As they sneak another rate increase in...

"Cyrus Afzali" <pnsmnyv.TakeThisOut@lnubb.pbz> wrote in message
news:donn951lh2m007ig7f5hsnipaq14ef9c26@4ax.com...
> You get charged ATM fees at "foreign" machines because your bank has
> to pay a per-transaction fee to the ATM's network operator, whether
> that is Cirrus, Plus, or any of the other majors. That may be
> annoying, but at least it's somewhat justified.

I know that but I'd be willing to bet that before long they will also
start charging ATM transaction fees for their own customers as well.

"SMS" <scharf.steven.RemoveThis@geemail.com> wrote in message
news:4a9c0734$0$1620$742ec2ed@news.sonic.net...
> It probably does cost them close to $1 more to send a paper bill than
> an e-bill. If they can get all their customers to give up paper bills
> and not get much extra churn from this policy, and if it does not
> cause much of a loss in new subscribers, then it makes financial sense
> to do it. It's not profitability versus operating at a loss, it's an
> additional $360 million a year in pure profit.

That brings up something I've been wondering lately. A couple years ago
my county government allowed payment of the semi-annual property taxes
on-line, but they charge a nominal fee for it even though that must save
them instead of cost them money. I can think of only one reason why they
do it, but I want to hear your opinion about it first.

On Mon, 31 Aug 2009 14:20:13 -0400, P J <pj.RemoveThis@pjama.invalid> wrote:

> ... [snip] ... A couple years ago
> my county government allowed payment of the semi-annual property taxes
> on-line, but they charge a nominal fee for it even though that must save
> them instead of cost them money. I can think of only one reason why they
> do it, but I want to hear your opinion about it first.

My local government never did get around to online payments for that,
but *did* formerly accept credit cards, in person, for those payments
(as well as cash or checks).

For some years now, though, credit card payments direct to the local
tax collector's office have been made taboo: only cash or checks are
accepted, though they *will* allow the "official" government-payment
credit card operators to submit payment on your behalf.

Of course, those are sleazy operators, who take a tithe of some 3%
(or more) of the payment for their services, and I'll be darned if
I'm going to give them $150 every half year for my semiannual $5000
in property taxes.

No clear rationale why the tax collector ever stopped accepting
credit cards, though (unless perhaps they enjoy a little juice
off of the 3% the "official" government-payment credit card operators
collect ).

Cheers, -- tlvp
--
Avant de repondre, jeter la poubelle, SVP

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