Well screw you, Internal Revenue Service

[GGT]

What's stupid is paying our bills via snail mail. You do that?

Yes, I'm one of those old fogies who still uses snail mail to pay my bills. I tried using e-pay, but didn't have very good results. My computer got hit by lightening and everything was fried. My printer also had some malfunctions, so having receipts and proof of payment wasn't as simple as it sounded. My area has a lot of power outages, and Comcast sucks anyway.

I've taken to paying some utility bills at POS. The water company is a grand and beautiful building, full of marble, high ceilings, brass ornaments, and water statues. Museum quality stuff. The customer service reps seem to enjoy seeing a real person paying with real cash. We talk a while.

Even my dentist agreed to give me a cash discount recently. Cash is King. Sorry to burst your e-bubble.

[EyeKhan]

Yes, I'm one of those old fogies who still uses snail mail to pay my bills. I tried using e-pay, but didn't have very good results. My computer got hit by lightening and everything was fried. My printer also had some malfunctions, so having receipts and proof of payment wasn't as simple as it sounded. My area has a lot of power outages, and Comcast sucks anyway.

I've taken to paying some utility bills at POS. The water company is a grand and beautiful building, full of marble, high ceilings, brass ornaments, and water statues. Museum quality stuff. The customer service reps seem to enjoy seeing a real person paying with real cash. We talk a while.

Even my dentist agreed to give me a cash discount recently. Cash is King. Sorry to burst your e-bubble.

[GGT]

What's the for? Are you posting that from your Blackberry while you wait in traffic?

[EyeKhan]

What's the for? Are you posting that from your Blackberry while you wait in traffic?

No, I'm procrastinating. I get into work early enough that I don't have to wait in traffic. And even if I did, I don't text and drive. You got the because you sound half crazy.

[GGT]

Everyone here knows I am half crazy. But at least I'm not a BOBO such as yourself.


So anyway. You're not the only one to procrastinate. Did you pack your lunch, or did the nanny do that for you? Or did you decide it's better to stimulate your local economy beyond hiring the nanny, by buying your lunch? Then did you have to choose between local vendors who offer a nice healthy meal, one that you could feel good about buying AND eating? Free range chicken in tarragon sauce. Up against farmed salmon with dill. Served with mescaline leaves drizzled in olive oil and fresh local herbs.

These things matter to a Bobo.

[Flixy]

Yes, I'm one of those old fogies who still uses snail mail to pay my bills. I tried using e-pay, but didn't have very good results. My computer got hit by lightening and everything was fried. My printer also had some malfunctions, so having receipts and proof of payment wasn't as simple as it sounded. My area has a lot of power outages, and Comcast sucks anyway.

I've taken to paying some utility bills at POS. The water company is a grand and beautiful building, full of marble, high ceilings, brass ornaments, and water statues. Museum quality stuff. The customer service reps seem to enjoy seeing a real person paying with real cash. We talk a while.

Even my dentist agreed to give me a cash discount recently. Cash is King. Sorry to burst your e-bubble.

Even if your computer is fried, your bank has records of your payments, since you paid. On paper it can be lost ,burnt, stolen, whatever

[EyeKhan]

Everyone here knows I am half crazy. But at least I'm not a BOBO such as yourself.


So anyway. You're not the only one to procrastinate. Did you pack your lunch, or did the nanny do that for you? Or did you decide it's better to stimulate your local economy beyond hiring the nanny, by buying your lunch? Then did you have to choose between local vendors who offer a nice healthy meal, one that you could feel good about buying AND eating? Free range chicken in tarragon sauce. Up against farmed salmon with dill. Served with mescaline leaves drizzled in olive oil and fresh local herbs.

These things matter to a Bobo.

Subway eat fresh. I eat the exact same thing every day. What's a BOBO?

[littlelolligagged]

Subway eat fresh. I eat the exact same thing every day. What's a BOBO?

Apparently it is Geegee's term for anyone who is successful and moderately concerned about the world around them.

[Wraith]

This thread has now gone crazy.

[EyeKhan]

Apparently it is Geegee's term for anyone who is successful and moderately concerned about the world around them.

Embrace moderation in all things and you'll live a long, happy, healthy life. (so long as the extremists don't get power! )

[littlelolligagged]

Embrace moderation in all things and you'll live a long, happy, healthy life. (so long as the extremists don't get power! )

The Tea Partiers are coming! The Tea Partiers are coming!

(eww, my Paul Revere imitation made me think of Tea Partiers sexing)

[termite]

I lollilol'd.

[EyeKhan]

The Tea Partiers are coming! The Tea Partiers are coming!

(eww, my Paul Revere imitation made me think of Tea Partiers sexing)

I love the logic too . . . .

Hey, the guys we elected to fix everthing the idiots fucked up arn't doing it fast enough, so lets put the idiots back in power!

[GGT]

Subway eat fresh. I eat the exact same thing every day. What's a BOBO?

Remember the David Brooks book we talked about a while ago? Basically it's a yuppie, bohemian bourgeois. Ever heard of boho?

Just some dry humor, messin' around with my boredom.

[EyeKhan]

Remember the David Brooks book we talked about a while ago? Basically it's a yuppie, bohemian bourgeois. Ever heard of boho?

