More Companies Charging to Receive Paper Bills

It used to be companies would send you a bill in the mail each month....then you would send them a check by mail. Simple. And it would cost you just the price of a stamp.

But watch out: As more and more companies try to get away from that expense...they're starting to charge you for charging you by mail!

One Woman is Furious

Belinda James loves her T-Mobile cell phone service. But she's outraged that T-Mobile informed her she'll have to pay if she wants to keep receiving paper bills.

Belinda tells me "I opened my T-Mobile bill....and noticed it said that beginning September 2009 they would charge $1.50 a month for a paper bill."

She couldn't believe it. But she learned the only way to avoid it is by electronic billing. Belinda says "if I don't want to pay, I could sign up for a paperless bill for my account. But I don't want to do that."

Belinda doesn't want an e-bill, because she says her email always has problems, locks up, and she worries the bills may get lost in her junk mail.

Hot New Trend

But get used to it: More and more companies are trying to cut their mailing costs. 

• Sprint also wants customers to convert, offering a $5 credit to sign up for e-bills.
• And its not just cell phones: State Farm Insurance now charges $3 for a monthly payment plan with a paper reminder each month, to its customers on monthly billing.

But Belinda still doesn't understand it. She asks "why should we have to pay a fee to receive a bill? They're going to receive their money...But an additional $1.50 for a paper bill?"

Is There Anything You Can Do?

Good news for Belinda: T Mobile is now delaying and rethinking its plan to charge for bills, after many similar complaints...and threats of a Class Action suit. So T Mobile customers will not have to pay this $1.50 after all.

My advice? if your company starts charging for bills, complain! But dont switch companies over this: the next one will probably do it too.

As always. don't waste your money. I'm John Matarese.