# Company charging me for paying them **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 21, 2004, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302 "2004-02-21T01:01:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![RobuSensei](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/919ad9/32.png) [@RobuSensei](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RobuSensei)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/21 "2004-02-21T09:21:46Z")
> [@paul'smars](#): > > I use ment all the time. I do not even know the difference between ment and meant, so maybe u will forgive that. Or maybe not. The difference between ment and meant: In current usage, only one of these is an actual English word, while the other is a suffix. Oh, so you’re lazy. I guess that makes _everything_ all right. In that case, if it’s acceptable for you to be “too lazy” to use correct English, then it’s equally acceptable for the rest of us to be “too lazy” to put in the effort to figure out what the hell you’re saying. You do _want_ people to read your posts, right? And perhaps, take you seriously? Anyways, I’m not sure when State Farm started doing the $1.00 service charge to me (around 10 years ago, I think!), but I do remember that it didn’t bother me much, perhaps due to the fact that I was driving a clunker and didn’t carry much insurance at that time. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/22 "2004-02-21T11:47:04Z")
You get raped by paying by phone … this can range anywhere from 1.50 (verizon) 7.50 (credit card) 12.95 walmart cc and up… and most things go up by 5 dollars when you use someone live and not the automated service … ---
**Author:** ![amarone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@amarone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarone)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/23 "2004-02-21T13:18:29Z")
Sorry not to agree with the rant, but if a company provides several ways of paying for their service and sets its fees to charge more for the methods that cost them more, then I don’t have a problem with that. I pay my insurance semi-annually because that saves on the monthly fees. And posting in text-message-speak is fucking irritating. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Badger\_Racing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@Atomic\_Badger\_Racing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Badger_Racing)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/24 "2004-02-21T13:23:05Z")
> [@paul'smars](#): > > I m not trying to be cute. I m lazy. If u have a problem with this, well I m too lazy to invite u outside. I use ment all the time. I do not even know the difference between ment and meant, so maybe u will forgive that. I like the way you use “I m” instead of “I’m”. A space is easier to type than an apostrophe? ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/25 "2004-02-21T13:49:46Z")
> [@Atomic Badger Racing](#): > > I like the way you use “I m” instead of “I’m”. A space is easier to type than an apostrophe? So if we quote him it’s **paul smars** , eh? ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/26 "2004-02-21T17:05:34Z")
I use State Farm and I pay monthly with the auto withdrawal because I can’t usually scrape together the $750 bucks I pay every 6 months (for car and renter’s insurance) all at one time. I gladly pay the extra $12 a YEAR this costs me because I’m 1. constantly late (I had my health insurance cancelled twice because of this) 2. never have stamps (also contributing to #1) 3. State Farm is the cheapest insurance around by nearly a $150. As for **paul’smars** , I am not a moderator nor an administrator, but I’ve seen people get pitted for far less and I’m not sure, but it could lead to you being banned. I can’t find any ‘official’ prounouncments on the subject, does anyone else know if speaking in this ‘almost leet’ can get you banned or reprimanded? ---
**Author:** ![paul\_smars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@paul\_smars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paul_smars)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/27 "2004-02-21T17:05:46Z")
> [@yosemitebabe](#): > > 2 layzee 2 reed every1 else’s feelingz about the way u speel 2, I guess ? > > G, let’s awl dew this ! Let’s awl speel like this on porpoise! It’s sew Kute! It’s so much EZ’r 2 reed ! > > And it leeves such a good mpreshun 2 ! > 😃 there is a differance between shortening words like you to u, easy to ez and what u are doing! ---
**Author:** ![paul\_smars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@paul\_smars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paul_smars)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/28 "2004-02-21T17:10:04Z")
> [@Atomic Badger Racing](#): > > I like the way you use “I m” instead of “I’m”. A space is easier to type than an apostrophe? yes, space bar is bigger and I use it more, so it is easier to hit. ---
**Author:** ![AmishBlue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b5e925/32.png) [@AmishBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmishBlue)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/29 "2004-02-21T17:16:23Z")
Well, the city in which I live has begun tacking a “billing expense” charge onto the quarterly water bill. Last time around it was $9.48. I hate this–I have to pay them to send me a bill? I guess it wouldn’t be quite so irritating if they would just somehow include this expense in the rates… ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/30 "2004-02-21T17:37:24Z")
I just got a notice from AT&T telling me that they will start charging in March 2004 for me to receive the bill as always. The statement fee will be $2.49 per bill. The other options are online billing thru a credit card or automatic bank deduction, or a separate bill from AT&T (separate from the composite SBC phone bill). These two options are free, but I must sign up for them. Why sending TWO bills thru the mails is better or cheaper than ONE composite bill, I can’t fathom. It just doubles the number of checks I have to write for landline phone service, since I will probably choose that option. The cost will be a 37-cent stamp instead of a $2.49 charge. ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/31 "2004-02-21T18:09:32Z")