Just some dry humor, messin' around with my boredom.

Never heard of it.

[Bitter Jeweler]

We talk a while.

Which is why I will BillPay online. Because you are taking too long!

Even my dentist agreed to give me a cash discount recently. Cash is King. Sorry to burst your e-bubble.

Cash is king if he puts it in his pocket, and skirts the tax system. Did you know many banks charge a fee for depositing cash into business accounts? I know! Right?!

[Timbuk2]

Don't you backward freaks have a monthly Direct Debit equivalent?

Can't remember the last time I paid any bill.

My gas, leccy, house and life and car insurances, water, council rates, ground rent, cellphone charges, landline charges, car payments, satellite tv, broadband and mortgage all get paid straight out of my account each month by Direct Debit.

Everything that requires regular payments in other words. I don't have to do a thing.

[littlelolligagged]

Well, I do, Bukkaroo. And I use them, because they make life so much easier.

[Flixy]

Don't you backward freaks have a monthly Direct Debit equivalent?

Can't remember the last time I paid any bill.

My gas, leccy, house and life and car insurances, water, council rates, ground rent, cellphone charges, landline charges, car payments, satellite tv, broadband and mortgage all get paid straight out of my account each month by Direct Debit.

Everything that requires regular payments in other words. I don't have to do a thing.

Yeah, I pay almost all my bills that way too. With the added benefit that if you ever have a dispute about payments, your bank can transfer the money back to you if you contest the payment, without any hassle (within two months).

[Hazir]

It's a bit stupid of them to mess up, but how hard is it to fold a form so that it fits and you can still read the address?

I will probably get a letter from our IRS asking me for money too. I should have to pay some taxes this year, but I never received a letter asking me to, while they have all my info. Next year I will almost certainly be getting money back from them, at which point they will probably ask me for this year's taxes, which is fine by me. Of course, if they forget to ask for 5 years, I think they can't ask for it anymore

Provided they had all relevant information, which is a bit tricky. Because your lacking filing may or may not be considered relevant information. I suppose you know the general rule; if you have more than one source of income, own a house or lease a car through your employer you are obliged to file. Even if they have granted you filing-free status beforehand.

[Hazir]

Even if your computer is fried, your bank has records of your payments, since you paid. On paper it can be lost ,burnt, stolen, whatever

I really wouldn't see any reason why to pay by 'mail'. To me it seems you have even less proof than by e-means. It's hard to contest a record in the bank's system, it's way easier to claim a cheque was never sent/recieved.

[Flixy]

Provided they had all relevant information, which is a bit tricky. Because your lacking filing may or may not be considered relevant information. I suppose you know the general rule; if you have more than one source of income, own a house or lease a car through your employer you are obliged to file. Even if they have granted you filing-free status beforehand.

They have all relevant information (all my income anyway), they only did not know my studying expenses. They do know all my income. By the way, I did not know that general rule to be honest, I'm a student, I've never had to pay income tax and almost none of my friends have to, I know practically nothing about taxes.

[']['ear]

What's the for? Are you posting that from your Blackberry while you wait in traffic?

Heh, I LOLed.

Don't you backward freaks have a monthly Direct Debit equivalent?

Can't remember the last time I paid any bill.

My gas, leccy, house and life and car insurances, water, council rates, ground rent, cellphone charges, landline charges, car payments, satellite tv, broadband and mortgage all get paid straight out of my account each month by Direct Debit.

Everything that requires regular payments in other words. I don't have to do a thing.

Well, I sign off on everything monthly. I like to be in the loop, ever since that grad school event where housemates wrote me a check for the rent, and the bank debited rather than credited to me. About an $800 swing for a guy who pretty much lived hand to mouth. Now I could afford the hit, but I like to see everything and balance the checkbook. It doesn't take much time, and I am in good touch with my finances.

[Hazir]

When will you Americans ever understand that when you use the word 'checkbook', you're talking about a concept that a lot of our EU posters don't even have first hand experience with? Checkbooks are as often used in Europe as those cranks we used to have to start a car.

[Nessus]

The only checks I've seen were from the 1940s or 1950s. I used to collect old money as a kid!

[Illusions]

When will you Americans ever understand that when you use the word 'checkbook', you're talking about a concept that a lot of our EU posters don't even have first hand experience with?

When someone points it out to us, since we don't live in Europe or have direct experience with the daily lives of Europeans. I'd have to say acting superior about knowing this is pretty asinine though...if you're not my apologies.

[EyeKhan]

So how do you pay bills? Well, how DID you pay bills back in the '90s, before e-payments? Would you send cash in the mail??? Or did you pay your electric or phone bill in person???

[Flixy]

Wire the money to their bank account. Never sent cash, checks, or anything in the mail.

[EyeKhan]

Wire the money to their bank account. Never sent cash, checks, or anything in the mail.

You've never sent a handwritten letter to anyone?

[Hazir]

You've never sent a handwritten letter to anyone?

Direct debit has been around for as long as I can remember. The alternative was a bill with a money order provided by the creditor. Very often all those needed were your signature, you'd either drop them off at the bank or mail them in. They are still around but being phased out as well. I think I haven't used a physical money order for the last 10 years. Only old people still use them. I must have said several times that I haven't touched a cheque since I was in University long long time ago.