smart phones by $2 per month.
Insurance any form is nothing but a legal scam. Since I wouldn’t dream of paying extra for insurance, this does not affect me.
quote:
Sprint added a $36 activation fee, which is applied even to customers who used to be exempt. I think it started at $18 and went to $36.
In May, I added a USB Air Card to my account. Had no activation fee. In June, I replaced my Evo with the Evo 3D. Had no activation fee. In July, I added the Evo View tablet to my account. Had no activation fee.
quote:
Sprint cut the trial time for new customers from $30 days to 15, and no longer refunds all customer costs, only costs for phones and a pro-rated use of service refund
Two weeks should be plenty to try out the service to see if you like it. And of course you should be billed for whatever usage you incur if you should return the phone and cancel the account within the trial period. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Sprint or any company charging you for what you actually used.
quote:
Sprint reduced the premier phone upgrade policy from once every 12 months to once very 18 months.
That is the only thing that has affected me.
quote:
Sprint is going to eliminate the discount for line 2 on family plans starting January 15, 2012 per Howard forums.
That was your first point.
quote:
Now the $2 per month increase.
I have everything on autopay and I haven’t received a paper copy for any bill in YEARS. There’s simply no reason to have a physical copy. I support this fee 110%!
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2011 Time Warner Cable Forum @ DSLReports Poster Of The Year!
Voted Unanimously on by ChillyCat and Elyria!
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| | | | pandoraPremium
join:2001-06-01
Outland
kudos:1 |  You proved my point
Thanks!
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"People demand freedom of speech as a compensation for the freedom of thought which they seldom use." | |
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| | | | | Steve MehsGun Control Is Using A Steady HandPremium
join:2005-07-16 | Re: You proved my point Considering they have done nothing to me but provide me with a great service at an affordable rate, why would I want to leave? None of what you posted impacts me the least bit. And I’m willing to be I’m not the only one. | |
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| | | | | | | | Re: You proved my point said by Steve Mehs:Considering they have done nothing to me but provide me with a great service at an affordable rate, why would I want to leave? None of what you posted impacts me the least bit. And I’m willing to be I’m not the only one.
So essentially your entire response is "it doesn't affect me, so screw everyone else". What a selfish, narcissistic human being you are. | |
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| | | | | | | Steve MehsGun Control Is Using A Steady HandPremium
join:2005-07-16 | Re: You proved my point said by sonicmerlin:said by Steve Mehs:Considering they have done nothing to me but provide me with a great service at an affordable rate, why would I want to leave? None of what you posted impacts me the least bit. And I’m willing to be I’m not the only one.
So essentially your entire response is "it doesn't affect me, so screw everyone else". What a selfish, narcissistic human being you are. And what percentage of Sprints customer base is actually negatively impacted by any of these 'anti consumer' changes? Very few I would guess.
I say make it a $5 fee to get a paper statement in the mail! People need to adapt with the times or get left behind.\!
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2011 Time Warner Cable Forum @ DSLReports Poster Of The Year!
Voted Unanimously on by ChillyCat and Elyria!
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| | | | | | Re: I wish customers were a bit smarter overall said by Steve Mehs:I have everything on autopay and I haven’t received a paper copy for any bill in YEARS. There’s simply no reason to have a physical copy. I support this fee 110%! Bet you'll be surprised when they make an "accounting error" and try to autopay $10,000 from your account which either succeeds or doesn't and your bank wacks you for a $40 overdraft fee. Then you have to spend 8 hours on the phone trying to get it back and then have to wait a month to get it back.
Out of curiosity did you bother to read the TOS on autopay? They aren't liable for anything (including their mistake causing your house payment and everything else to bounce, along with the bounce fees), they don't refund bank fees if they do make a mistake and it's up to you to ask for the money back and they are under no timeframe to refund (in theory they could hold your money indefinitely and simply apply the balance to each future month). And the best part is they added the ATT no lawsuit clause so if they do screw up you can only file for binding arbitration.
