# Save a stamp, spend an extra 3 bucks. WTH, Verizon? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 9, 2009, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218 "2009-10-09T18:22:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/21 "2009-10-09T21:39:32Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Where you are now, is putting up an antenna to get over-the-air signals a possibility? Over-the-air digital broadcasts look darn spiffy, so if you can receive them, it’s worth considering. Go to [AntennaWeb](http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx), put in your address, and see what the signals are like at your location. That’s exactly what the networks want you to do. That’s why you are paying a fee to get around it. Though it’ll suck if the one you get over the air is NBC… I’m a bit surprised they don’t do what Dish did here; just give you the local channels for free with the $29.99 package. From what I understand, giving you the actual channels you could pick up with an antenna doesn’t fall afoul of the network’s contract. And you get local news instead of stuff about the San Fernando Valley area. I’d always assumed that local news out there would be at least a little less cheesy than ours… ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/22 "2009-10-09T21:58:52Z")
> [@Max\_Torque](#): > > Where you are now, is putting up an antenna to get over-the-air signals a possibility? Over-the-air digital broadcasts look darn spiffy, so if you can receive them, it’s worth considering. Go to [AntennaWeb](http://www.antennaweb.org/aw/welcome.aspx), put in your address, and see what the signals are like at your location. According to this website, with the correct antenna, I would be able to receive exactly one more channel than I get now. ☹ But thanks for the effort! 🙂 > [@Markxxx](#): > > Did you see if Verizon will let you use a credit card? I had a company that charged $1.00 for debit transactions but if I used the debit card as a credit card (It was a Debit Visa) it cost me nothing If I used a credit card or debit card, it’s $3.50. If I do a ‘check by phone’, it’s $5.00. ☹ If I send in a check, it’s, well, the cost of the check plus the cost of a stamp (under $1.00) and next month, if I use the Bill Pay option from my bank, it’s free! 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/23 "2009-10-09T22:12:10Z")
> [@Ellen\_Cherry](#): > > I am happy to offer my services. 😉 I _know_ Ellen DeGeneres. And you, ma’am, are _no_ Ellen DeGeneres. OK, in all honesty, I _don’t_ actually know Ellen DeGeneres. I’d like to think that, if I did, she’d dump Portia for me, I’d go gay for her, and we’d live the rest of our days in humor-and-wealth-filled bliss. OTOH, I’ve _seen_ Portia, and I love my husband, and I’m happy being hetero, and frankly, I don’t think it’s in the cards. . . ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/24 "2009-10-09T23:40:32Z")
Definitely check your bank’s online bill payment options. If you can pay from there, there’s no reason to use Verizon’s payment reception service. Unless they’d charge you the $3 anyways? As far as I can tell, my bill payments are [del]free[/del] bundled into the monthly service charge (I’m with RBC). But I also get unlimited debits (at PoS terminals or RBC ATMs) for no additional charge, charges for 3 ‘foreign’ debits at non-RBC machines refunded each month, 2 free email money transfers each month (don’t need to send a cheque to my counselor any more), free viewing of cheques online, ‘commission-free’ money orders and bank drafts, free online and telephone banking. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2009, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/25 "2009-10-09T23:40:47Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > If I used a credit card or debit card, it’s $3.50. If I do a ‘check by phone’, it’s $5.00. ☹ > If I send in a check, it’s, well, the cost of the check plus the cost of a stamp (under $1.00) and next month, if I use the Bill Pay option from my bank, it’s free! 🆒 That’s bizarre. I have Verizon for my landline/internet service and for my cell phone, and I pay both on-line with no fees. I also pay my gas and electric, car and renter’s insurance, and my water bills on-line with no fees. You said you were redirected to their third-party billing company. Isn’t there an option to pay Verizon directly? ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/26 "2009-10-10T00:41:09Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > That’s bizarre. I have Verizon for my landline/internet service and for my cell phone, and I pay both on-line with no fees. I also pay my gas and electric, car and renter’s insurance, and my water bills on-line with no fees. > You said you were redirected to their third-party billing company. Isn’t there an option to pay Verizon directly? If there was, I couldn’t find it. Doesn’t mean it wasn’t there, of course. At any rate, the check went out in the mail today, and as of next month, I can have my new checking account pay it for free. There could also be a difference in services between MD and WV. ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/27 "2009-10-10T00:46:09Z")
I should add that if I try to pay the Verizon bill or the gas and electric bills by phone, I would be charged a fee. If you call the ‘easy pay-by-phone!’ number that’s on the bills, you are switched to a third-party company and there’s a fee of $4 or $5. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/28 "2009-10-10T12:02:07Z")
> [@BiblioCat](#): > > I should add that if I try to pay the Verizon bill or the gas and electric bills by phone, I would be charged a fee. If you call the ‘easy pay-by-phone!’ number that’s on the bills, you are switched to a third-party company and there’s a fee of $4 or $5. OK, it’s early in the morning (well, for a Saturday), and I’m not understanding. So what number is it you call to pay the bill where there’s no charge? Of course, this is strictly academic, as by the time of my next bill, I’ll have it set up for my bank to pay for free. My bank will pay up to 15 bills/mo for free. Since we only get the Verizon, the gas and electric bills, plus have three mortgages, that’s plenty! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/29 "2009-10-10T18:47:14Z")
