Vodafone now charging extra to pay bill online

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › Vodafone now charging extra to pay bill online

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ... | 15

755 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 84

Trusted

#1005330 14-Mar-2014 07:56

Charges on credit card absolutely charges on debit card not so sure.

Sid

clinty

1201 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 402

Lifetime subscriber

#1005334 14-Mar-2014 08:14

sidders80: After watching this thread I checked my account and yes I have been charged a fee too. Now I paid using the app and no such alert came up. Nonetheless from next month I will go to the post office and pay there which means I don't pay any fee but Vodafone pays commission to NZ post which I believe is $7 or so.

Just checked with my app, and there is a note under the amount to pay stating CC and DC cards now incur a 2% charge. However would be easily missed if you are like me and muscle memory means you just hit the Pay Now buttons

I like the idea of using NZ Post, as I have to go in anyway, and as a Tax Payer (hence shareholder) it will help with their profits!

Clint

Jaxar

383 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 129

#1005338 14-Mar-2014 08:32

I can't say that I'm impressed by this change. VF should be driving people towards self service not putting disincentives in place. Why not make the support number 0900 as well it costs VF to have people answering calls. It is only fair that they pass this on?

Please note: I have a professional bias towards Vodafone.

sbowness

225 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 29

Subscriber

#1005339 14-Mar-2014 08:40

MikeHales: The fee is charged by Air NZ, Telecom and others but set up a variable credit card automatic payment and no fee applies.

Just because other companies (who are also under the gun; probably not the best examples to cite) do it does not mean that it is the right thing to do. For a company that makes millions in pure profit (not what gets put back into the business), I think this is penny pinching.

Just another reason to look elsewhere.

And what compensation do we get for having to wait 20-30-40 minutes every time we need a problem resolved?

rscole86

4999 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 462

Moderator

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1005340 14-Mar-2014 08:42

I am guessing this does not apply to pre-pay credit card top ups? There is nothing on the website payment portal, both when you are logged on, or not logged on. Also, I cannot see anything on the app to show a credit card fee for pre-ay.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2526
Inactive user

#1005343 14-Mar-2014 09:02

sbowness:
MikeHales: The fee is charged by Air NZ, Telecom and others but set up a variable credit card automatic payment and no fee applies.

Just because other companies (who are also under the gun; probably not the best examples to cite) do it does not mean that it is the right thing to do. For a company that makes millions in pure profit (not what gets put back into the business), I think this is penny pinching.

Just another reason to look elsewhere.

And what compensation do we get for having to wait 20-30-40 minutes every time we need a problem resolved?

Pure profit! Come on 3G / 4G mobile networks vendors are not upgrading mobile networks for free and then R&D

Last time I checked mobile spectrum for the 700Mhz was not free either

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Free setup code: R587125ERQ6VE. Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1005349 14-Mar-2014 09:12

Jaxar:Why not make the support number 0900 as well it costs VF to have people answering calls. It is only fair that they pass this on?

They tried this a few years ago when they charged $1 for a call.

Buzz Bumble

332 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 56
Inactive user

#1005357 14-Mar-2014 09:22

I haven't got time to read all the messages in this topic, so someone may have said it already, but I'm sure the fee is only charged when using the website to pay your bill, and not on automatic payments.

The Government's Vehicle Licensing website is another one which charges a "convenience fee" when paying online, and possibly the AA membership too. There's also many companies that have started charging an extra fee when paying in person at their counter. :-(

Coil

6614 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2153
Inactive user

#1005370 14-Mar-2014 09:26

johnr: Pay by internet banking,

I don't know how to do this.. Never done it before. And credit card I know its not going to go missing and its instantly credited.

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1005372 14-Mar-2014 09:31

jeffnz: I agree with some posters that any payment online should be free of any extra charges but when you think of it the credit card is just that, paying on credit so that comes at a cost which is being passed on so I limit my use of the Visa until I need to as it costs me.

Like JohnR says " pay by internet banking" its safer as quick and doesn't cost

But debit cards are not credit cards...

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1005375 14-Mar-2014 09:33

sbowness:
MikeHales: The fee is charged by Air NZ, Telecom and others but set up a variable credit card automatic payment and no fee applies.

Just because other companies (who are also under the gun; probably not the best examples to cite) do it does not mean that it is the right thing to do. For a company that makes millions in pure profit (not what gets put back into the business), I think this is penny pinching.

Just another reason to look elsewhere.

And what compensation do we get for having to wait 20-30-40 minutes every time we need a problem resolved?

Regardless of the profit, which I don't have a problem with, I do agree that it sometimes takes far too long to get the phone answered when you have an issue.

Why VF and others do not employ the Live Chat systems used by so many US companies I am not sure, but it works really well.

Dyson

Shop now for Dyson appliances (affiliate link).

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1005377 14-Mar-2014 09:34

Geektastic:

But debit cards are not credit cards...

They technically are. Many are processed as credit transactions, and interchange fees are charged (which you will be able to see if you look at any NZ bank site as these fees are all public.)

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1005379 14-Mar-2014 09:38

Will be interesting to see if anyone compiles a list of companies that charge you for the privilege of paying them and whether that affects their customer retention.

I would think that higher value customers (not sure where that line is but say over $100/month on account) would be treated better than the low value ones e.g. no fee for bills over $x or something.

MikeB4

MikeB4
18775 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12766

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#1005380 14-Mar-2014 09:40

There is nothing wrong with passing on costs, companies are there to make a profit. Without profits there are no advances, there are no new services and fun toys and of course there are no wages and salaries.

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

Geektastic

18009 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 8465

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#1005386 14-Mar-2014 09:46

KiwiNZ: There is nothing wrong with passing on costs, companies are there to make a profit. Without profits there are no advances, there are no new services and fun toys and of course there are no wages and salaries.

However, why do we need line items to 'pass on costs'?

We don't see wages, printing, tech support etc as a bill break down so why do we need to see bank charges? How do we know, even, that the charge is not in fact 1% from the bank and a free additional 1% to VF (or Air NZ or whoever)?

ALL billing is 'passing on charges'. I see no need to appear petty and pedantic by quoting separate fees - it's as annoying and avoidable as holiday surcharges in cafes. Just roll it up - on some accounts you'll win because they pay by a cheap method and on some you won't.

It's the way that it makes a company look petty and money-grabbing that would concern me if I was in charge of corporate reputation and image.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ... | 15