I like Sprint too, but I'm not a fanboi, the OP had legitimate complaints and if more of us walked (even to prepaid) they wouldn't be enacting these anti-consumer policies. You shouldn't defend bad behavior just because you like them. | |
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| | | | | Steve MehsGun Control Is Using A Steady HandPremium
join:2005-07-16 | Re: I wish customers were a bit smarter overall Wow you guys are paranoid and stuck in the past. I feel sorry for you.
quote:
Bet you'll be surprised when they make an "accounting error" and try to autopay $10,000 from your account which either succeeds or doesn't and your bank wacks you for a $40 overdraft fee. Then you have to spend 8 hours on the phone trying to get it back and then have to wait a month to get it back.
Sirius, XM, Sirius XM, Nextel, Sprint, Verizon, AT&T Mobility, Time Warner Cable, Dish Network, DirecTV all done via auto pay at one point or another, not a single issue, ever. Well, I take that back. One minor issue. Last year, when I switched over my cable from normal triple play to Signature Home, Time Warner screwed up my sports packages and billed me twice for ESPN GamePlan and NHL Center Ice. I had a $600 cable bill initially. I called up TWC and 10 minutes later the problem was corrected, and this happened well before the bill posted to the account. All was well. Which leads me to this point, none of these companies actually post to the account the day your billing cycle is up. I get an email when the billing cycle is up letting me know the total charges for the month and that amount is not posted until the due date. So if there is an error, you have a few weeks to call up and get it resolved.
My last billing cycle with Sprint ended on Dec 9th, the bill automatically got paid today via my Visa. Should have been yesterday, but it was a holiday. That is nearly an entire month I have to file a complaint if I was overcharged.
And I bill to something called a credit card. You might have heard of one of these things before. No company except for the bank themselves has direct access to my accounts. Even forgetting what I posted above, go ahead bill my credit card $10,000 in error, I’ll get a phone call or email from Bank of America alerting me of unusual activity that I have to verbally authorize. And because I’m playing with money on credit, there is no overdraft, I can’t get cleaned out, my checking account is not touched, my savings account is not touched and I have the federal protection of credit cards on my side.
quote:
See how fast the rest of your checking is over drawn
My Visa card can’t get overdrawn, thank you very much.
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2011 Time Warner Cable Forum @ DSLReports Poster Of The Year!
Voted Unanimously on by ChillyCat and Elyria!
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| | | | | | Would be funny if you got nailed for a few thousand on that auto pay. See how fast the rest of your checking is over drawn. | |
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| | | | tc1uscg
join:2005-03-09
Saint Clair Shores, MI | user=Steve Mehs
Insurance any form is nothing but a legal scam. Since I wouldn’t dream of paying extra for insurance, this does not affect me.
quote:
Two weeks should be plenty to try out the service to see if you like it. And of course you should be billed for whatever usage you incur if you should return the phone and cancel the account within the trial period. There is absolutely nothing wrong with Sprint or any company charging you for what you actually used.
Nothing wrong with a test drive. I say this should be a week if anything. If it's broke, you get it replaced with the same unit. Sprint use to take care of your phone INHOUSE up to the year it's under warranty. However, if you don't any protection, you ship it back to the manufacture, your expense. Some states have lemon laws. 3 times for the same kind of repair/problem with the device and they have to replace it, PERIOD. Worked for me, Samsung moment changed to a Samsung transform (which has been replaced with a Motorola Admiral)
As far as having a physical copy, by law, sprint and others (banks, gas company, etc) should have to provide you access to your ITEMIZED statement for as long as you are a customer and up to 1 year after that. That's not unreasonable and with the cost of storage these days, they have no excuse not to.
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| |  FutureMonAch Du LieberPremium,ExMod 2002-05
join:2000-10-05
Seaside, CA
·Suddenlink
| Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did said by aztr0:I guess, companies just don't learn....
It's like a bunch of kids in a room. One of them tries something and it doesn't work - so the other kids are all like "Hey let ME try" until all of them in the room have tried, but they will never stop.
