I've already told you how I've tried to move all of my bill-paying online because it's not only easier, but the greener option as well. How would you feel if a company started charging you for not paying a bill online?
On Sept. 12, T-Mobile will start charging a $1.50 mandatory fee to customers who still use paper billing. I'm all about doing what's best for the environment, but this imposed $1.50 charge for each account per month is a dirty way to go about it.
Just think of all of the people who don't have access to computers — or who don't know how to use a computer or the Internet, for that matter — and are stuck with this fee unless they opt into paperless billing through their T-Mobile accounts. In my opinion, they should reward those who pay their bills online with something like more monthly minutes, not tack on a fee for those who are helpless and don't have a say.
Boysens
Robert Clergerie
Homebase
TimeWarner Cable began charging $.99 for a paper bill earlier this year, as well. I had already signed up for paperless billing when it first became available a few years ago for basically the same reasons you mention.
Even though I had already signed up, it didn't stop them from mailing out a flyer advertising that I could save $.99 on my bill by using their paperless billing option. I was excited at the fact that my cable/internet expenditures were about to be lower. Unfortunately, my joy was quickly gone upon realizing that I would not be receiving a discount, and would just be avoiding an additional charge.
To be honest, I don't have a problem with companies charging these fees for a paper bill. When you consider the rising costs of postage and the cost of the paper and printing supplies, it's probably not unreasonable (even if the cost for these things are already hidden in current fees). Of course, I realize that this opinion is coming from someone who hasn't received a paper bill in months and has been using online bill pay for years.
1For me, it doesn't bother me. I'm trying to move all my bills online already. But, my grandmother most certainly does not use the internet and has never owned a computer. It's pretty unfair that she gets stuck with these types of fees. There is still too much of a generation gap for this to be fair.
2i completely agree with you, geeksugar.
i don't like this at all. my mom has 6 lines with t-mobile! isn't that enough for them?? she likes having a hard copy in case of anything and it should be her right to one without the extra charge, no matter how minimal.
3It took me years to get paperless billing set up with t-mobile. I dont know what the deal was but every month I would receive a bill and then sign up for paperless, didn't happen. I would try on their website, calling them, writing as well. It eventually did work but I am not exaggerating I tried for years and for some reason it didn't happen until recently.
While I think it is important to go paperless I don't think it should be forced and include a charge for a paper bill. My dad doesn't use a computer and while he had me sign him up for paperless billing for a lot of his bills because he is the type that doesn't like to look at his bills if he did care there would be no easy way for him to look at his bill.
4i am with Virgin Mobile Canada, they charge $4 to have a print bill mailed to you.
5Well that kind of sucks. While I personally wouldn't mind it (I hate coming home to only bills in my mailbox anyway), I know my father will be quite upset. He started paperless billing with the bank, and has had a terrible experience with it. Also, when questions about the bill come up, he's not tech-savvy enough to get on the internet and look it up - he needs a paper copy in hand that came from the company so he knows if THEY'VE made a mistake and it's not just some technical glitch or screw-up.
While I understand why they would start billing people for using trees, his counterargument is going to be that he's paying them more than enough already with the cell phone bill - they'd better give him a hard copy of what he's paid for!
T-Mo's still has cheaper plans overall, though. It's not enough to make me leave them.
6$3.49 for a DETAILED paper bill. $1.49 is for the summary...
7very upsetting.
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