Late payment fee

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › Late payment fee

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5288 posts

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#935122 17-Nov-2013 09:59

timmmay: I think companies would be happy enough to lose customers who don't pay their bills on time.

I disagree.

Any customer bringing in revenue is good. And, claims systems are largely automated.

Not everyone is flush with cash and many have difficulty meeting monthly commitments. I have sympathy for those who genuinely try their best .

nzjez

52 posts

Master Geek

#935128 17-Nov-2013 10:24

I don't have a problem with late payment fees however they should be coupled with early payment discounts.

My power company offers me an early discount of 10%, (Meridian)
My ISP/phone/SKY TV company doesn't (Vodafone).

Both companies have written to me in the past, offering no snail mail invoices, for no discount at all, and it probably costs them over $5 to send a snail mail invoice.

coffeebaron

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#935129 17-Nov-2013 10:25

If you can't pay on time, call before the due date and most companies are happy to give you a wee extension.

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boby55

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#935151 17-Nov-2013 11:32

nzjez: I don't have a problem with late payment fees however they should be coupled with early payment discounts.

My power company offers me an early discount of 10%, (Meridian)
My ISP/phone/SKY TV company doesn't (Vodafone).

Both companies have written to me in the past, offering no snail mail invoices, for no discount at all, and it probably costs them over $5 to send a snail mail invoice.

Vodafone does give you a early payment discount. Pay before it's due you pay the amount that's on the invoice, pay after add a $10 fee to it.

IMO Early payment discounts / late payment fees are the same thing just one reworded to not sound as harsh.

If you struggle to pay your bills each month maybe look at going onto prepay.

MaxLV

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

#935161 17-Nov-2013 11:41

johnr: Pay by due date issue resolved

No problems with late payment fees here. I much prefer getting the discount for early payment.

What annoys me is waiting for the bill to know how much to pay, as I try to pay them within a day of them being made available on line.

But more often than not, I have to wait anything up to 7 days for the email notification that the bill is ready (to be paid) online.

I can understand companies having a set processing schedule for bills that have to be printed and mailed to customers, but surely for their customers who (choose to) get their bills on line or by email, the bills could be processed on the customers monthly account date.

For example, my Vodafone account date is the 9th of each month, yet my bill is not generated, and I am not notified, until after the 14th of each month at the earliest. Sometimes I have to wait up to the 20th of the month for it show on my profile page. Still waiting for this months bill, my on line profile is still showing last months *already paid* bill.

I find Contact energy usually advises me within 2-3 days of a meter read that the bill is available on line, but Genesis is the worst as I have to usually wait a minimum of 7 days after a meter read (from a smart meter note!) before being advised the bill is available on line.

Whinge over...

Batman

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#935219 17-Nov-2013 14:21

prepay is what you need

NonprayingMantis

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#935224 17-Nov-2013 14:26

KiwiNZ: I don't have a problem with late payment fees however they should be coupled with early payment discounts.

They are the exact same thing by a different name.

Pay before the day you get one price, pay after you pay a Higher price. Whether they call it prompt payment discount, or late payment fee is utterly irrelevant.

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mattwnz

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#935234 17-Nov-2013 14:54

NonprayingMantis:
KiwiNZ: I don't have a problem with late payment fees however they should be coupled with early payment discounts.

They are the exact same thing by a different name.

Pay before the day you get one price, pay after you pay a Higher price. Whether they call it prompt payment discount, or late payment fee is utterly irrelevant.

They are, but it is psychological. What sounds better when you pay late , ' You don't qualify for the early payment discount' or ' you have incurred a late payment fee' .

1080p

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#936345 17-Nov-2013 23:30

No reply from OP in 24 hours? Total soap box.

wasabi2k

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#936403 18-Nov-2013 08:41

compost:
mtvessel: What's with the $7.50 late payment fee 2degrees.
Sometimes I may my account late by a couple of days as I am waiting til pay day. Very rarely though.
You want to apply this to my account then I am out of 2 Degrees as soon as my contract is up. You go right ahead.

Don't expect to find any sympathy or support here. Geeks know everything which means they never make any mistakes such as late payment, and they don't like hugs. /s

no, no, no - geeks can and do mistakes - you just NEVER admit them and do everything in your power to prevent anyone finding out you did.

gundar

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#936408 18-Nov-2013 08:55

To 2degrees credit, they don't send you a bill or expect payment if the balance is under $5. That's the smartest thing I've seen - I've had many an invoice for $2 from other companies in NZ....

But yeah, pay ahead, or at least, get your running average for the last year and automate it in advance.

MikeB4

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#936409 18-Nov-2013 08:57

1080p: No reply from OP in 24 hours? Total soap box.

or it was the weekend and the OP was outside doing life....

gregmcc

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#936413 18-Nov-2013 09:00

Just having a think about it, when the OP signed up for his contract was there any mention of the late payment fee? if not then they cannot vary the terms of the contract by introducing a late payment fee.

surfisup1000

5288 posts

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#936419 18-Nov-2013 09:05

1080p: No reply from OP in 24 hours? Total soap box.

I don't blame them -- they are getting a caning by the righteous folk.

MikeB4

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#936420 18-Nov-2013 09:05

gregmcc: Just having a think about it, when the OP signed up for his contract was there any mention of the late payment fee? if not then they cannot vary the terms of the contract by introducing a late payment fee.

most have clauses where they state they can vary terms and conditions after x amount of notice. These contracts are not really contracts they are covenants, contracts are between equal partners.

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