- FM
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I bid 50 quatloos that the newcomers will fail... | |
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| |  JohnInSJPremium
join:2003-09-22
San Jose, CA
·PHONE POWER
·Comcast
| said by aztr0:I guess, companies just don't learn....
Well, they can try to do it this way, but customers complain, "win", and then everyone (even those who don't use paper invoices) gets to pay a few pennies more every month to cover the costs, eventually. Because that money isn't going to come from the money fairy. It's going to come from the customers. One way, or another.
Winning.
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My place : »www.schettino.us | |
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|  CheesePremium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
kudos:1 | said by treichhart:They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did customers going to fight it and its going turn very ugly.
Doubt it, what Verizon did was for paying the payment in full, 1 time online, without auto-pay. Sprint is charging for PAPER billing which is understandable, it can't be cheap to print and send out millions of paper bills. | |
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| |  natedjElectedPremium
join:2001-06-06
Columbia, SC
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·Earthlink Cable ..
| Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did said by Cheese:said by treichhart:They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did customers going to fight it and its going turn very ugly.
Doubt it, what Verizon did was for paying the payment in full, 1 time online, without auto-pay. Sprint is charging for PAPER billing which is understandable, it can't be cheap to print and send out millions of paper bills. No it is not understandable!!!
Do you think that the CEO's/Financial advisers/Accountants are that inept as to not factor this cost in. Its an operating cost that is always factored in.
With that point of view you should be willing to pay extra for the gas, cable, mortgage, insurance companies and every other entity that sends you a paper bill. These companies are willing to have you pay your bill online but not willing to transfer that savings to you. The monies for the paper bill is already factored into the bill so the $2.00 charge would only be gravy.
I think the company should credit you for using online payments or automatic withdrawal. I currently deal with a company that will credit your account by .99 cents for every paperless payment and if you request a paper bill you don't get the credit, which makes perfect sense to me because they save by not having to buy a stamp, paper bill, an envelope and the manpower to put it together and get it to the mail.
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Good judgement comes with experience...Experience comes after bad judgements | |
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| | | | I know this is a little off the subject. But to tell you the truth here in NY my energy provider National Grid has paperless billing, as well as paper billing. I get to see my full copy of a paper bill on line in PDF format. Funny to note however that they charge postage on the last page of the invoice yet they don't mail me anything.
So I guess people pay and pay and never care. Even 44 cents from millions of customers a month add up to hundreds of thousands of profit.
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Knowledge is a terrible thing to waste. That is why I post when I can. | |
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| | | well people is not going pay 2 bux for paper bill dude I can tell you that right now. | |
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| | CheesePremium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
kudos:1 | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did You can say it all you want, doesn't mean it's going to be true. Not everyone has a problem with it. | |
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| | |  Frankis chillingPremium
join:2000-11-03
somewhere | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did said by Cheese:You can say it all you want, doesn't mean it's going to be true. Not everyone has a problem with it.
the senior citizen crowd probably will.... and very loudly too...
My dad and most people his age deal solely in paper bills and still use stamps and send out checks to pay for them exclusively. | |
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| | | | cramer
join:2007-04-10
Raleigh, NC
kudos:7 | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did I don't know a single senior citizen that walks around with a cell phone. NONE. I know several that are nearing that magic age, but they aren't technophobes; paperless billing isn't an issue for them.
MANY companies do this, and have for a long time. Printing and mailing a bill is an expensive process. | |
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| | | | |  GooberPremium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL
kudos:5 | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did My dad walks around with a cell phone. He's 78. | |
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| | | | | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | And wait until the company drains your account with an ACH debit of $10K. | |
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| | | | | | cramer
join:2007-04-10
Raleigh, NC
kudos:7 | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did Electronic billing is not the same as automatic payment. The few things I have set to "autopay" are paid by credit card, where I'll see it and they'll flag it if it's suddenly abnormal. On a CC, I can dispute the charge, and then *they* will deal with it.
