[Djean1981]

Paying online requires far less manual labor - which should result in a discount.

[retiredguy123]

I cannot understand why they call it a "convenience" fee. Don't they know that it just makes people mad? I also hate when a company says "Thank you for your patience". Most people are not patient.

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

hmmm, i suspect that those visa fees charging the customer, though small, are all adding up to big bucks. And the credit card company game is to stick higher fees to vendors, and enticing their customers with higher rewards back! Remember, its about a duopoloy, and they have to grow, and if volume doesn't change, then vendor fees must go up. And if the marketing departments are battling for customers with higher cash back, then the vendors take the hit.

And last time I checked, Leesburg utilities, wasn't a commercial company, but a government entity, with a fixed tax based budget. So convenience has a profit motivated free enterprise cost over free, who would have thunk it?

When you pay your property taxes online with a credit card, you pay a convenience FEE (not a tax, a fee) and it has been that way for many years. Last I checked, the counties are gov entities, not commercial companies. You have a choice, keep living in 1970 or pay a fee for the convenience of living in this century.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by shut the front door

When you pay your property taxes online with a credit card, you pay a convenience FEE (not a tax, a fee) and it has been that way for many years. Last I checked, the counties are gov entities, not commercial companies. You have a choice, keep living in 1970 or pay a fee for the convenience of living in this century.

I don't pay property taxes online, I send a bank check in because I am cheap, and the fee which is being requested by the county is the recovery of the credit card fee which the credit card company assesses the vendor using the service, and its anywhere from 2% to 7% of the charge, depending upon various factors. The fee being recovered by the county government originates from the commercial enterprise charging a fee for using their credit card services. it is not a tax, but a service fee for the type of payment.

Convenience is never free, everyone pays for it somehow. The really funny part is people are fine paying for the fee if its bundled into the price and they can't see it. If they see it, they get all tied up in their underwear about it. .

The government can't bundle the credit card service fee into the taxes, so it must be separate to recover the cost.

I did a financial analysis once for a building installation and service company, $2B in sales 15 years ago, 2,000,000 customers and buildings across the US and canada. They were reviewing their invoice design and billing process, and there were multiple invoice formats used. Looking at 30,000 invoice sample, the invoices with line item details took longer to receive payment from customers than single line item invoices. The average different was 2 days, regardless of the invoice total, large or small, didn't matter. When trying to collect $1B in cash, to pay suppliers and personnell, payment days matter. If people saw the individual expenses they had more time to think about the bill and to complain about the cost, which was in a signed contract anyway.

We started accepting credit cards for small jobs, <$20,000, and once the credit card fees starting piling up over $1M for us to pay the credit card companies, then we had to adjust the price and start nickel and diming everyone to cover those fees. Sometimes the fees were visible other times they were not. $1.0M in extra fees for credit cards was the equivalent of 10 peoples' salary back then, the equivalent cost of convenience. . . whose said credit cards shouldn't cost more because there isn't labor.

someone has to pay for that cash back you are getting, and it isn't free from the card company.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

I don't pay property taxes online, I send a bank check in because I am cheap, and the fee which is being requested by the county is the recovery of the credit card fee which the credit card company assesses the vendor using the service, and its anywhere from 2% to 7% of the charge, depending upon various factors. The fee being recovered by the county government originates from the commercial enterprise charging a fee for using their credit card services. it is not a tax, but a service fee for the type of payment.

Convenience is never free, everyone pays for it somehow. The really funny part is people are fine paying for the fee if its bundled into the price and they can't see it. If they see it, they get all tied up in their underwear about it. .

The government can't bundle the credit card service fee into the taxes, so it must be separate to recover the cost.

I did a financial analysis once for a building installation and service company, $2B in sales 15 years ago, 2,000,000 customers and buildings across the US and canada. They were reviewing their invoice design and billing process, and there were multiple invoice formats used. Looking at 30,000 invoice sample, the invoices with line item details took longer to receive payment from customers than single line item invoices. The average different was 2 days, regardless of the invoice total, large or small, didn't matter. When trying to collect $1B in cash, to pay suppliers and personnell, payment days matter. If people saw the individual expenses they had more time to think about the bill and to complain about the cost, which was in a signed contract anyway.

