The postal service keeps losing money, yet they offer big discounts to shippers of junk mail. We do have an amazing postal service, but if they charged a premium for catalogs, magazines, and other mass-mailings maybe they could make an actual profit.
I personally don’t have a problem with paperless billing. I plan my budget accordingly so that I make sure funds are in my bank account and if I set up the payments for auto-pay I don’t need to worry about it. I do however make my own scheduled payments online once a month with some payments. I’m almost 70 so don’t use age as an excuse for saving our planet from it’s waste of trees and other natural resources required to produce that piece of paper. Us older folks need to learn to adapt to our new age we live in. Yes it requires change of habits but it’s not that hard if you try.
The only bill I still get in the mail is my electric bill. They charge a fee if I pay online and it would be cheaper for me to send them a check through snail mail than to pay that fee. However, there is a kiosk in my grocery store where I can pay by check at no additional cost, so I do that when I go grocery shopping.
We do not do anything financial online – no paperless statements, no payments. Well, we do have one credit card with a $1000 line of credit that we use if absolutely, positively have to buy something online or by mail – we hate buying anything not in person -there are always delivery problems (heck when our neighbors order things we have problems as their packages get tossed on our steps – from houses as far as the next corner.
Our bank kept trying to get us to bank online – “It is secure!” Well, nothing online is actually secure and they got hacked – but only those with online accounts were hit – we were fine.
I have friends who have worked in IT since it was called “computer processing”. They all keep back doors into every site they work on – banks, bridges, stores, etc. They are honest. Someone not as honest who worked on a site can go in and access all sorts of info.
I also do not let anyone debit our bank accounts.
Almost every bill (2 exceptions since either of us had a credit card – well over 40 years) is paid in full, every time. We don’t pay fees or interest – credit cards pay us percentages back. Last year our oil company stopped sending us bills for the oil. I would call two days after the delivery, get the amount and send them the check – they would only bill if we were past due(?).
A big part of the PO’s losses comes from an oddity in their pension funding. No other pensions have to be fully funded each year for the amount that will be paid in the future. The PO has do fully fund every year so they are paying out to the pension funds more than any one else would and that costs them a fortune that no other agency or company needs to pay out.
I love not having to write checks! The one paper bill I get is the one I have trouble remembering to pay. I have a routine for the online bills, but not for that paper one that comes quarterly.
Counter employee at our local PO stopped a scam against an older woman. The woman came in to buy a postal money order for $500 and the employee asked her if it is for a relative and the woman said the she has to send it to collect her Publisher’s Clearing House prize. Turns out this was the 3rd check for $500 that she was sending – the others she got elsewhere – for this prize. Employee explained it was a scam, police were called and crooks arrested – woman out the other $1000. But since she went to the PO for THIS check she was protected by a quick thinking government employee.
nosirrom over 4 years ago
Still get a lot of junk mail, though.
charliefarmrhere over 4 years ago
Oh you still get bills, just not in the mail.
Egrayjames over 4 years ago
The postal service keeps losing money, yet they offer big discounts to shippers of junk mail. We do have an amazing postal service, but if they charged a premium for catalogs, magazines, and other mass-mailings maybe they could make an actual profit.
jbrobo Premium Member over 4 years ago
When I carried mail and people complained about bills ( which they did everyday) I just told them to think of me as a vital link in the economy.
William Bednar Premium Member over 4 years ago
The bill is probably from Janis’s hear dresser. But, true to form, she gives it to Arlo.
Lightpainter Premium Member over 4 years ago
I can’t tell if Arlo is just glad for online statements, or actually thinks they spend less because they get less bills mailed to them.
BJIllistrated Premium Member over 4 years ago
I personally don’t have a problem with paperless billing. I plan my budget accordingly so that I make sure funds are in my bank account and if I set up the payments for auto-pay I don’t need to worry about it. I do however make my own scheduled payments online once a month with some payments. I’m almost 70 so don’t use age as an excuse for saving our planet from it’s waste of trees and other natural resources required to produce that piece of paper. Us older folks need to learn to adapt to our new age we live in. Yes it requires change of habits but it’s not that hard if you try.
Maizing over 4 years ago
The only bill I still get in the mail is my electric bill. They charge a fee if I pay online and it would be cheaper for me to send them a check through snail mail than to pay that fee. However, there is a kiosk in my grocery store where I can pay by check at no additional cost, so I do that when I go grocery shopping.
WF11 over 4 years ago
Janis looks like she’s mad (not at Arlo I hope). They (and we) have to pay the bills whether they come via snail mail or electronically!
mafastore over 4 years ago
We do not do anything financial online – no paperless statements, no payments. Well, we do have one credit card with a $1000 line of credit that we use if absolutely, positively have to buy something online or by mail – we hate buying anything not in person -there are always delivery problems (heck when our neighbors order things we have problems as their packages get tossed on our steps – from houses as far as the next corner.
Our bank kept trying to get us to bank online – “It is secure!” Well, nothing online is actually secure and they got hacked – but only those with online accounts were hit – we were fine.
I have friends who have worked in IT since it was called “computer processing”. They all keep back doors into every site they work on – banks, bridges, stores, etc. They are honest. Someone not as honest who worked on a site can go in and access all sorts of info.
I also do not let anyone debit our bank accounts.
Almost every bill (2 exceptions since either of us had a credit card – well over 40 years) is paid in full, every time. We don’t pay fees or interest – credit cards pay us percentages back. Last year our oil company stopped sending us bills for the oil. I would call two days after the delivery, get the amount and send them the check – they would only bill if we were past due(?).
mafastore over 4 years ago
A big part of the PO’s losses comes from an oddity in their pension funding. No other pensions have to be fully funded each year for the amount that will be paid in the future. The PO has do fully fund every year so they are paying out to the pension funds more than any one else would and that costs them a fortune that no other agency or company needs to pay out.
Walkdad2 Premium Member over 4 years ago
I love not having to write checks! The one paper bill I get is the one I have trouble remembering to pay. I have a routine for the online bills, but not for that paper one that comes quarterly.
mafastore over 4 years ago
Counter employee at our local PO stopped a scam against an older woman. The woman came in to buy a postal money order for $500 and the employee asked her if it is for a relative and the woman said the she has to send it to collect her Publisher’s Clearing House prize. Turns out this was the 3rd check for $500 that she was sending – the others she got elsewhere – for this prize. Employee explained it was a scam, police were called and crooks arrested – woman out the other $1000. But since she went to the PO for THIS check she was protected by a quick thinking government employee.