(Only my power bill is a direct EFT... it was a "requirement" of employment. As an employee of the power company, if your bill is ever late, you are immediately and automatically fired.) | |
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| | | | | | | | | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did said by cramer:Electronic billing is not the same as automatic payment. The few things I have set to "autopay" are paid by credit card, where I'll see it and they'll flag it if it's suddenly abnormal. On a CC, I can dispute the charge, and then *they* will deal with it.
(Only my power bill is a direct EFT... it was a "requirement" of employment. As an employee of the power company, if your bill is ever late, you are immediately and automatically fired.)
Jeez... American and its sociopathic labor laws. | |
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| | | | | | |  pokesphIt Is Almost FastPremium
join:2001-06-25
Sacramento, CA
kudos:1 | said by cramer:Electronic billing is not the same as automatic payment. The few things I have set to "autopay" are paid by credit card, where I'll see it and they'll flag it if it's suddenly abnormal. On a CC, I can dispute the charge, and then *they* will deal with it.
(Only my power bill is a direct EFT... it was a "requirement" of employment. As an employee of the power company, if your bill is ever late, you are immediately and automatically fired.)
wow you work for an electric utility and still have to pay for service? sad utility company that.
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Webmaster - Steve
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| | | | | | | | cramer
join:2007-04-10
Raleigh, NC
kudos:7 | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did Worked... and not directly for "the power company", but for a company they bought. But they still handed us the same employee handbook as a nuclear power plant engineer.  (they really weren't ready to "divest" into non-power businesses.) | |
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| | | | | | | | | patcat88
join:2002-04-05
Jamaica, NY
kudos:1 | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did They still give you the polygraphs to prove loyalty to USA and not USSR? jkjk | |
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| | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Maybe they can go to one of those Senior Citizen cell phone providers, get the big button cell phones, fixed cost providers designed especially for them. AARP has one I believe..
Unfortunately for the Seniors, they are a VERY small percentage of revenue collected at their age. They are the group that always wants that 10% senior discount, they want everything customized for them and exceptions made, yet they are the group that spends the least and complains the most.
Just who do you think a for-profit business is going to listen to? ...Sorry, I deal with a large senior group and learned this lesson very well. I won't piss off 90% of my customer base to please a few. As a business man, I will cater to the group that spends the most money and keep the cash flowing.. otherwise, I'd go out of business..
If they want a paper bill, they can pay the $2, or maybe get their un-greatfull children to download and print it for them. More kids should spend time with their aging parents anyway.. just think of it like an adult version of Family Game Night. | |
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| | | | | | | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did said by fiberguy:Maybe they can go to one of those Senior Citizen cell phone providers, get the big button cell phones, fixed cost providers designed especially for them. AARP has one I believe..
Unfortunately for the Seniors, they are a VERY small percentage of revenue collected at their age. They are the group that always wants that 10% senior discount, they want everything customized for them and exceptions made, yet they are the group that spends the least and complains the most.
Just who do you think a for-profit business is going to listen to? ...Sorry, I deal with a large senior group and learned this lesson very well. I won't piss off 90% of my customer base to please a few. As a business man, I will cater to the group that spends the most money and keep the cash flowing.. otherwise, I'd go out of business..
If they want a paper bill, they can pay the $2, or maybe get their un-greatfull children to download and print it for them. More kids should spend time with their aging parents anyway.. just think of it like an adult version of Family Game Night.
Seniors are one of the highest spending demographics because they tend to have large savings in the bank and no kids to spend their money on. | |
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| | | | | | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did Back that up and I'll believe you..
.. but to save you the time, you're incorrect. Not sure what sources you're getting your information from either, but I've got real world numbers that says otherwise. I've got information thrown at me day in and out all day long about where the money is these days.. it's not seniors. They ARE great at SAVING money though.. and saving doesn't equate spending. They ARE one of the best at clipping coupons, applying available discounts, and spending as little as possible on discretionary spending.