We started accepting credit cards for small jobs, <$20,000, and once the credit card fees starting piling up over $1M for us to pay the credit card companies, then we had to adjust the price and start nickel and diming everyone to cover those fees. Sometimes the fees were visible other times they were not. $1.0M in extra fees for credit cards was the equivalent of 10 peoples' salary back then, the equivalent cost of convenience. . . whose said credit cards shouldn't cost more because there isn't labor.

someone has to pay for that cash back you are getting, and it isn't free from the card company.

If a contractor or service technician comes to my house and performs work, I will pay a 3 percent or so fee to charge the work to a credit card. I do this to lock in the Federal credit card protection in the event that I need to call the company back to correct an error. To me, it is worth the credit card fee for peace of mind, and I also benefit from the credit card cash back policy. If I call them to come back and they blow me off, I can dispute the charge.

[Normal]

Man this place can be messed up when paying bills. I got on our Leesburg utility site Click2Gov Utility Billing Once you are on they have a number to call to set up autopay bank transferring. It can be work dealing with Leesburg.gov for our utilities; we already deal with Wildwood Home Page | Wildwood Florida for most other services. There should only be one city in charge of everything.

There should be more of an effort to just rename everything claimed by different cities The Villages? That’s the city listed by the US post office anyway.

[asianthree]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Pay with bank app, no fees directly into that business, unless it’s a person, then bank mail a check

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Reading the original post, I don't see an option to mail a paper check? If you are using a paper check, it looks like you need to deliver it in person. Maybe the OP can clarify.

Read my post…bank app directly to business, a person such as lawn service the bank mails a check.
Out of 16 accounts that is directly deposited into business account on the day a choose (such as Seco, TECO, or SSU) pay with zero fee through any three of my banks.

The only check is my home watch person, that is mailed 4 days before my request pay date. It arrives on the day to be posted. No fees from my bank or any business

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by asianthree

Read my post…bank app directly to business, a person such as lawn service the bank mails a check.
Out of 16 accounts that is directly deposited into business account on the day a choose (such as Seco, TECO, or SSU) pay with zero fee through any three of my banks.

The only check is my home watch person, that is mailed 4 days before my request pay date. It arrives on the day to be posted. No fees from my bank or any business

That is how I pay Leesburg Electric now. I transfer money directly from my bank account to Leesburg Electric. But the original post seems to indicate that it may now cost a one dollar fee to pay that way. It is an ACH transfer.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

If a contractor or service technician comes to my house and performs work, I will pay a 3 percent or so fee to charge the work to a credit card. I do this to lock in the Federal credit card protection in the event that I need to call the company back to correct an error. To me, it is worth the credit card fee for peace of mind, and I also benefit from the credit card cash back policy. If I call them to come back and they blo me off, I can dispute the charge.

I agree with this! Credit card fees are what they are, and if you want to use a credit card, great! Just pay the bill and move along, nothing to see here. That's what I do as well. In the last two months, I have had two auto renewals which I had wanted to cancel. Both times on the day of the renewal and the card charge, i wrote a quick email to the vendor and they cancelled the card charges and refunded the renewal fee. no problem, without having to go to disputes.

Credit cards are what I do everything with these days, so if someone wants to upcharge me for using it, fine, whatever, they want to keep a cash price advertised, to be as low as possible to get business in, and charge the credit card fee as a payment/exit fee to keep their cash price as advertised. . I can always pay cash if desired.

[OrangeBlossomBaby]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

If you have been paying your Leesburg utility bills by credit card, please note that Leesburg is now charging a service fee.

Starting March 1, 2024, the City of Leesburg will begin charging a transaction fee for all utility payments made by electronic means.

