Vodafone now charging you to receive a bill via post

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#1111498 19-Aug-2014 18:41

In general, the way I see it with companies that have moved to charging for mailing invoices, is that it is mainly about increasing profit and revenue by cutting expenses. The alternative is to raise prices on services, which would still likely come after all the fat is trimmed from expenses. am sure the decisions is made by the bean counters in the back room . I don't personally have any problem with charging for invoices if people can get them via email, but I see it for what it is. There was an identical thread about this when telecom introduced their charging too.

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quickymart

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#1111604 19-Aug-2014 20:49

I have a feeling (certainly with Spark) if you have a landline only (ie, no computer/broadband) the paper fee doesn't apply. I could be wrong though.

Flickky

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#1111625 19-Aug-2014 21:31

quickymart: I have a feeling (certainly with Spark) if you have a landline only (ie, no computer/broadband) the paper fee doesn't apply. I could be wrong though.

Hmm I thought it was $1.50 across the board now.

quickymart

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#1111650 19-Aug-2014 21:59

Bit unfair to charge people who can't download their bill online, isn't it? Retired people (like my grandmother) would be penalised unfairly; she doesn't even have a computer.

richms

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#1111668 19-Aug-2014 22:27

quickymart: Bit unfair to charge people who can't download their bill online, isn't it?

No, it is not unfair. What is unfair is letting their ways get them a free pass on something that the rest of us would have to pay for.

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quickymart

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#1111687 19-Aug-2014 23:23

But how could they receive their bill if they don't have a computer, or an internet connection? The only option is in the post.

mattwnz

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#1111698 19-Aug-2014 23:35

Flickky:
quickymart: I have a feeling (certainly with Spark) if you have a landline only (ie, no computer/broadband) the paper fee doesn't apply. I could be wrong though.

Hmm I thought it was $1.50 across the board now.

I don't believe telecom charge this new fee for people who only have a landline only.

mattwnz

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#1111700 19-Aug-2014 23:38

richms:
quickymart: Bit unfair to charge people who can't download their bill online, isn't it?

No, it is not unfair. What is unfair is letting their ways get them a free pass on something that the rest of us would have to pay for.

But isn't there a legal requirement for companies to provide a tax invoices upon request, and I don't think it can be charged for. I recall reading something about this on the IRD website, and I believe you can report it to the IRD if a company doesn't provide one in a timely manner. Obviously if someone has an email address it can be emailed at no charge to any party. But if they don't, mailing it is probably the only option. I guess some people who don't have email may have a fax, so they could always fax it.

quickymart

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#1111701 19-Aug-2014 23:39

Some people have neither, and posting it is their only option.

richms

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#1111704 19-Aug-2014 23:43

Are telecom still screwed over by the kiwishare with how much they can raise prices by? Otherwise they could make the "Home line Luddite" plan that is more expensive and includes it. They prettymuch do that already anyway since noone is on the standard landline pricing, so just let that be the free posted bill option and not allow it to be combined with any other services on the same invoice without it being charged.

IMO the waste of resources in printing an delivering information on paper is insane. Its not up there with some of the other wastes that people are quite happy to tollerate but it shouldnt be allowed to continue.

Other companies manage just fine selling things with emailed only invoices so really whats the big deal? They could just tell people get email or pay more, Now the selfish old people would get up in arms about it probably lead by the king of selfish old people winston and make a scene about it, but who cares, the most selfish of the lot will all be dying off soon anyway.

Richard rich.ms

quickymart

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#1111709 19-Aug-2014 23:56

I care, thank you very much. My grandmother finds it hard enough to get by as it is just paying her other bills without more added costs. And she sure isn't selfish.

mattwnz

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#1111711 20-Aug-2014 00:03

richms: Are telecom still screwed over by the kiwishare with how much they can raise prices by? Otherwise they could make the "Home line Luddite" plan that is more expensive and includes it. They prettymuch do that already anyway since noone is on the standard landline pricing, so just let that be the free posted bill option and not allow it to be combined with any other services on the same invoice without it being charged.

IMO the waste of resources in printing an delivering information on paper is insane. Its not up there with some of the other wastes that people are quite happy to tollerate but it shouldnt be allowed to continue.

It would be less in costs to mail an invoice, than they would be charged in credit card processing fees though. Many companies charge the same amount to customers whether they pay by cash or credit card. This basically means that those paying by cash are subsiding those who pay by credit card, in the same way that those who are receiving email invoices are subsidizing those who get mailed invoices. But we are talking about private comapnies here, and people can move provider if they aren't happy, and if enough people aren't happy, things may change.
I still recall the $1 charge that VF brought in for prepay cusomters calling their 777 support, and Paul B at the time same would never be removed. But that fee was very unpopular and was removed not long after. Not that I think that will happen in this case, because I think people have been conditioned / social engineered now to accept that paper invoices are being replaced by email ones. I don't have a problem with it, as long as there is always a free way for people to get their invoices, which people do need for a range of reasons.

mattbush

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#1111830 20-Aug-2014 09:52

richms:
quickymart: Bit unfair to charge people who can't download their bill online, isn't it?

No, it is not unfair. What is unfair is letting their ways get them a free pass on something that the rest of us would have to pay for.

You seem to show a total lack of understanding of how a business works.

Postage, printing, labor accommodation, IT and many more are all covered by a Companies overhead costs which is built into their hourly rates or product charges.

By charging $1.50 per month without reducing your charges is simply increasing profitability. If they wanted to encourage electronic payment they would simply offer customers a discount for using electronic services.

NzBeagle

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#1111854 20-Aug-2014 10:02

mattbush: By charging $1.50 per month without reducing your charges is simply increasing profitability. If they wanted to encourage electronic payment they would simply offer customers a discount for using electronic services.

Offering a discount is then an added cost to the business, so that doesn't really make much sense. Agreed it is an additional revenue stream, but it makes more business sense than offering a discount. As you said, costs are built into their current offering, so discounts would cut into revenue. Perhaps there is a better way of moving people off of letter invoices, but how do you most effectively persuade people, put a dollar figure on it.

r2b2

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#1111870 20-Aug-2014 10:25

Perhaps Vodafone should have just raised everyone's prices by $1.50 and then give online bill receivers a $1.50 discount. Based on the discussions in this thread then I think there should have been no complaints :D

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