Does that help you out a little?
I deal with these kinds of facts on a regular basis.. | |
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| | Reviews:
 ·Frontier Communi..
| Verizon has done this for years and nobody has complained that loudly about it. They'll still send you a paper bill free of charge if you insist on murdering trees and/or supporting the USPS. That paper bill just won't include an itemized list of your phone calls. You have to go to their website for that.
I'm not seeing the problem here. | |
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See 8 replies to this post |
| Reviews:
 ·AT&T Wireless Br..
| You can say that also but most people will say that because that is 2 dollars they can use for something else like for food or gas or other good bills.....
You also got to think money is going to be tight in this crappy economy man....
Every little dollar to cent helps in this day and in this economy.... | |
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| | CheesePremium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
kudos:1 | Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did | |
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| | fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | Then cut back on services and chose how you spend your money. Maybe you don't need that text service, or cut back on minutes.. OR, just go back to a land line or REALLY show them by going pre-paid and avoid all the BS. Oh wait, no paper billing AT ALL with pre-paid.
Seriously, in a crappy economy, you have to give some stuff up and live with in your means. What I find really ironic about this thread are the excuses being made and people using seniors as their excuse. MANY seniors would NEVER want THEIR lives compared to those of today's younglings.. they'd be ashamed! When they grew up and times were tough, THEY CUT BACK! I have YET to see a single person in this thread say "well, I'll just cut back"... nope! What you DO see here basically is "I have a right to have it all and at a price I want to pay".. The fact is that no one is entitled to have everything if your income level doesn't justify it. I see people talking about cutting back on services all the time, but it's because they want to be able to buy other goods that they deem important to them. SERVICES come first... if you need them that is. If you don't need them, then cut back. It's all about priorities and personal choices.
EVERYONE here has access to the internet, or you wouldn't be posting here. Go grab the bill on line... You don't want your email cluttered with bills from your vendors? .. grab a free gmail account just for bills and have that be your billing in-box.
This really is a silly argument filled with a lot of irony. | |
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| | | Again people will complain about the smallest things trust me. | |
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See 7 replies to this post |
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| | | Ok cheese dude whatever say dude........ roll your eyes like you did your last reply lol ........ Also how about you change your username why your at it? | |
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| | GooberPremium
join:2000-12-17
Naperville, IL
kudos:5 Reviews:
 ·Dish Network
| Re: They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did said by treichhart:Ok cheese dude whatever say dude........ roll your eyes like you did your last reply lol ........ Also how about you change your username why your at it?
I agree. Your username is FAR and away superior.
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Support the Occupy Wall Street movement--try to kill old people! »tinyurl.com/7b6ktmy | |
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| | CheesePremium
join:2003-10-26
Naples, FL
kudos:1 | said by treichhart:Ok cheese dude whatever say dude........ roll your eyes like you did your last reply lol ........ Also how about you change your username why your at it?
Not quite sure what my name has to do with anything, and yes, I will roll my eyes at people who think they know what will happen when they DON'T | |
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| | | well we know who wins the fight here | |
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| fiberguyMy views are my own.Premium
join:2005-05-20
kudos:3 | said by treichhart:They are going to catch the same thing what verizon did customers going to fight it and its going turn very ugly. Oh stop! There are many companies that have instituted a paper bill fee for quite some time now; this started years ago.. this is not unique to cellular or communication companies in the least. There are some companies that simply won't send or mail a paper statement at all anyway.
In fact, many governments are mandating, by law, the migration towards electronic billing and payments, period, AND have been tacking on "technology shift" fees to the bills.. I got one from the County of Sacramento for a permit fee and the "technology fee" was $25. Would you rather pay that? or $2?
This is something that won't see a back-lash as you predict as many consumers are moving towards paperless billing and would rather get their statements online, save paper, save a tree, avoid clutter, etc.
This is one fee that I'm totally acceptable with. They are not charging to make a payment, just to receive the bill printed n the mail. There is a REAL charge to provide a paper statement, and if you ask me it's far more than $2 to produce.
