Terrible!
Posted on September 22, 2005 12 Comments
I made a stupid mistake. A regrettable, unfortunate error that could have big consequences and blemish my credit report: I forgot to pay last month’s cable bill. The reasons are plently – I’ve been on the road, I’ve been working really late, I was busy sending supplies to Lousiana instead of watching the calendar, etc. The bottom line: I’ve been irresponsible.
Planning to toss a new check in the mail after work today, I had a minor panic attack when Brian called to tell me our cable and Internet service was cut off this morning. I rushed to the phone line, debit card in hand, ready to plead with the Comcast operator NOT to let this affect my credit – I’ve been foolish, I’ve been stupid…baby, take me back…I love you, just don’t hurt me.
Turns out we simply had a service outage. The company did not, in fact, turn off my cable. Nonetheless, I made my 2 month payment right away over the phone. No word yet on whether they’ll report me to the credit bureau.
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12 Responses to “Terrible!”
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September 22nd, 2005 @ 4:54 pm
Who do you see more: You boss or your family? Discover mangosteen and spend more time with your family!
September 22nd, 2005 @ 5:12 pm
You will find that your cable bill is not reported to the credit bureau UNTIL that account is closed and collections takes over an UNPAID bill.
So you are fine.
September 22nd, 2005 @ 5:44 pm
I wouldn’t worry about it too much. The utilities companies are much more lenient when it comes to late payments. Heck this month my Express bill never came and I realized I never paid it for the month. I simply called then and explained the situation, and they extended my deadline.
September 22nd, 2005 @ 8:42 pm
I love it! Another financial blog that acutally admits mistakes! It seems like all the personal finance blogs out there write with total authority, as if they’re this month’s best selling self-help author.
I’ve added your blog to my news reader and linked to it on my site’s Web’s Best Blogs section.
I’ll read you tomorrow!
September 22nd, 2005 @ 10:27 pm
I pay all of my utility bills and set payments via online checking. My bank allows me to set up the payments to recur every month. That way, in any particular month, if I happen to be too busy, flaky, out of the country, whatever, my bills still get paid. You can even set it up for a particular day of the month to be paid. I don’t think I’ve had a late payment since.
September 23rd, 2005 @ 9:36 am
Hey! you’re absolutely fine – i’ve actually faced that situation, and even past the collections agency notice ( i was out of the country at the time) my credit report was ok – because i paid up within 10 days of receving the collections agency note in the mail. however, i believe most companies let you set up online billing – or at least let you pay online, so that your pmt reaches them faster…so that might be something you want to consider..(i have insight, and they let me pay online.)
September 23rd, 2005 @ 8:31 pm
Do you really need cable?
Cable causes people to sit on their asses even more than they do now.
I do not have cable. I turn on the tv, and usually there is nothing on, so I get bored, thus I get up and do something productive.
-CP-
September 24th, 2005 @ 5:49 pm
Thanks for helping me out, all. I appreciate your words of wisdom.
N
September 25th, 2005 @ 5:03 pm
Don’t worry, the Cable company won’t report you until you are at least 90 days late on your payments. I’ve missed payments before too when I never got the bill. They may not even tack on any fees for a couple days.
September 27th, 2005 @ 5:17 pm
Pay a missed bill as soon as you get it.
Sometimes it takes 30 days for them to report it.
Money And Investing
October 3rd, 2005 @ 1:50 am
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October 4th, 2005 @ 5:31 am
i pay my electricity and cable bill every 2-3 months when they send me a pink notice saying they’re going to cut me off. its not that I don’t want to or can’t afford to, its that between 2 credit card bills and 8 mortgages I just forget. Plus Allstate keeps mailing me poicies of my insurance on the homes i own for no reason and its driving me insane!
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