OT: NY Times article "Your Money - Automated Bill Payments Are a Cinch (Not So Fast) "

"Andrew" wrote in news:48bc587a$0$7349$ snipped-for-privacy@cv.net:

Han, I wonder if you thought I had some ulterior motive in posting the article? I too have $ deducted from my checking account from a major utility; I posted this as an fyi link to an interesting article. Maybe I misread the tone of your first sentence?

"Andrew" wrote in news:48bc8465$0$20946$ snipped-for-privacy@cv.net:

Sorry, I did not think you had any ulterior motives. I had read the NYT article before and was miffed by the emphasis on negative experiences in it (I subscribe to the weekday edition of the NYT).

I think we have all had negative experiences, whether because of our own mistakes or the mistakes of companies that we entrusted with privileges. My rant above was to convey that IMNSHO the advantages of automagical withdrawals far outweigh the negatives of mistakes made by the utilities/CC companies, etc.

I concur.

[Like you, I also never thought that Andrew had any ulterior motive. I had intended to make some comments of my own about the article, but looking back, I don't think they're all that important]

Thanks John and Han - never want to tick either you of off too often! Maybe I'm paranoid - but just because you are doesn't mean they're NOT out to get you!

"Andrew" wrote in news:48bc8b5e$0$20928$ snipped-for-privacy@cv.net:

I have those episodes of near paranoia too, Andrew. Thankfully far fewer now I'm older. As far as ticking me off - I have grown children and their spouses ... And I love all 4 of them, as well as their daughters and son!

Your advice on Verizon is well taken. After switching to Verizon FiOS earlier this summer, I have been watching it carefully. The only problem I have had was when I switched my Verizon billing from the Quicken Citibank credit card (which switched from Citibank to Chase at the same time) to American Express. I kept getting emails from Verizon that they had tried to debit my Quicken Credit Card (Citibank) but it had been refused. I finally solved it with a telephone call but it was unecessarily messy.