Mini Rant

Last night, I sat down to pay the bills.  Since we've been with our current mortgage servicer, I've paid that one online on their website.  They sent us a coupon book at the beginning of the year but in September, they started sending us monthly statements instead.  On that first statement, it said that they heard our feedback and started sending out the statements.  Well, I didn't give them that feedback but I didn't care as long as I could pay the bill online.  In another part of the bill it said something about being able to assess fees on things now too.  Again, not really caring about it, I pay my bill on time no problem.

I'm sure you can see where this is going.  Log into the website last night and all of a sudden, there's a $2 fee for paying your bill online.  WTF?  I pay my bill in a way that SAVES them time and money and now I have to PAY for them to send out statements every month that I DIDN'T EVEN WANT.

I sent them a nice note using their feedback form online.  Ok, nice may not be the right word.  Went off on is more like it.  At the end of that rant, I realized that I didn't tell them what I wanted out of this so I told them to get rid of the stupid fee, don't send me anymore statements and let me pay the dang bill online for free again.

I haven't heard back yet.

By the way, their automatic debit of my checking account would be free if I wanted to set that up.  Not sure how that's any different than me telling it to take the money every month but I'm just a stupid homeowner here.

Right after that, I wrote out a check and mailed them their dang payment.  They want to charge me for making their lives easier, I'm going to make their lives as costly as possible.

As problems go, I realize this one is about as important as a hang nail.  I do kind of look at this as a symptom of a larger problem though.  That problem is the one of every company, everywhere looking to screw their customers at every opportunity.  Putting every last cent of possible profit above anything else, including common sense.  This problem really is everywhere but the audacity of it is way more obvious when it comes to any company dealing with money (yes, I'm looking at you banks!).

Anyway, I have no solutions to offer, no advice to give, nothing of any real use to contribute.  I do know that next month, I'll be setting up the FREE online bill pay through our credit union to pay this bill from now on.  I only wish the CU would have to mail them a check too.  Oh well.