BT`s new BILL charge

AndyG · Post by **AndyG** » 14 Jun 2007, 12:03

Nigel H-J wrote:........but then again, I just think banks like to make it hard for themselves and cash in on some more funds.

I don't think it is as deep as that Nigel, sounds like a typical case of "We've always done it this way" syndrome to me!

AndyG

Nigel H-J · Post by **Nigel H-J** » 14 Jun 2007, 12:14

I don't think it is as deep as that Nigel, sounds like a typical case of "We've always done it this way" syndrome to me!

Ah.......of course Andy........you've just hit the nail on the head......think it's called..............Job Protection!!!

Post by **DaveB** » 14 Jun 2007, 13:18

The whole thing about cheques and cash is a dark area (and a profitable one for banks) :roll: Here's an odd one though.. if we pay our staff by BACS (supposedly fully electronic), we get charged for doing so :shock: I can turn up at the bank with barrow loads of cash and they'll be happy to take it off me all day. However, should I ask for change (as in coin).. I'm charged for it :shock: I'm also charged for using cheques though all of this is associated with being a business. Bottom line is.. they're ALL out to get ya :doho:

ATB

DaveB :tab:

Post by **TSR2** » 14 Jun 2007, 15:50

Much of this is down to changes in Banking legislation over the next few years. In 2 years time the banks must transfer money between accounts immediately... i.e. none of this 2 or 3 day nonsense where they make a fortune on interest. Now, the banks aren't daft, seeing one revenue stream being phased out almost all of them have increased charges fairly sneakily over the past few months. The idea is, if we don't complain (and we includes other business... not unlike BT) they will still make the same amount of money in charges. Now don't get me wrong, there is no way the bank charge BT Â£4.50 for every cheque, but when you think of all the people that have to handle it the costs mount up.

Just thank your lucky stars you didn't have to bank in Northern Ireland. Until recently, all of the banks (including the National Big Boys) charged for...
setting up a Direct Debit, Canceling a Direct Debit, amending a direct Debit (and charged even more if it was a standing order.)

Agree with DB... the bottiom line is we're all screwed, and none of us complain with a united voice so they get away with it.

If you want fair banking, NZ is where to go.

Post by **DelP** » 15 Jun 2007, 14:36

I've been hit with the extra on my BT bill :roll:

..and have you ever wondered why stores ask if you want cashback when you buy with a debit card?....the fact is that they get charged for depositing cash to the bank so they want to get rid of it...

I'm paid weekly and it's a serious struggle trying to explain to the bank and other businesses that I need to pay money to that it's pointless trying to bleed me on the 1st or 2nd of the month..look to the Fridays instead :roll:

...meanwhile BT is screwing me because of the amount of time I have to spend on the phone.....vicious circle or what... :roll:

Derek STUPID

speedbird591 · Post by **speedbird591** » 16 Jun 2007, 10:53

XR219 wrote:... the bottiom line is we're all screwed

Not true! I'm not screwed because I use on-line accounting for every service that offers it. Direct debit paperless billing offers some very healthy discounts and you can save a lot of money and never have to think about bills again - they don't even come through the letterbox! Surely this is an attractive proposition whatever your income? I shan't use the BT example as most of you have made up your minds. But let me use my power bill as an example.

A couple of years ago I used the uSwitch comparison site to find a cheaper energy supplier and chose Powergen. As well as offering the cheapest energy in my area they offered generous discounts for managing my account on-line, paperless billing, direct debit and dual fuel. Every quarter I get Â£30 deducted from my bill (that's Â£120 a year) and Tesco Clubcard points as well. I never get a paper bill - just a quarterly email saying my latest bill is available to view online. And of course I can adjust my monthly payment by myself to make sure it reflects my usage.

I do this with all providers who provide the service (including BT) and save myself a lot of money and never have the hassle of having to pay bills. You can check your account at any time and it is always up to date (e.g. see how much you have spent on phone calls in the last couple of days). It suits the providers because they can employ less people to administrate as I'm doing it all myself (about two minutes work every quarter). This is why they are making so much effort to encourage people to switch. It saves them money so they can either offer discounts to people who use it or alternatively charge an administration fee to help cover the costs of employing extra people. BT have tried to do both but as we can see it is probably the wrong approach. Perhaps they should just have offered an even bigger discount to switch to on-line billing.

My point? It is 2007. Cash and cheques are no longer attractive forms of payment to providers - they don't want them. Complaining and protesting will not make the tide turn - it will only wear you out. Embrace the present and the technology and make it work for you. You will save money and your life will be easier.

Or you could continue spending your life on the phone or on the net complaining and getting nowhere.......

Ian

(The Devil's Advocate

)

Post by **TSR2** » 16 Jun 2007, 11:28

Hi Ian,

I think you've miss interprited what I was meaning. I do almost all my banking online and I'm very much "embrace the new"..... However, choice is important... and yes, we are all screwed by someone.... If like me you use online banking, the total cost of ownership of that system is less than it costs to run one branch for a year (and I do know this

) So why then are charges going up? If moving money and paying bills is easier and less expensive, given that less people are involved in the process, why has the cost of banking increased by some 12% over the past 5 years?

20 years ago, you had to stand in a queue for hours at your branch to pay a bill. The branch opened at 10:00 and closed at 16:00 and quite often closed for lunch hour too, so yes, the internet is a wonderful thing... but its not for everyone.... i get screwed with my bank charges and I use their new technology.... and those who choose more traditional ways to bank get screwed with manual handling charges.... trust me, its like a casino... the house always wins.

speedbird591 · Post by **speedbird591** » 16 Jun 2007, 11:51

Hi Ben. Apologies for using your quote out of context but I couldn't resist using it as a perfect launchpad for my own comments. It was a bit naughty of me. But then I can be a bit mischievous sometimes.

In fact I totally agree with your comments - you, of all of us, know how to embrace technology. And yes, the house always wins. If it didn't, the shareholders would leave and there would be no house and the economy would collapse (I do love to simplify!)

But if you allow that they are going to make economies in that way, if you go with them you get a share of it too. And that (I think) was my point

Off to work :sad: so cheers for now

Ian

Post by **Garry Russell** » 16 Jun 2007, 12:14

All these modern ways assume that people have credit cards etc and computers for internet access

I know lots of people who have neither and cash is their only means but some places discourage it nowadays..usually with financial penalties.

Garry

alan cottrill · Post by **alan cottrill** » 16 Jun 2007, 12:16

There is another point,that as been missed,What about the pensioners,who dont have internet access,and dont trust banks,and always pay by cash,they are been penalised to.
This is the reason i say it is immoral to charge extra for alternate means of paying,you should always have a choice.
regards alan. :sad: :shock: