T-Mobile to penalize tech-inept with BS paper billing fee
As fully immersed in technology as younger generations in the US are these days, we sometimes forget that there are still generations and demographics in this country who simply haven’t latched on to tech the way we have. The spunky bunch above who have gathered around a laptop to check out BGR simply aren’t representative of older generations and let us not forget the countless people in this country who cannot afford computers. The simple truth is that there are a magnitude of reasons why someone might not own, use or even know how to use a computer. Apparently however, T-Mobile thinks its poor and elderly postpaid subscribers should be penalized for being unwilling or unable to embrace a digital lifestyle.
According to Tmonews, starting September 12th T-Mobile will begin charging a mandatory fee to customers who have not opted into paperless billing. Notices to that effect will go out with this month’s bills. The fee will reportedly be $1.50 per line, so if you have a family plan with five lines you’re looking at an additional $7.50 each month. For nothing.
Forget the fact that T-Mobile’s online billing system is weak and confusing at best — the simple fact is that paperless billing isn’t for everyone. Carriers charge enough fees without piling on with garbage like this. Now, we’d love it if T-Mobile was doing something like this in an effort to be more environmentally conscious but it is blatantly obvious that this is not the case. If a carrier wanted to encourage subscribers to go paperless for “green” reasons, it would reward those who oblige by giving them a nominal discount, not penalize those who cannot or do not oblige for whatever reason.
If this new paper billing fee becomes a reality and you or someone you know is affected by it, we strongly urge you to contact T-Mobile and the FCC to voice your objections.
UPDATE: The author of the original post emailed us to let us know about a correction to his report. The $1.50 charge is apparently going to be per account, not per line. We still think this stinks — it’s just not quite as pungent now…
First of all for most seniors post payed accounts are bad deals loads of features they don’t need. T moblie pre payed rates are the some of the best in the business. I think the best way to protest is for “low tech ers” on post payed month to month is go pre payed and when canceling there posted payed account specifically mention it the paper statement fee. With gsm it easy to switch any phone to pre payed simi and away you go.
I think the fee is the way to go. Do cops give rewards for driving safe?
I think the fee is the way to go. Do cops give rewards for driving safe?
If people complain too much then they shouldn’t charge the fee to lines with rural area codes
Ok maybe I’m just wrong, but this charge will be for detailed paper billing ONLY! So if someone does not want paperless billing, they can opt to have the summary paper bill which is a free statement.
Posted from BGR Mobile (iPhone).
It’s not 1.50 per line.. It’s per account
I agree with the plastic bag thing, but not paper billing. No matter how small the fee, the precedent of this cannot be breached. Invoicing is an integral part of commerce and has always been the financial responsibility of the seller. It would be the same as the buyer deducting a small fee on a transaction for a the seller who only takes checks. The argument being “Hey, checks cost money”. No, it’s called the cost of doing business.
It’s not $1.50 per line, it’s $1.50 per account.
If your going to leak a story, at least leak the correct facts!
On Aug 8, 2009 @ 8:32 pm, Tony C. Said:
I think the fee is the way to go. Do cops give rewards for driving safe?
Cops could care less, but
Insurance companies give rewards for good driving….they don’t charge you 1.50 to get your bill by the way.
I could be wrong, but I don’t see how this is legal. You can’t charge someone to tell them how much they owe you. If I had T-mobile I would pay all but the last $1.50 and then sue them when they shut me off.
@ Rosario
If your mom like to have a bill in her hand, then she should log into her account, open her PDF bill and print it out.
I like this idea, its about time all bills become electronic. I wish I could receive no mail, except for the obvious and necessary. Most of my mail ends up in the recycling bin/trash anyways.
I know for a fact that this fee would be illegal at least in California and other states. I foresee the PUC slapping them if they go through with it.I agree that it would be great if every customer goes paperless for the sake of the environment but not everyone can afford to go that route. We need to get Pogue on this ASAP for the rest of the country. We’re safe in CA. Not a TMo cust but I know my rights
No one has mentioned security or lack thereof. I would hate to think that a hacker could get at my billing information whether it be personal, or business for that matter.
When I feel confident that my information is secure then a I will ‘consider’ going paperless.
- CB
JR this fee is not illegal in any state. They still give you access to your bill, in either fashion! Yes Invoicing is the cost of doing business but what you don’t realize is they always pass the costs to their customers. If they want to pass the cost of paper bills only to the customers who use the paper bills that is better than charging everyone!
CarBob, it doesn’t make you any less secure because your billing information is already stored on their computers and you can already view it online. All going paperless means is they don’t print out a copy of what is stored on the computer therefore you are more secure because now only high tech thieves can steal your info as opposed to the current way a common thief can steal it from the mail or from your garbage after you throw it out.
Djblois – I appreciate your comments but in my case, I make it a point to ’shred’ all my bills therefore nothing gets thrown out. – CB
T-Mobile’s new fee for paper statements is bogus. The cost of mailing out paper statements is simply the cost of doing business and is already reflected in their monthly charge. They should encourage people to go green by offering a $1.50 discount to opt for electronic billing.
I went to paperless billing a year ago, shutup crybabies
jwsg, do you realize costs go up. All costs go up, so do you think they should raise everyone’s bills or just the people who still receive their bills in this fashion? And giving other people a discount is the same Exact thing – it would still be more money to not go paperless. And CarBob my point is you are not less secure in anyway by going paperless – you actually are more secure because people can still steal the bill out of your mailbox.
If you want to be taken seriously, learning some grammar would be a good idea WHETHER you think you need to or not.
dan h, who are you talking to?
lol Telus planted a tree for me when I went paperless. What does big T do? Not charge you.
Rosario,
T-Mobile’s website may my bad when it comes to viewing the bill online but you have the option of downloading and printing if you choose to do so the complete bill, EXACTLY the same one you get via snail mail so rest assured your mom will still get the bill. That’s if you will elect to print it for her with the $30.00 ink cartridges.
First of all, to all you green people. Recycling centers now offer curb side pickup. Simply shred the bill and stick in the recycling bin. There, I’ve done my part.
As for the $1.50 fee, I’m leaving T-Mobile ASAP. They have nickled and dimed me for the last time. When the customer service rep tells me that T-Mobile is trying to cut costs but lays me off and still makes $409 million profit, then there is really something wrong with these companies. Not only that, but they raised their regulatory fee as well. These providers are only going to get worse. I’m going to Cricket tomorrow until I can figure out what I want to do.
to the first poster Djblois
Listen, they’re just trying to find ways to gouge more, and “going green” is just a convenient excuse. Please don’t tell me that a mega corporation whose business is to gouge suddenly cares about its environment. Fido charges a hefty $2 fee for paper bills!!! $2/account and how many accounts are there. I bet the cost of printing and sending those bills don’t even come close to the total they gouge off this BS fee. If you really care, stop sending those useless *paper* flyers offering more BS services.