[TelstraClear] TelstraClear to add $15 fee for late payments

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freitasm

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#40232 27-Aug-2009 11:37

Just got this month's invoice and a note saying that from next month there will be a $15 for late payment:

From 1 October, TelstraClear may charge customers who do not pay their bills on time an increased late payment fee of $15.00

Most of our customers pay their bills on time - but for those who don't the cost of recovering payments is significant for TelstraClear and the increased fee has been implemented to help recover these costs.

Last year I made one or two late payments - both cases because I forgot to enter the direct debit on my Internet banking, but both were made before the next billing cycle. TelstraClear did not have any "cost of recovering payments" with me.

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#250955 27-Aug-2009 11:47

I got one the other month when I forgot about the bill. Received a letter reminding me and got charged about $7.

Zigg

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#251681 30-Aug-2009 09:47

I better double check! The old girl pays by phone banking, and on 2 or 3 occasions has messed up the decimal point and paid 90c instead of $90, lol!

Buttonmash

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#251696 30-Aug-2009 10:33

Bah, they keep putting prices up either directly or things like this to catch you out. I wouldn't mind so much if their services had improved in the last few years. Everything except their charges has been stagnating.

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#251850 31-Aug-2009 06:58

Interestingly, as part of my current studies there is a case where Wilson parking were trying to meter out "fines" for staying longer than the prescribed time, it was fought in court and the plaintiff was found in favour. The law states that only actual losses could be claimed for, that means that if a person, for example parked for 1 hour and 15 min, but paid only $10 for the hour then Wilson parking could only charge the person $2.50 to match the actual loss sustained. I wonder if this could apply to the charge of $15 to recover the debt?

ZollyMonsta

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#251854 31-Aug-2009 07:27

Simple.. pay your bill on time.. problem solved :P

dickytim

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#251879 31-Aug-2009 09:15

We always pay our bills weekly, we put over a certain amount each week, we are always in credit for power and phone/internet/sky, and never have and extra fees, regardless I do wonder if their charge would stand up legally.

Ragnor

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#251896 31-Aug-2009 10:12

Punishing bad customers is good if they reward or can reduce costs for good customers as a result.. but knowing Telstra Clear good customers won't see any benefit.

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dickytim

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#251915 31-Aug-2009 10:47

Ragnor: Punishing bad customers is good if they reward or can reduce costs for good customers as a result.. but knowing Telstra Clear good customers won't see any benefit.

That is a "legal" way to penalise late payers, I seem to remember our electricity pill had a "prompt payment discount" and it was significant as well.

Ragnor

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#251924 31-Aug-2009 11:08

Heh yeah it would be nice if they implemented a late fee for late payers and a discount for early payers...

ajobbins

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#251926 31-Aug-2009 11:19

I pay all my bills by automatic credit card payment, then pay the card off when the statement comes. This was I can ensure all my bills are paid on time as well as collect airpoints.

The accounts always come well before they charge the card so you still have time to resolve any issues.

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#252019 31-Aug-2009 18:13

We pay fortnightly, half our bill one fortnightly and the other half the following fortnightly, mainly because we are paid(salary etc) fortnightly. TCL etc have never moaned about this, but do however charge us a late fee on the following months bill.

I don't mind paying a late fee if our bill was say a month overdue, but I actually object to it being added to our bill when we actually payment within the calander month.

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anatoki

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#252772 2-Sep-2009 22:30

I don't mind paying a late fee if our bill was say a month overdue, but I actually object to it being added to our bill when we actually payment within the calander month.

Once the bill passes the due date it becomes overdue and is placed into collections, marked as "30 days" (ie 0-30 days O/D). You've still got a few days after the due date to pay before the system will charge you a late payment fee anyhow :)

crazed: Maybe it's worth calling and asking for your billing cycle to be changed to be more in line with your salary payments?

ralphski

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#252942 3-Sep-2009 16:31

My TCL bill is done by direct debit, once a month.
I leave money in the bank to cover it.
Same with my power bill, same with my car payment & mortgage...
I do my maths to make sure I have enough money to pay all my bills....

Oh that's right, it's called using a budget :)

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Behodar

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#253551 6-Sep-2009 15:45

I'm not impressed with this news, especially if there are billing issues. I just received a Telecom bill yesterday dated 10 August and payable by the 25th, ie. almost two weeks ago. I don't know whether to blame Telecom or the postal service, but I could potentially end up with a "late fee" for a TestraClear bill that I haven't even received.

Edit: I just looked at last month's TelstraClear bill and I paid it the day before it was due. That most likely means that I received it that day too.

MikeB4

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#253653 7-Sep-2009 07:48

For me this just adds to TCL's terrible customer service record. They all graduated from the Basil Fawlty School of Customer Service.

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