Quoted Text

Paying to pay
Reported by: Cait McVey Email: CaitlinMcVey@fox23news.com
Published: 2/07 11:16 pm ShareThis Updated: 2/07 11:50 pm

When Lisa Rutty went to pay her J.C. Penney bill over the phone, an automated voice told her no problem, but with one catch. The recording said, "we are able to accept a payment from your checking account over the phone for a fee of $9.95."

It's referred to as "paying to pay."
A number of companies hit their customers with a fee when they call up to make good on what they owe.
As someone who is just trying to make a payment on time, Rutty says it's frustrating.

"Whether I'm paying over the phone or by mail, or even online, it's the same amount of money, so why should there be a charge? Especially because 3:58:43 I'm talking to an automated service. I'm not even talking to a person. So what's the charge for?" asks Lisa Rutty.

It's not just credit card companies. Jessica Aguiar's mortgage company socked her with a $20 fee when she tried to pay.

"If they're charging me to speak to a customer service representative that I'm already speaking with I think that's ridiculous," says Aguiar.

It's even happening online. Looking at the website for National Grid, if you want to make a one time payment with a credit card, it's going to cost an extra $2.25.

"It's just unacceptable that businesses charge you a fee for the privilege of paying for the service that you're already paying for," says Ed Mierzwinski, of USPIRG.

Unacceptable, maybe, but it is legal for mortgage, utility, phone and cable companies to charge you to pay by phone or online.

However, when it comes to credit card companies, it's illegal to charge a fee for paying unless you're asking a customer service rep for an "expedited" payment.

"Under the law they can charge a fee if it's for an immediate posting or an almost immediate posting and there's a customer representative involved," says Nessa Feddis, of the American Bankers Association.................>>>>.........................>>>>.....................http://www.fox23news.com/news/local/story/Paying-to-pay/R0egAps5gUSDEus5I_MjDw.cspx?rss=39

do it online....screw the phone idiot-machine.....