Way back in the Dark Ages – that’d be 2002 – I began handling my New Jersey motor vehicle registration renewals online. I won’t bore you with the details, but it actually took a tiny bit of the sting out of the exorbitant fees we’re charged here, being able to handle it with a few clicks of the mouse. Once I Started doing it this way I never looked back. Multiply the number of years by the number of vehicles (like everyone else in this oh-so-dense state I’ve got several) and, well, that’s quite a few successful transactions.<\/p>\n
And at the conclusion of each was an opportunity to participate in a little survey. In the comment box I always applauded the state for taking this tiny step toward making the process a little easier for us poor slobs – er, citizens.<\/p>\n
In yesterdays mail was a notice that a registration was soon due for renewal. And today as I was clearing the desk I began the task. But something stopped me in my tracks.<\/p>\n
They had tacked on a $2 Convenience Fee!<\/p>\n
Sure, it’s only two bucks. Change, really, you can’t even get a decent cup of coffee for two bucks these days, but it’s the principle of the thing. I checked their FAQ. It was easy enough to find. The couple of lines explained that they were passing along the fee for processing a credit card payment, and the state saw none of it.<\/p>\n
I’m sorry, but that’s just too bad! In the course of running my business I also process credit cards. It certainly is more expensive for me to process a customer’s credit card payment, but I treat it as a cost of doing business and I never discriminate against credit card users.<\/p>\n
Needless to say, I abandoned the registration transaction. I put a note in the calendar and the papers (along with the envelope I fished from the recycling bin) in the folder for payment closer to the due date. There’s absolutely no sense in paying them early, now! And then, freshly disgruntled, I wrote\u00c2\u00a0and told them exactly what I thought of their Convenience Fee.<\/p>\n
I’m not expecting a reply.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Way back in the Dark Ages – that’d be 2002 – I began handling my New Jersey motor vehicle registration renewals online. I won’t bore you with the details, but it actually took a tiny bit of the sting out of the exorbitant fees we’re charged here, being able to handle it with a few … Continue reading “Convenience” Fees<\/span>