As more and more people move towards paperless billing, and have been doing so on their own will for quite some time now, it does get more costly to provide statements for fewer people. It may seem as if less paper billing costs less, but that's not the case here.
If you want your bill on paper, go to their website, grab the bill in PDF and print it.. then you can waste your own paper, your own toner, and your own time should you really need that paper statement to simply look at and often just toss in the garbage anyway.
So long as I have access to "a bill" that I can print, should I chose, I for one am perfectly fine with this.
Also, I find this whole argument a little hypocritical, to say the least, that people can sit here on one hand and state just how important their internet connection is, and how irate people come when they "can't access my account online" when the internet goes down for even a micro-second, and then get's pissy and bitchy when companies charge for those left who still want paper statements mailed to them. | |
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See 12 replies to this post |
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| Reviews:
·AT&T Wireless Br..
| Again just wait intill they jack the price up for pricing this off then you be really ticked off what happens if they up the fee to 4 to 6 dollars to print this off are you willing to still pay for the fee? I dont think you will people are not seeing the real freaking picture here if they think can get way from it first time what you think going to stop them from jacking up the price again?
huh huh tell me please????? | |
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openbox9Premium
join:2004-01-26
japan
kudos:2 | It's a paper bill People still get those? I'm surprised all companies don't charge extra for those desiring paper bills. | |
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See 13 replies to this post |
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Reviews:
·Comcast
| Glad I canned them Just switched from Sprint to Simple mobile a couple of weeks ago. Saving more than $50 a month.
Just bought a used samsung galaxy s gsm phone and signed up on their web site.
Wireless data isn't nearly as fast as sprint was, but honestly I hardly used any wireless data. | |
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·Comcast
| Re: Glad I canned them Sprint's network was fine for me, but I really couldn't manifest any benefits to continuing to pay them over $90 a month.
I'll never use another tier 1 provider for as long as it's possible to use cheaper MVNOs. I especially like simple mobile since they actually use GSM and I can easily switch my phone at any time without even any need to contact them.
Just get an unlocked GSM phone, remove the SIM card from my present handset and install it into the new one, boom, I'm ready to go. | |
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| | | Re: Itemized Bill.. Funny thing about Verizon's billing (about the ONLY thing funny) is that when I dropped the Triple Play for just FiOS, they require to charge your creditcard monthly. They do not bill for just this service via monthly paper-billing; credit card only they said.
I get a billing statement monthly, in the mail, that states do not pay, but comes with an envelope and invoice statement.
For those saying go green without paper, eh, says who?
It creates jobs for postal workers, a designer, programmer, and accounts receivable. Plus I can see what I am spending without depending on my end (computer, electric, active connection and login, and no fear of billing error...oh wait, this is Verizon! I NEED paper trail with them!) 
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Splat | |
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 DC DSLThere's a reason I'm Command.Premium
join:2000-07-30
Washington, DC
kudos:2
·Covad Communicat..
·Verizon Online DSL
| Spare a Square? There is nothing inherently wrong with charging for a paper bill in the mail now that just about everyone has email or can at least view their accounts online. It is not at all the same as charging people to make payments. Maybe get a little good PR by waiving the fee for seniors or disabled customers who don't have or can't use a computer and who also have no one who is a responsible party to take care of their affairs.
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"Dance like the photo isn't being tagged; love like you've never been unfriended; and tweet like nobody is following." | |
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| Reviews:
·Frontier Communi..
| Re: Spare a Square? If they do it like VZW did you'll still get a paper bill for free. It just won't include an itemized list of your calls.
For someone who has a family share plan with four or five lines that itemized bill may total up to 25 or 30 pages. There's no reason to print that out and mail it every month. How many people actually look at it anyway, unless they have an overage or are spying on the kids/spouse? | |
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| | DC DSLThere's a reason I'm Command.Premium
join:2000-07-30
Washington, DC
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Covad Communicat..
