Playing with Snakes & Got Bit

[myrdale]

I would check the checking account online personally. I do still write checks for all the kid activities. But yeah i have a excel spreadsheet of dates of when things are due and I log in the confirmation payments on there and i'm usually not late. Also I ask to move all CC to the same end of month close so they all hit due at the same time and I pay all cards first of the month. habit from when I use to get paid once a month

I was not aware you could change due dates. If that is possible, it is very useful.

Even monitoring online isn't full proof. Last month, the waterbill was due on 3/12. I received and paid it on 3/17 by check. On 3/21 the check cleared. On 4/1 they took the new reading. On 4/13 I received the new bill that indicated I owed $40 (typically it is $20). The local water department is so screwed up they don't know why I was charged $40.

I did go ahead and set up on line payments for power, phone, & cable.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I was not aware you could change due dates. If that is possible, it is very useful.

Even monitoring online isn't full proof. Last month, the waterbill was due on 3/12. I received and paid it on 3/17 by check. On 3/21 the check cleared. On 4/1 they took the new reading. On 4/13 I received the new bill that indicated I owed $40 (typically it is $20). The local water department is so screwed up they don't know why I was charged $40.

I did go ahead and set up on line payments for power, phone, & cable.

You call and ask to move the closing date so the due dates align or something.

[crazyliblady]

I have also had trouble with bills and the mail. My trash company decided to change billing processes beginning about 2 months in the future. On April 6th, I got a trash bill for $28.10. I immediately wrote a check, put it in an envelope, and mailed it the same day. On April 19, I got another bill with a note explaining the new process. The bill received on April 19th is for the May trash whereas the first one was for the April trash. The problem I saw with both bills is the extremely short time of getting a payment to them - April 16th on the first bill received and April 28th on the second. The second one also included a note of "amount past due" for the April trash. They only allowed 10 days for payment to be received for the first bill and 9 days for the second. The first bill payment was 2 days late by their standard. Fortunately, the second payment was received on time. What is it with businesses expecting payment within 10 days of receipt of the bill? I know I could do automatic billing, but I frankly don't trust this company, because they keep increasing their "fuel charge" and other weird fees. I could switch companies, but they could all be like this for all I know.