Last week I popped into the Optus store during a late-night-shopping session to organise SIM cards for my children’s tablets. I was doing this so they can stay connected during long drives.
DECLINED!
When I asked why I would be rejected for an extra $30 charge per month on my already exorbitant phone bill, I was told it’s because I had failed to pay my phone bill on time, “one too many times”.
Okay, so sometimes I pay it a week after the due date, sometimes I pay it a few weeks after the due date, but I always pay it. I’ve never been disconnected.
So why the harsh treatment?
It turns out, if you’re late paying your phone, electricity or water bill, it will be noted down on a big scary system that all potential creditors can access. The system helps them decide whether you are financially responsible or not.
The change came into force in March of 2014 and well, I sort of forgot about it.
MM Confessions: The fashion items we’ve blown too much money on.
Yes, that”s right. I forgot about it and I continued my usual semi-organised financial habit whereby I stick to a strict budget 80% of the time, sometimes forgetting to pay bills for a couple of weeks only to be reminded by a scary phone call or a scary letter.
Grown ups just can’t function like this anymore.
It’s never been more important to PAY YOUR BILLS ON TIME, than it is now, for the following reasons:
Top Comments
It still baffles me why we listen to Jo for financial advise. Someone who has gone bankrupt, doesn't pay bills on time etc.
MM could we have anyone else who manages money in a way that helps us?!
And what do you do when trying to work
with someone who seemingly never worked out how to be financially responsible and now, later in life, is in a position where they need to be or risk bankruptcy. But it's "offensive" to suggest they don't know how to adult. They already have the mortgage and the kids have gone through school and are earning their own money, but the person is in serious debt, borrowing money from their parents and children, constantly cant pay bills, and refusing to get MyBudget style help with them because it might mean they cant get a loan for 5 years but they wont actually do the research to find out for sure. What, pray tell, does one do!?
All good in theory but a person has to be in over $17,000 in debt (or something like that, don't quote me on that one but it's quite high); as 'MyBudget' won't take you on otherwise. However I fail to have faith in a business that charges you (and quite a lot) to organise your debts, string out paying them (to keep your business) and keep creditors at bay. It's a bit of a 'misnomer' really. When a person finally realised themselves that they 'have' to do it on their own or sink is quite daunting. Especially if they have children to look after.