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Spare a Square? I switched to electronic billing several years ago when they were offering a $5/mo credit. Saved myself $120 until they discontinued the credit.
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"Dance like the photo isn't being tagged; love like you've never been unfriended; and tweet like nobody is following." | |
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| | | What's the difference between charging customers to pay and charging customers to find out what they need to pay? These telecom add all sorts of fees and surcharges to get around laws regulating their rates. | |
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| | DC DSLThere's a reason I'm Command.Premium
join:2000-07-30
Washington, DC
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Covad Communicat..
·Verizon Online DSL
| Re: Spare a Square? There are very, very few people who can claim that they have absolutely no means of receiving email or checking their accounts or paying bills electronically. (And that number decreases significantly every year.) It is not unreasonable to charge for those insist on continuing to receive paper bills when there are convenient alternatives readily available.
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"Dance like the photo isn't being tagged; love like you've never been unfriended; and tweet like nobody is following." | |
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 PathfinderDazed ConfusedPremium
join:2000-03-26
Mount Vernon, NY
·Verizon FiOS
·RoadRunner Cable
| Verizon quote:
and it's a fee companies like Verizon have been charging for some time.
I have never seen this on my landline/DSL or wireless bill.
I did get a 2% discount for going paperless but the only entity that charged me for a paper bill had been E-Z Pass. | |
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 ffblackieYou called 911 for this?Premium
join:2002-01-13
Knoxville, TN
·Comcast
| informed consumers... Seems like any informed consumer could opt out in less time than it takes to get all riled up about it.
True, informed and enlightened consumers won't stand for it, but Sprint just wants to recoup some costs from the corporate accounts that don't care about a 2 dollar change.
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Thanks to Darwinism, I'll always have a job... | Proudly serving since 1997 | |
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gutch
join:2003-01-16
Tamaqua, PA | cost of doing business? to "offset".... i wish it wouldn't cost me anything to mail anything out either but i have no one else to push that bill on | |
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 IowaCowboyWant to go back to IowaPremium
join:2010-10-16
Springfield, MA
·Comcast
·Verizon Broadban..
| I refuse to use Auto Pay I refuse to use Auto Pay unless it is a fixed monthly fee and there is no other option. The only things I use AutoPay on is insurance and SiriusXM. Using AutoPay is the only way I can get monthly billing on Auto Insurance (which is very expensive in this part of the country, despite a good driving record). Also SiriusXM requires AutoPay along with my OnStar Subscription.
Bills that can vary like Cellular and Cable, I refuse to use AutoPay due to the possibility of billing errors. Verizon has issues with billing errors, I fortunately have not had billing errors but my bill is $178 for an iPhone with unlimited data and voice along with my USB mobile broadband modem.
They should not charge for paper bills for customers over $65. My 79 (going to be 80 in March) grandmother still pays her cable, internet, and other bills by writing a check and sending it in the US mail. She has a basic understanding of and uses a computer (which I gave her one of my old Macs). Many senior citizens dont use a computer and still prefer to do things the old fashioned way. I know some senior citizens that still pay extra for long distance calls with outdated phone plans through a traditional telephone provider. I switched Grandma's (with her permission) phone over to Time Warner digital phone and it is worth it. Otherwise her phone bills would be through the roof from her calling me or my mother in Massachusetts or her daughter in Washington State. Also FairPoint coming to town was another reason we switched her to Time Warner.
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All of my CPE (including my EMTA) is customer owned. The only Comcast owned equipment in my house is the CableCards in the two TiVO boxes I own. | |
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| | Problem What about some the people that don't have an Internet connection?
What about the persons that pay by cash only not having a bank account?
Sprint is going to nickle and dime us to death just like other bad providers. Maybe it's just time to dump the cell provider.