Hey, Paul! Your profile lists kindness as one of your interests. How kind is it to continue to use a typing style that everyone is telling you is annoying. It makes you look like a silly juvenile trying to annoy the grownups, and it certainly isn’t kind. Do us a favor and admit you’re in error in using this style of typing, and stop doing it. I know it would be embarrasing to do so and a difficult to get around pridewise, but I think you’ll find people would respect you for doing so. Otherwise, you’re just going to make enemies and antagonists out of people you might someday want some genuine helpful feedback from. Sorry about the hijack. Now back to the subject at hand… ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/32 "2004-02-21T18:47:32Z")
Don’t worry folks, we can continue the hijack here. [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=241017](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=241017) ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/33 "2004-02-21T20:28:09Z")
> [@Tentacle Monster](#): > > Not even Albert Einstein would have been taken seriously if he had tried to publish a paper on “T3H TH30rY 0f R3|4T1v1TY” Ooh, can I steal this as a sig? ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/34 "2004-02-21T23:16:38Z")
> [@paul'smars](#): > > there is a differance between shortening words like you to u, easy to ez and what u are doing! U undurstod wut she ment, so I rest my kase. Or does your own logic not sit well with you? The point is, this message board is a text-only mode of communication. The only thing that anyone has to judge you by is your style of writing. Write like an idiot or a lazy bastard, and people will think that you’re an idiot or a lazy bastard. Oh, wait, you already said that you did it because you’re lazy, didn’t you? Do you really want to portray yourself as being so unbelievably fucking lazy that you can’t type a few extra letters? It’s not like you’re having to set the type manually on a printing press or anything. However, if you don’t care if people think that you’re a lazy bastard, and if you don’t care if people hold your opinions in lesser regard because of it, then please, keep typing the way you do. It’ll allow you to continue to be lazy, while giving others the information they need to know how to properly weigh your opinions. ---
**Author:** ![Atomic\_Badger\_Racing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/eada6e/32.png) [@Atomic\_Badger\_Racing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atomic_Badger_Racing)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/35 "2004-02-22T00:18:04Z")
> [@paul'smars](#): > > yes, space bar is bigger and I use it more, so it is easier to hit. Well, yeah, but I still would’ve thought that if you were too lazy to type the apostrophe you’d just put “Im”. ---
**Author:** ![Tentacle\_Monster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ba9def/32.png) [@Tentacle\_Monster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tentacle_Monster)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/36 "2004-02-22T02:36:49Z")
**asterion** I would be honored. I was ridiculously honored when dutchboy208 put his award in his sig. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Torque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e9bcb4/32.png) [@Max\_Torque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Torque)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/37 "2004-02-22T15:34:28Z")
> [@amarone](#): > > Sorry not to agree with the rant, but if a company provides several ways of paying for their service and sets its fees to charge more for the methods that cost them more, then I don’t have a problem with that. I pay my insurance semi-annually because that saves on the monthly fees. The issue here, it seems, is that State Farm has decided to charge for ALL of the means by which it collects money. It’s not much, but it is a minor irritation to realize that no matter what method you choose, you’re paying for the honor and privilege of giving them money. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/38 "2004-02-22T16:58:38Z")
I just renewed my registration. Quite apart from the idiocy of having to pay to keep a car registered (you have to pay your insurace, and the registry IMMEDIATELY revokes your registration upon discontinuiance of insurance coverage), they have the affrontery to CHARGE you a $5.00 service fee! Think about it…you pay $41.00 to essentially keep your vehicle listed on their computer, and on top you pay $5.00 to have some moron check the record! Unbelievable! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![paul\_smars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3be4f8/32.png) [@paul\_smars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/paul_smars)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 9:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/39 "2004-02-22T21:25:41Z")
> [@Max Torque](#): > > The issue here, it seems, is that State Farm has decided to charge for ALL of the means by which it collects money. It’s not much, but it is a minor irritation to realize that no matter what method you choose, you’re paying for the honor and privilege of giving them money. Exactly !!! ---
**Author:** ![Canadjun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/76d3ee/32.png) [@Canadjun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Canadjun)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2004, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302/40 "2004-02-22T22:31:22Z")
> [@Max Torque](#): > > The issue here, it seems, is that State Farm has decided to charge for ALL of the means by which it collects money. It’s not much, but it is a minor irritation to realize that no matter what method you choose, you’re paying for the honor and privilege of giving them money. Actually, you’re objecting to them **telling** you that a portion of your premiums goes to actually collecting those premiums. That is pretty obviously the case whether they tell you that or not - a portion of your premiums goes to all the administrative aspects of running an insurance company, including collecting the money regardless of whether they itemize that part of it or not. Seems to me that State Farm has made a bad marketing decision (people **like** “free” things even if they are actually paying for them as hidden costs), but otherwise they’re not doing anything wrong. When you’re shopping for insurance, make sure you look at the entire cost. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/company-charging-me-for-paying-them/230302.md?page=3)