[PLUG-TALK] Computer Processing Games

[Rich Shepard]

   For reasons that will never be explained, I did not receive business
telephone bills for December; perhaps the lack of mail delivery for a week
had something to do with it. Regardless, I realized that payments were due
this week so I signed up for accounts on the vendors' web sites to make
one-time direct payments from the business checking account.

   What amuses me is that this is an automated system, all done by computers
interacting with computers: mine to Verizon Northwest and Sprint, theirs to
my bank. Yet, each site tells me to allow up to 5 days for payments to be
received and credited. This is longer than it takes when I mail them a check
via the USPS.

   They're not the only companies to claim that it takes longer to process
computer payments, but at least they're not in the class of companies who
charge extra for the service even though it costs them nothing. I suppose
it's all just another way of making money (by float or extra charge) just
because they can and no one stops them.

Rich

-- 
Richard B. Shepard, Ph.D.               |  Integrity            Credibility
Applied Ecosystem Services, Inc.        |            Innovation
<http://www.appl-ecosys.com>     Voice: 503-667-4517      Fax: 503-667-8863