Billing

[tjar]

This is the second time I have to go through this with Comcast, and I'm about to check out AT@T.  Initially I signed up for automatic payments billed to my credit card.  They had all the correct info, but did not bill my card.  I was not aware until my service was cut off.  When I made the phone call to see what the problem was, they tried to make me pay for all the service interruptions and reconnection fees.  It took forever on the phone, but finally it was resolved.  Until NOW.  The exact same thing just happened again.  2 months my card wasn't billed, and my service was cut again.  Can't wait to fight this one out....

[MissyLaneous]

You can always login to your Comcast account to check when your payments are posted.  There's also the "alert" feature that sends an email (or text, I think) to notify one when a payment has been made and ALSO when it's posted.

Personally, I would never - EVER - allow any business to do automatic payments.

1.  It takes absolute a-g-e-s to stop it.  It's the business (e.g. Comcast) who has to put through the 'stop', not banks.

2.  If and when there are rate increases or changes to monthly fees, they go right through.  For folks on a tight budget who aren't expecting the increase, it can be a shock.  Also, if you're using a checking account or debit card, there are extrea fees if one becomes overdrawn or over the credit limit.

It's your decision, but I would think long and hard about automatic bill payments.

[tjar]

Thanks for responding MissyLaneous.  I don't have a problem with automatic payments, only because I always bill them to my credit card (one that is fully protected and will refund and/or fight charges not approved).  I have a few bills that I handle this way so that I don't have to keep track of a million little ones every month.  Isn't that the whole point for Comcast to automatically bill?  To save time?  Convenience?  Well, it certainly isn't the case here, that's for sure.  But I can certainly see why many auto options are a bad idea.  I guess my biggest problem is that Comcast never bothered to let me know of any of this while it was happening.  They just cut off service, and now I have to go through the whole process again.  No alerts, no texts, no emails.  It doesn't make sense.  Wouldn't they want to keep me as a customer (a paying one) rather than let it go until they cut off my account?  We'll see what happens today when they open.  Thanks again for taking the time to respond.

[Queen-Evie]

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tjar wrote:

 They had all the correct info, but did not bill my card.  I was not aware until my service was cut off.   

The exact same thing just happened again.  2 months my card wasn't billed, and my service was cut again.  Can't wait to fight this one out....

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This is actually a very common complaint about auto pay here in the forum. For whatever reason Comcast does not submit the bill for payment.

Like you, some people are not aware that the bill was not paid until service is disconnected for non-payment.

Others find out quickly because they monitor their credit card/bank transactions. I don't want to seem like I am pouring salt into a wound but it is up to you to keep track of transactions. Doing so would have allowed you to find out the bill had not been paid. You then could have taken care of it in a timely manner.

I do not use auto pay for anything. However, I do know that it should work flawlessly. With Comcast it doesn't always work and the customer gets blamed for a Comcast mistake.  

[tjar]

I totally get your point.  But isn't the whole purpose for automatic billing to save time?  If I have to track my auto bills, then I may as well just pay them myself.  And Comcast never sent me an alert, text, or email about it.  I think I'm just taking it off auto payment and maybe taking a look at AT&T.  Haven't heard great things about them either, though.  Thanks for responding.  I appreciate it.

[Queen-Evie]

You have to sign up for alerts.

Sign in to Customer Central as the PRIMARY Comcast user account.

Users & Settings tab.

Click View alert preferences, then click Edit.

Check the alerts you want to receive.  Click the ? mark next to each one for info on that choice.

Click Save Changes.

Save the emails. If the bill was not submitted for payment you will have proof that Comcast intended to submit if you have Payment Reminder checked.

[MissyLaneous]

Again, it's your choice but I really like the one-time payment option for Comcast and other bills.  It really doesn't take that long, and I retain control and know that I've paid the bill.  Knock on wood, but I've always received my email alerts of payments posted.

My elderly parents had autopay for everything.  Big mistake:  AT&T constantly did double autopayments, plus there's the problem(s) of getting it stopped.  One company's computer system had a hiccup and parents' autopayments were credited to another account:  people in their mid-80s have fits when they get a late payment charge because of an autopay hiccup, lol.

Again, it's up to you but I don't want any business having their grubby fingers in my bank account ad hoc.

[tjar]

You've got a point there.  Don't want to end up with tons of charges.  I finally got a hold of a live agent a few minutes ago, and we got it figured out.  No additional charges, thank goodness.  Taking off the auto payment, and just paying online every month.  Not worth the hassle every few months.  Thanks again for the advice!

[sweetsigns]

The problem is that it takes the automated system two months before they start deducting even though when you check on line it says your payment will be automatically deducted in that month.  They *do* send you an email letting you know that you will need to make a manual payment, BUT if you do it as a one time payment online it sets you back to the two months before it starts.  I am now, 5 months into trying to change my bank account and end up with no less than a one hour phone call every month to get the late charges off and make the payment.

[BruceW]

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sweetsigns wrote: ... BUT if you do it as a one time payment online it sets you back to the two months before it starts. ...

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Really?  Hard to imagine why they'd set it up that way . . .

[sweetsigns]

seems the system reads it as a change in your payment preferences.  And any time you make a change it takes two months to get back on.

[meandcootie]

I have the same problem- except I always get the notice in the mail for being late WITH an added $8 late fee. I have auto bill pay set up yet they never charge it- I have called twice and they are supposed to fix it- and the same thing happens next month. Then when I go to pay it I get the message I have auto bill pay set up for this account!!! I think it is so they can get an extra $8 every month...I use the SAME card to pay it that auto pay is set up for!