Enough is enough! | |
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| | ok they want customer ok they want their customers to go paperless and get their bills online so its highly likely they miss the hidden bogges fees to make money thats why there pulling this stunt the FCC will put a stop to this real fast...... | |
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| quatrixPremium
join:2005-02-11
South FL
kudos:2 | Re: ok they want customer Wow, was that one sentence? | |
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 King PDon't blame me. I voted for Ron PaulPremium
join:2004-11-17
Franklin, TN
·Comcast
·Vonage
| In 6 months, say bye bye... ...to unlimited data as well. Sprint wants to be like the big boys, but doesn't have the Network to compete.
/6 year current sprint customer
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My Music blog:
»www.zunetracks.net | |
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| | i will never use i will never use auto pay with anyone Especially with directv they are known to steal money when the feel like it by the hundreds.... | |
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| | | Re: i will never use You are absolutely correct. Auto pay gives the creditor direct access to your savings and checking account.
I prefer 1 time payments. | |
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quatrixPremium
join:2005-02-11
South FL
kudos:2 | Good Pay for what you use. Charge people who insist on using archaic, more expensive options like paper bills and mailing in checks. Why should I subsidize them? | |
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| Mele20Premium
join:2001-06-05
Hilo, HI
kudos:4 | Re: Good said by quatrix:Pay for what you use. Charge people who insist on using archaic, more expensive options like paper bills and mailing in checks. Why should I subsidize them?
err...what about people who don't have computers? Some have cell phones (simple, basic ones through Tracfone maybe or Jitterbug) and no computer. Others have neither. So, how are they supposed to pay their bills? Maybe they can't afford broadband at $45 a month or maybe they no longer want to be addicted to the Internet but spend their time doing more worthwhile things. Why should they be punished because they want a paper bill and like to send checks?
Further, how can you possibly claim that a paper bill is a "more expensive" option than a computer and broadband? A computer is EXPENSIVE AS IS BROADBAND. What about all the folks who cannot afford computers and broadband? They are supposed to be punished because they are poor or old and living on Social Security and no other income?
You must be very young and never ever had a period in your life when you were poor and on food stamps, etc. You show no compassion or understanding of many citizens. Better watch out as Karma will come back to bite you in the ass one day.
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When governments fear people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. Thomas Jefferson | |
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 KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | I'm thinking consumers should start charging a $2.... "Convenience" fee to pay the bill. As in, every bill they get, they charge the company sending the bill $2 in order to pay the bill. Without the $2, then the bill doesn't have to be paid and is considered current.
Yeah, I know. Never would happen.
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Just remember the switch to ATM's from checks... Remember when banks first pushed ATM cards so aggressively? Later, they did the same thing with Debit cards.
They started imposing fees on teller charges, raising checking fees, etc etc while promoting the "Free" use of cards.
Once they got everyone (or almost everyone) switched over to cards and away from visiting bank lobbies and writing a lot of checks, then WHAM came the fees on ATM withdrawals, Debit card transactions, etc etc.
They want everyone to get off paper billing to save money.
However once they've got everybody switched over or almost everyone switched over, then will come the "convenience" fees on the electronic and online payment methods.
Anyone care to bet against this? *crickets* *crickets*
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"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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| tito79
join:2010-03-14
Brewster, NY | Re: Just remember the switch to ATM's from checks... There just protecting the enviorment. | |
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| | KrKHeavy Artillery For The Little GuyPremium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK | Re: Just remember the switch to ATM's from checks... LOL. Yeah, their environment. | |
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| | | Re: Clarification: said by GeekJedi:So, again, the $2.00 charge is ONLY if you choose to receive a paper bill. You can still mail the payment or do whatever you want with it.
The information I received from sprint just now said that if you want a paper bill with DETAILED CALLING INFORMATION (list of all calls, date/time, duration, etc), then you're subject to the $2. If you just get a paperbill with your summary, then you are NOT SUBJECT to this fee. I'm currently getting the latter, and according to her am not subject to this fee. We shall see...
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Insanity is living in a state of illusion. | |
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| | sprint Sprint just leaches off of other networks...this fee is not acceptable!! | |
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Another undisclosed charge for subscribers!