Electronic processing fees will be encountered by customers for the following transactions:

ACH/eCheck utility payments will have a $1.00 convenience fee
Credit/debit card utility payments will have a $3.50 convenience fee
Utility customers can avoid the fees by using the auto-pay option linked to a checking or savings account, paying in person at City Hall with cash or a paper check or paying with cash at AMSCOT locations.

Convenience fee is not what the credit card company charges to the utility company. It's an added bit of revenue. Credit card companies usually charge between .3 and .9% of the transaction price, and that amount is usually absorbed into the "cost of doing business." So for instance - a $100 electric company bill would cost the electric company +/- 30-90 cents to process with the credit card company. If they're charging $3.50 then they're charging you $2.50 penalty for not paying by check or in cash.

I wonder what their fee would be if everyone decided to pay in bitcoin.

[Pairadocs]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I cannot understand why they call it a "convenience" fee. Don't they know that it just makes people mad? I also hate when a company says "Thank you for your patience". Most people are not patient.

Much like the various ticket outlets on line and their horrendous "convenience" fees. That's a very accurate term for it because it IS very convenient for them, exactly like TV, internet, mobile, etc. providers; once they get all the federal and local taxes added, they continue the bill with various frivolous "fees" (delivery fee, didn't most of you think you were paying for "delivery" of the service you contracted for in the actual bill amount ? ) that are ALL very convenient, for someone, but certainly not convenient for the customer ! I often wonder if most people would be dumbfounded if they ever realized the true total percentage of taxes they pay. Most think of retail taxes on purchases, federal income taxes, and perhaps, gasoline taxes. But if individuals would keep track of every cent of taxes they pay in just 6 months, I think most would be absolutely shocked !

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Pairadocs

I often wonder if most people would be dumbfounded if they ever realized the true total percentage of taxes they pay. Most think of retail taxes on purchases, federal income taxes, and perhaps, gasoline taxes. But if individuals would keep track of every cent of taxes they pay in just 6 months, I think most would be absolutely shocked !

I know that flying is mostly taxes and fees. I just did a sample roundtrip fare Orlando to London. The cost is $650.50 but the price breakdown shows the flight to cost $101 and taxes and fees to be $549.50!!

I was stunned at the number so I did it on orbitz and kayak and got the same result!!!

Traveler 1: Adult
$650.50
Flight
$101.00

Taxes and fees
$549.50
Trip total
$650.50
Rates are quoted in US dollars

[Two Bills]

Originally Posted by Rainger99

I know that flying is mostly taxes and fees. I just did a sample roundtrip fare Orlando to London. The cost is $650.50 but the price breakdown shows the flight to cost $101 and taxes and fees to be $549.50!!

I was stunned at the number so I did it on orbitz and kayak and got the same result!!!

Traveler 1: Adult
$650.50
Flight
$101.00

Taxes and fees
$549.50
Trip total
$650.50
Rates are quoted in US dollars

Have you added seat reservation and baggage charge?
We sometimes pay more for a suitcase, than an adult fare on some short haul flights around Europe!

[Rainger99]

Originally Posted by Two Bills

Have you added seat reservation and baggage charge?
We sometimes pay more for a suitcase, than an adult fare on some short haul flights around Europe!

That did not include a baggage charge!

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

Convenience fee is not what the credit card company charges to the utility company. It's an added bit of revenue. Credit card companies usually charge between .3 and .9% of the transaction price, and that amount is usually absorbed into the "cost of doing business." So for instance - a $100 electric company bill would cost the electric company +/- 30-90 cents to process with the credit card company. If they're charging $3.50 then they're charging you $2.50 penalty for not paying by check or in cash.

I wonder what their fee would be if everyone decided to pay in bitcoin.

About 10 years ago a business I was involved with was charged approx 2% fees to be able to accept credit cards. I don't recall the exact breakdown so the fee to Mastercard itself might have been low but with transaction fees and network fees and others the total came to 2%.