This reminds me of when ATMs where first getting going. A few banks set up a policy whereby you paid a fee to use their ATM, but you could go inside and use the teller window for free. It makes no sense from a cost POV, but they were looking at it as getting people to pay for convenience so the bank could recoup its R&D expenses. When my bank did that, I closed my account and switched banks. > [@norinew](#): > > OK, here I am, Ellen deprived, working up a good head of steam, and you try to bring _reason_ into the discussion? For shame, sir, for shame! > > No beer for you! 😛 :eek:NO! Anything but that! ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/30 "2009-10-10T19:46:30Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > :eek:NO! Anything but that! All right, since your a Mod, I’ll rescind that; but only _cheap_ beer! 😛 ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/31 "2009-10-10T19:59:52Z")
> [@Tastes\_of\_Chocolate](#): > > What??? Your equipment goes bad (and the service tech told me it was their equipment) and you were going to charge me $50 to fix it? I’m so glad our contract is up next month. I pay an extra $5 or $6 a month for their “protection” plan. They’ve had to move the dish twice (neighbor’s trees) and they’ve replaced the receivers. They didn’t bill me. However, if I added up the protection fee over the 5-6 years we’ve had the service, I probably didn’t come out ahead. I’ve considered dropping it, but something major would go wrong as soon as I did. The only thing I don’t like about DTV is that you can **add** programming on-line, but if you want to **drop** something, you have to call them. If you’re susceptible to sales pitches and special offers, you usually end up with something new to replace what you drop. ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/32 "2009-10-10T20:39:16Z")
> [@AuntiePam](#): > > if you want to drop something, you have to call them. If you’re susceptible to sales pitches and special offers, you usually end up with something new to replace what you drop. This pretty well sums up why we went with such a basic plan in the first place; it’s so much easier to _upgrade_ than to downgrade! ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/33 "2009-10-10T21:26:13Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > All right, since your a Mod, I’ll rescind that; but only _cheap_ beer! 😛 Cheap beer? I’ll pass, thank you. I love good beer, but I’d rather have a Diet Coke than a Bud (or, Heaven forfend, a Bud Light). ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 10, 2009, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/34 "2009-10-10T22:37:11Z")
> [@InvisibleWombat](#): > > Cheap beer? I’ll pass, thank you. I love good beer, but I’d rather have a Diet Coke than a Bud (or, Heaven forfend, a Bud Light). Well, what if I gave you a choice of Diet Generic Cola, or Bud Light? Would that _at least_ get me warned? (which I’ve never been in my nine years here. . .) ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/35 "2009-10-11T02:41:41Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > So what number is it you call to pay the bill where there’s no charge? I don’t know. A quick look at both Verizon bills does not show a way to pay the bill by phone, other than using the third party biller. Paying it online is free. ---
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/36 "2009-10-11T03:09:07Z")
Can you pay in person? Or at an authorized currency exchange? The sad part about checks is almost no one process them manually anymore. I used to send checks to companies and never get the check back. Why? Because the companies would process the check electronically. They would just type in the routing number and my account number. I can do that myself online and so far “knock wood” I never got billed for it. Americans are so used to getting nickel and dime’d to death with fees you hardly seem to notice. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/37 "2009-10-11T03:25:33Z")
> [@Tahssa](#): > > My credit card company does the same thing on their envelopes except they want to charge me $7 to pay online. I don’t think so fuckwads. This is extremely weird (both the OP and this). I pay my credit card bill on their online website. I have my bank account linked to it. When I’ve reviewed my bill, I click on a few things and type in the payment amount, and it’s deducted from my checking account on the day I say to do so. No fees are involved. Well, one month where I spazzed out and didn’t set up the payment in time, and went in late on the day it was due… and it would have counted as late, with late fees and interest. But for a 15 dollar fee, I could get it counted as on time. I have the Verizon bill set up to directly bill to my credit card. I used to have it set up to directly bill to the checking account. Again, no fees. ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/38 "2009-10-11T03:27:07Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > Our DMV also charges extra for renewing auto licenses online. But then again, you avoid standing in line at the DMV, so that one makes sense to a certain extent. Huh - ours charges more if you go in person, versus online (for transactions that can be done online). ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_Robson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gary_robson/32/3448_2.png) [@Gary\_Robson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_Robson)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/39 "2009-10-11T03:35:20Z")
> [@norinew](#): > > Well, what if I gave you a choice of Diet Generic Cola, or Bud Light? Would that _at least_ get me warned? (which I’ve never been in my nine years here. . .) Y’know … I’ll just have water. And _I’m warning you,_ it had better be cold and tasty. Happy?😉 ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2009, 10:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218/40 "2009-10-11T10:41:41Z")
> [@Markxxx](#): > > Can you pay in person? Or at an authorized currency exchange? The sad part about checks is almost no one process them manually anymore. Well, paying in person would cost me more in gas than the stamp, envelope and check cost me, because the nearest office is almost 30 miles away. I’m not sure what you mean by “authorized currency exchange”; I know there are supermarkets around here where you can pay certain bills. But they charge you $1.00 for the service. However, all this trouble goes away next month, as I said, when my bank starts doing it all for me, for free. > [@Mama Zappa](#): > > I pay my credit card bill on their online website. I have my bank account linked to it. When I’ve reviewed my bill, I click on a few things and type in the payment amount, and it’s deducted from my checking account on the day I say to do so. No fees are involved. My gas bill and electric bill can both be paid online at their websites, using my debit card or check routing and account number, no charge. It’s just the Verizon thing that wants to send me to a 3rd party processor that wants the money. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/save-a-stamp-spend-an-extra-3-bucks-wth-verizon/513218.md?page=3)