<VV> Scams are fun but don't send ANY $$$ ! (No Corvair)

[airvair at earthlink.net]

Been there, done that. What I found out is that IF there is any problem that comes up, direct payments are a HUGE PITA. to deal with. Problems can range from billing disputes to having to change accounts. Trust me, I speak from experience when I say that direct payments are to be avoided if at all possible. Convenient, sure. But it can be a big headache.

-Mark


----- Original Message ----- 
From: FrankCB 
To: airvair at earthlink.net;Ian Harding
Cc: virtualvairs at corvair.org; Marc Marcoulides
Sent: 2/3/2010 3:26:18 PM 
Subject: Re: Scams are fun but don't send ANY $$$ ! (No Corvair)


     Good point, Mark.  What you can do for recurring bills (like utility electricity, gas or oil etc.) is to directly authorize the company to deduct the amount due from your bank account on the day it's due.  This eliminates your sending them checks as well as buying stamps and keeps your check numbers out of the public eye.  You might limit this to companies where you are unlikely to change your service like the electric company (unless you're going "off the grid") and the natural gas company (unless you're going to geothermal heating and cooling).  The utility will send you a bill that shows your consumption just as usual, but with the statement to NOT pay by check and that they are instead deducting the amount owed them directly from your bank account.
     This is also very handy if you live alone and are away from home for extended periods with nobody checking your mail and paying your bills.
Frank Burkhard   

In a message dated 02/03/10 12:27:22 Eastern Standard Time, airvair at earthlink.net writes:
Show you just how lax they are in handling checks, I once got two bill 
payment checks crossed in the payment envelopes. Both were similar (though 
several dollars difference) amounts. The company that received the low 
amount sent the check back, and I had to write another check for the proper 
amount. The company that received the high amount CASHED the check, and 
credited me with the overage. Just how one company can cash a check made 
out to another totally different company amazes me to this day. You KNOW 
you or I could never get away with a similar stunt. 

Bottom line: checks are more hazardous than most people realize. 

-Mark