Amen, Brother Jim! Over my many years I have grown to hate these companies. AT&T is at the top of my "s" list, but the others are not far behind. This is what you get when you let the "free market" operate without controls. My friends in social democracy Denmark pay about half of what I pay for TV and phone service. And, they get a higher Internet speed!
Consumer Cellular adds a $5 processing fee for paying by check.
I can avoid it using autopay off of my credit card.
When I worked for a medical software company, all of our passwords and patient data were encrypted. Even if a hacker did steal it, it would be unreadable. This is cheap and easy to do, so I don't understand why every company doesn't do it.
They've been gouging us for years. What is really galling is that their devices are enormously overpriced - $500 - $1,500 - and they are obsolete and practically worthless after only two years.
I have this experience too but what is worse is that ATT are now charging an extra $5 so that you pay for fibre service. You are currently charged for their equipment. But, I checked with my ATT store and asked what was the new $5 charge for and they told me they want to force customers to switch to fibre because it costs ATT nothing.
Here’s the kicker, fibre is not available in my area.
On the other hand, my credit union covers cost of a fraudulent charge on my card. They stop suspicious charges and contact me. I appreciate this service. I pay for it everytime I use my credit card.
We have adopted a defence strategy, we use an account for bill pay that has only a small amount of money in it. When, not if, a company we do business with gets hacked, we are self protected from wipe out.
It is partly the hacker thieves that drive up everyone's costs.
What can we do? We're prisoners of our monopolistic economy (society?). Leave T-Mobile for Consumer Cellular or other such companies and we sacrifice coverage and signal strength. On top of that, the other partners in the cell phone monopoly are either no better or worse.
Where I live this is SOP for every service-related company, phone, cable, electric, gas, insurance, auto registration, you name it. I hadn't thought about what Alysia Krafel suggested. I am going to consider setting up a separate bank account at a different bank to pay these bills and will at least look into it.
I personally wanted to keep our land line. However, when Verizon put in Fios they took the copper , yes the copper out of our land lines and made them as useless as an under charged cell. During a thunder storm our land lines were useless. Verizon did not disclose that thievery. One of their online support people told me as her husband was one of the installers who didn’t like what they did.
Can you get verizon on the phone?
We do have T-Mobile and will dump them if any criminals try to charge a fee.
This is what Congress is supposed to be there for?????? Good luck... try calling them... probably have a “fee” to add to their “run for office rip!”
Amen, Brother Jim! Over my many years I have grown to hate these companies. AT&T is at the top of my "s" list, but the others are not far behind. This is what you get when you let the "free market" operate without controls. My friends in social democracy Denmark pay about half of what I pay for TV and phone service. And, they get a higher Internet speed!
Switch to Consumer Cellular and you won't be asked for you bank account data. And, it is excellent service at a very low rate.
Ask for AARP discount.
Consumer Cellular adds a $5 processing fee for paying by check.
I can avoid it using autopay off of my credit card.
When I worked for a medical software company, all of our passwords and patient data were encrypted. Even if a hacker did steal it, it would be unreadable. This is cheap and easy to do, so I don't understand why every company doesn't do it.
We would all be totally screwed if we did not have folks like Jim Hightower standing up and punching back!
Switch to CREDO a company that cares!!
I disagree, Credo gouged me with unnecessary fees so I switched to T-Mobile.
They've been gouging us for years. What is really galling is that their devices are enormously overpriced - $500 - $1,500 - and they are obsolete and practically worthless after only two years.
I have this experience too but what is worse is that ATT are now charging an extra $5 so that you pay for fibre service. You are currently charged for their equipment. But, I checked with my ATT store and asked what was the new $5 charge for and they told me they want to force customers to switch to fibre because it costs ATT nothing.
Here’s the kicker, fibre is not available in my area.
Competition, there’s no such thing.
Switch to Credo Mobile and donate to progressive causes!!
I still use my check book, no service fee and the only way I can keep track of my vast financial empire. I also pre pay my Tracfone.
On the other hand, my credit union covers cost of a fraudulent charge on my card. They stop suspicious charges and contact me. I appreciate this service. I pay for it everytime I use my credit card.
We have adopted a defence strategy, we use an account for bill pay that has only a small amount of money in it. When, not if, a company we do business with gets hacked, we are self protected from wipe out.
It is partly the hacker thieves that drive up everyone's costs.
What can we do? We're prisoners of our monopolistic economy (society?). Leave T-Mobile for Consumer Cellular or other such companies and we sacrifice coverage and signal strength. On top of that, the other partners in the cell phone monopoly are either no better or worse.
Monopolies! The scourge of free enterprise!
Where I live this is SOP for every service-related company, phone, cable, electric, gas, insurance, auto registration, you name it. I hadn't thought about what Alysia Krafel suggested. I am going to consider setting up a separate bank account at a different bank to pay these bills and will at least look into it.
Are there other strategies to look into?
I personally wanted to keep our land line. However, when Verizon put in Fios they took the copper , yes the copper out of our land lines and made them as useless as an under charged cell. During a thunder storm our land lines were useless. Verizon did not disclose that thievery. One of their online support people told me as her husband was one of the installers who didn’t like what they did.
Can you get verizon on the phone?
We do have T-Mobile and will dump them if any criminals try to charge a fee.
This is what Congress is supposed to be there for?????? Good luck... try calling them... probably have a “fee” to add to their “run for office rip!”
Mr. Hightower, you must be very lucky. T-Mobil threatened me with another #20/mo if I continued to use a credit card! George Barnard
They’ve upped it to $10 for me!!
My husband wanted to join a local gym (Planet Fitness) but they won’t take a credit card at all - ONLY your bank account. No way!