lazy customer = "You don't care"

[CancelMyService]

There was something in the water today, I was getting all kinds of weird ass callers today.

The best was a lady who called in and started off by saying she pays her bill as soon as they get it, which right there had my spider sense tingling since I could see the last payment we received was in July. Apparently they didn't get a bill last month (or more likely it got accidentally thrown out) so they didn't send a payment, since we all know that not getting a statement = not having to pay that month. She gets her bill for September and it includes a late fee for her missed payment a month before. Now she's calling me demanding the late fee be removed.

Why, you ask?

Because she doesn't have the time to call to let us know she didn't get a bill.

Oh yes, her life is far too packed to worry about trivial details like inquiring on why a bill that arrives about the same time every month did not show up, but she has plenty of time to call in and have a hissy whenever she gets charged for being a lazy ass.

She was playing the "it's the principle" card, and it's only a $2.95 late fee, but I just had to take a stand since she was being completely backwards. The onus was on her to inquire on the whereabouts of her statement, hell she could have used any of the billion ways we have to make a payment without having her current bill. Instead she decided the proper course of action was to call in and tantrum over a charge that was completely and entirely of her doing. I'm guessing she thought I was not going to challenge her over $2.95, but I decided to go on my own principles and not cave in to someone making a completely ridiculous demand of me and my company.

Of course when she realized that I wasn't just going to give in, she went on a total tantrum, saying over and over "YOU DON'T CARE, YOU DON'T CARE, I'VE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR 20 YEARS!"

Well then, you should know that a bill is due every month and if you don't get a statement, it's probably a good idea to inquire about it.

Naturally, there were many threats of accounts being canceled, but my helpful attempts to transfer to our disconnection department were turned down.

[ShadedWings]

I get stuff like that a lot...

It reminds me of a call yesterday that a coworker of mine had, lady kept insisting that she MAILED in a payment a few days before the due date, so IT'S NOT LATE! Problem is, we hadn't received the payment, two weeks later. So yes, it was late. Round and round they went...

[lordlundar]

Of course when she realized that I wasn't just going to give in, she went on a total tantrum, saying over and over "YOU DON'T CARE, YOU DON'T CARE, I'VE BEEN A CUSTOMER FOR 20 YEARS!"

Oh! Oh! Cell phone bill?

[Emrld]

I handle the accounts payable here . . . .
Their are payments to at least 15 credit card companies . . .plus 3 utilities for all properties (which ranges from 5 - 10) plus other work associated bills each month.
With all of the rest of my duties . . .it can be real easy to miss a payment. Especially if it is a crazy time . . .like right now . . .(kinda distracted dealing with car situation)
So for the normal everyday person who has say 5 cards plus standard utility, auto, rent/ mortgage etc I agree it should be easy to track . . .but you get into a routine.
Yet, there are sometimes where it really can happen that it just slips through the cracks.

[Misanthropical]

Yes Emrld, but most of us realize we forgot and pay the late charge without throwing a fit about it.

[wagegoth]

For $2.95 I'd pay the fee. My time is worth more than that.

I love getting my bills by email. They're right there, can't lose them, probably won't throw them away, handy link to the payment site, no writing checks or buying stamps and envelopes, and fewer dead trees. I love the Internet!

[Soulstealer]

For $2.95 I'd pay the fee. My time is worth more than that.

I love getting my bills by email. They're right there, can't lose them, probably won't throw them away, handy link to the payment site, no writing checks or buying stamps and envelopes, and fewer dead trees. I love the Internet!

Me too, I love having accessible bills and free porn.

[LizaMarie]

I wouldn't bother over $2.95, but I am broke as hell, and if there is any way to get a charge reversed I will usually try. I once called a store credit card company to see if I could get my bill lowered- all I did was say something like, "I was wondering if there was any way my bill could be lowered..." and they did it! I have since tried that on my proper credit card, but unsurprisingly enough, to no avail. I should probably just stop using credit cards.

[BookstoreEscapee]

I was late on my last credit card bill...I just paid the fee...though I've never been late before, maybe they would waive it, just this once...especially since my current bill is nearly $1000 and I plan to pay it all off.

[CancelMyService]

Oh! Oh! Cell phone bill?

You'd be surprised (or maybe not) to see the Venn diagram of sucky cable and cell phone customers. I swear Kara talks to the same people I do. People sharpen their sucky skills with their phone providers to get in shape to tangle with the cable company.

[lordlundar]

Well, I was wondering because cell phones have barely been around that long and most carriers at the time went belly up, so it would have been catching her in a lie.

[Tito]

Because she doesn't have the time to call to let us know she didn't get a bill.

But she does have time to call in & throw a childish tantrum over a $2.95 late fee that's her own fault?

People never cease to amaze me.

[Rapscallion]

I should probably just stop using credit cards.

Good advice for life. I only use mine if I have the funds to pay for it immediately. It's a convenience for me for those places that don't take my debit card.

Rapscallion

[Emrld]

I wasn't talking about the under $5 fee . . . .I am talking about the $25 and up fees.
Those can add up.
Prime example for you . . .I have a sorter set up with when I need to pay bills. On Weds I had 3 payments to make . . .I also had been in a car wreck on Tues. . . so Weds I get to work - get an appoinment to get checked out by the Dr . . .going through my dailiy routine . . .look at the clock - Oh my gonna be late for Dr if I don't go now . . .by the time I get back to the office the cut off time for the payment to be on time has passed. . . . .
Have to follow company policy that I am to wait till last day possible to be on time to pay bill . . . .and required to call and try to get out of any late fees if it could be possible. . . .puts me between a rock and a hard place. (Only one company is this even an issue with . . . all others give till midnight for day of and it will be on time . . .this one have to do at least 3 days before due date . . .and not on Friday cause that won't actually pay till Mon . . .and cut off is 3 pm my time.

[powerboy]

My mom gets that alot. She even had this one guy call her up, and told her to call him when the due date is. Seeing as he was a Truck Driver, he couldn't get his bills. My mom's place, doesn't send out bills. They send out notices that they are being charged a late fee. He also said a couple classics such as:

1) Someone always calls him before

and

2) He is a loyal customer. He was only there for 3 months. Paid 1 month, since he had a month free.