Online Bill Pay

Lately I've been "old fashioned" - mailing checks and entering stores to pay my bills, but I thought this pay period I would try the online bill pay thing again because I was wondering why I stopped using it so much.

I remember now.


Taking two-three business days just to see it update on my account has been ridiculous. I can mail the check and have it clear in a time period that is actually quicker than the automatic withdrawals on most of my accounts. I'll mail the check first thing in the morning and see it out within two days. Insanity! The extra money I pay on postage is worth the less of a wait period I have on my accounts. Everyone keeps telling me to go green and have it "automatically" withdrawn from my account, but I can go green and call the company with my debit card and it actually shows up FASTER than when I have payment scheduled to withdraw from my account. And Verizon charges me a dollar to pay cash at sight - why? I am giving them a direct payment and they want an extra dollar. I can call the company and give my credit card for no charge with an equally immediate account update but when I hand them the money upfront I have to pay an extra dollar. The concept is stupid. I understand everyone wants to go from cash-plastic or even better plastic-internet, but I have to pay for it if I am old fashioned?  It's crazy - gas stations give you a discount at some places if you go in and pay cash- why do some companies punish me for it?

I understand we're all trying to get rid of paper, and I'm all for going green, but in the case of online bill pay going green has been nothing but a hassle. I sit waiting for the money to be withdrawn from my account, fearing I did something stupid like type the number wrong or there was a glitch in the system where my payment got lost in limbo (which can still happen - yes checks can get lost, but you know sooner if they have reached the company verse if an incomplete payment is denied). Then when my bank clears it I wait for my credit card company or loan company to get the update from the bank. When I pay with check or cash it's a one shot deal.

I'm staying old fashioned until I can't anymore. Hopefully until then they don't decide to take away the money order or debit card. Otherwise I'll probably have to find a way to disappear off the face of the earth so I don't stress the impending payment that will someday come out of/update my account.