BILLS -- HIDING THE PAST DUE AMOUNT

Since the recession, many of us are a little behind on our bills. Some of us were ALWAYS behind on our bills. Delay in bill paying even has a physiological diagnosis -- bill paying anxiety.

Lately, it seems to be a new policy to have the phone computer tell the customer only the total amount due, not the past due amount. The theory seems to be that, if you do not know the past due amount, you will pay the total amount due. Instead of doing what the companies want, customers just wait to talk to (or yell at) a customer service representative.

Additionally, the extra hassle makes the customer less likely to be eager to call and pay the bill.

I know, you think I am totally weird, because I do not pay my bills on line.

I do not pay my bills on line, because I know how the internet works. You can protect your own computer, and the company can protect the data on its computer, but the information going from your computer to the company's computer is totally unprotected. Companies could provide an encryption so that the data going to and fro is protected, but they do not.

When I pay bills by making a phone call, the company can store my phone number. I notice that many companies add an extra layer of identity questions if I use an unusual phone to pay a bill.

It should be as easy as possible to pay a bill. It should be just as easy to pay the past due amount as the full amount. Playing games with necessary information just angers the customer and delays the paying of any amount of money to the company.