There's a Fee for EVERYthing!

These days, it doesn't seem like enough that the basic cost of living is forever going up — just for basic services — but companies are increasingly instituting fees for the basics of their business.

It's getting to a point where it's starting to annoy me! I mean, come on, everything already too expensive to begin with.

For example, my neighborhood association pretty much insists that I pay their quarterly fees online, using a debit card or e-check as payment.

But guess what?

When I go to make the payment, I get assessed a "convenience fee" for doing so! So it pretty much works out that I have to pay a fee for the "privilege" of paying for a service I pretty much have to pay for... or my water gets shut off!

What's ironic about it all is that there's a drop box on the side of the building that houses the Association office, and there's a message taped over the opening stating to not drop the the payment here, they must be mailed to an address in Dallas, which happens to be clear across the country.

So, to get payment to an entity I drive past virtually every day, I have to mail a check to an address 2,200 miles (3500 km) away... so the money can go into their account at a local bank four miles away?

Meanwhile, my bank recently announced that there will be a fee to count cash above a certain amount!

So if I come in to make a $2,000 deposit with $20 bills, I will get charged $1.50 per thousand dollars for the bank to do their basic business?

Last I checked, "handling money" is what a bank does, right?

There are several other examples I have come across, over the past six months, but I won't bore you with the details.

Perhaps what annoys me the most about this whole circus is that most of these businesses do not have an option that doesn't cost a fee to use.

The cable company — which provides the high speed Internet around here — only accepts online payments, and there is always a fee for paying your bill! Which is about as annoying as can be.

Well, actually there is one "no-fee" option... which is to pre-pay a full year ahead! Who the hell can afford that, at current prices???

Sadly, the first couple of weeks of the new year have been more frustrating than anything... perhaps a reflection of the fact that so many of us can ill afford to even be alive, anymore.

Most recently, a massive increase in health insurance premiums, thanks to the current government changes.

Not sure what to do, anymore...

Thanks for stopping by, and have a great remainder of your week!

How about YOU? Are there a lot of extra fees for basic services, where you live? Leave a comment if you feel so inclined — share your experiences — be part of the conversation!

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Created at 2026.01.13 23:58 PST
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