But nobody reminded me or called me that I have to pay my bill on time!

[Severen13]

I find it amazing that these people made it to adulthood without being reminded that they need to breathe.

[KuzcoLlama]

Where I got my data on late fees for rent:
http://www.caltenantlaw.com/LateFees.htm

^-.-^

I would be wary of a website run by someone who appears to have more of a interest in my money, and the possibility of them putting a spin on things.

[Andara Bledin]

Where I got my data on late fees for rent:
http://www.caltenantlaw.com/LateFees.htm

^-.-^

[felixxkatt]

I used to be in collections for a phone place. it was like working in hell. and the thing was... at the company I worked for, anyway... we DID call them repeatedly. in fact by the tiime i called anyone they already had three callbacks and i was just calling to say "we're shutting off your service unless you pay us right now over the phone by credit card" and people would STILL act like utter babies. "wah, you can't shut off my phone, my husband/wife/mother/son/father/daughter/roommate is deathly ill! you never told me i had to PAY for caller ID! you never told me that call waiting COSTS EXTRA! WAHHHH!"

[KuzcoLlama]

Fun fact: Late fees for rent aren't legal in California.

Yes and no. It's still consistently being argued in courts:
http://www.rha.org/government/caa_ba...ees_051506.pdf

[myswtghst]

I'm a huge fan of online bill pay, as I check my email constantly, and can pay my bills in a matter of minutes while at work.

Granted, I do get a reminder when my rent is due--my slightly overprotective father often texts me on the first of each month to remind me. I can be a little bit of a ditz at times, and tend to forget stuff like that, but I would never expect anyone at a company to call and "remind" me that I owe them money.

[Andara Bledin]

Online banking has saved me hundreds of dollars. I was always forgetting to pay bills. Once I hear someone rustling papers at my front door. When I open it is is my landlord posting a "Pay Rent or Quit" notice. I then smacked my head, reached over to the little table by the door and hand him the stamped and unmailed envelope with my rent. I still had to write him another check for the late fee.

Fun fact: Late fees for rent aren't legal in California.

^-.-^

[Boozy]

HAHAHA! Quoted! (slightly edited to fit space limitation)

Aww, thanks. That gave me a warm fuzzy.

[TNT]

Whoa! Hold it right there now! When I worked for Adelphia, now Comcast, they actually did allow this crap to happen...
...
Now that Comcast is in charge, I do not believe they are that generous anymore.

What that before or after the Rigas family looted Adelphia?

Anyhow, when a cable company is in the process of being sold -- whether it's a strong company or a bankrupt one -- bizarre deals are common. It's because of the way cable deals are structured.

When my original company was being sold, we sent salesmen out to visit our hardcore non-pays... the ones who'd been disconnected months ago and still owed money. We offered them forgiveness up to $150 on their past bill, and rates starting at $19.95 a month for full basic, guaranteed for one year. Even bigger discounts if the customer also added digital and internet. Just to make sure they didn't get away, instead of making them wait a week for installation, we'd roll a truck the very same day.

[JuniorMintz]

I get a reminder in the mail every month to send my phone company money.
It is called a bill.
It has sufficed for ten years now, and will continue to do so, for I am able to walk and chew gum at the same time.

HAHAHA! Quoted! (slightly edited to fit space limitation)

[XCashier]

SC: I want a credit for the minutes I went over. I can't believe you let me go over my minutes! You knew I was about to go over, but didn't send me any notice at all!

What are these people, toddlers?! I suppose they want you to wipe their backsides for them after they go to the bathroom, too.

Or maybe they expect you to appear out of thin air and hold a gun up to their heads when they are "about to go over". Personal responsibility is part of being an adult, folks. It's a Good Thing.

[CrazedClerk]

How about these people that think if they stop paying their bill and just let their account default for a few months that afterwards they will magically not owe anything anymore AND will not have pay the early termination fee?

Sorry folks, it's not that easy.

[Mark Healey]

Online banking has saved me hundreds of dollars. I was always forgetting to pay bills. Once I hear someone rustling papers at my front door. When I open it is is my landlord posting a "Pay Rent or Quit" notice. I then smacked my head, reached over to the little table by the door and hand him the stamped and unmailed envelope with my rent. I still had to write him another check for the late fee.

[Kara]

Ah, I love it. I get these calls consistently.

SC: It's your company's fault for not sending me a notice to pay the bill!
ME: The due date is clearly printed on the bill. If you forget the due date, you can look on the bill again.

SC: I want a credit for the minutes I went over. I can't believe you let me go over my minutes! You knew I was about to go over, but didn't send me any notice at all!
ME: We only provide the service and the tools to check your minutes and services on your own. It's up to you to use them.

[greensinestro]

Straying slightly, there's the ever popular:

Caller: Okay, since I've been cut off, that means I qualify for new subscriber promotions.
Me: No it doesn't. Let's move on.

Whoa! Hold it right there now! When I worked for Adelphia, now Comcast, they actually did allow this crap to happen. One night we had this meeting on restart customers, which are deadbeats who were turned back on after the bill was paid. The manager told us that from now on, when you get one of these and put in an order to restore them, you are also required to offer them the latest promotions, such as free HBO for three months, or free DVR service for six. If you could have seen the looks on people's faces in that meeting. The manager even said "Yes, I see the looks on your faces, but we need to retain as many customers as we can." Now that Comcast is in charge, I do not believe they are that generous anymore.