Comments on: They Even Charged Me For The Stamp http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/ any technology distinguishable from magic is not sufficiently advanced Fri, 21 Nov 2008 04:54:09 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Rob Hyndman http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79691 Rob Hyndman Mon, 29 Oct 2007 15:50:44 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79691 That fee drives me bonkers. Oligopoly fee, AFAIC. That fee drives me bonkers. Oligopoly fee, AFAIC.

]]> By: Stuart MacDonald http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79690 Stuart MacDonald Mon, 29 Oct 2007 14:23:57 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79690 I agree with the irksome nature of charging for the stamp, Rob, but to your profession's credit it's not the worst of this type of thing - which is sad commentary. One that really bothers me, in the Toronto area at least, is the 407 ETR Toll Highway. Never mind charging for the stamp, they charge for the whole invoice, as well as a lovely "no transponder" fee. Using the thing for one exit will cost you around $5.90 - never mind that the fee for the service itself (that is the simple per KM cost of using the road) is at most $0.176/KM. That's - wait for it - the *definition* of highway robbery. Then, there are the "system access fees" that wireless providers charge in Canada. These are about $7/month and are for *nothing more than the cost of the carrier doing business*. People think that they are a tax, or Government fee or something. Nope. It's just revenue, carved out to make the sell price look lower. I could go on... I agree with the irksome nature of charging for the stamp, Rob, but to your profession’s credit it’s not the worst of this type of thing - which is sad commentary.

One that really bothers me, in the Toronto area at least, is the 407 ETR Toll Highway. Never mind charging for the stamp, they charge for the whole invoice, as well as a lovely “no transponder” fee. Using the thing for one exit will cost you around $5.90 - never mind that the fee for the service itself (that is the simple per KM cost of using the road) is at most $0.176/KM.

That’s - wait for it - the *definition* of highway robbery.

Then, there are the “system access fees” that wireless providers charge in Canada. These are about $7/month and are for *nothing more than the cost of the carrier doing business*. People think that they are a tax, or Government fee or something. Nope. It’s just revenue, carved out to make the sell price look lower.

I could go on…

]]> By: michael webste http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79688 michael webste Sun, 28 Oct 2007 21:24:09 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79688 Rob; Good for you. Too bad more clients don't demand our billing scheme. Clients pay enough money for legal services, they don't need to pay for the freight. Jason; Agree with you entirely. But few legal consumers look at it that way. Maybe I should start blogging about it more? Rob; Good for you. Too bad more clients don’t demand our billing scheme. Clients pay enough money for legal services, they don’t need to pay for the freight.

Jason; Agree with you entirely. But few legal consumers look at it that way. Maybe I should start blogging about it more?

]]> By: Jason Young http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79687 Jason Young Sun, 28 Oct 2007 19:04:12 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79687 I don't understand the *business* argument for billing for a stamp. It makes you look like you bill for work over value. What client wants that to pay for that proposition? I don’t understand the *business* argument for billing for a stamp. It makes you look like you bill for work over value. What client wants that to pay for that proposition?

]]> By: Rob Hyndman http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79675 Rob Hyndman Sun, 28 Oct 2007 00:19:39 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79675 I do the same thing, Michael. It seems the right thing to do. And clients really seem to hate being chanrged for operating overhead. I do the same thing, Michael. It seems the right thing to do. And clients really seem to hate being chanrged for operating overhead.

]]> By: michael webster http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79673 michael webster Sat, 27 Oct 2007 22:52:28 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79673 For the last seven years, I have only billed real third party bills as disbursments. No stamps, phone calls, faxes, photocopying -unless supported by invoice by Kinko's or the like, or anything else. Clients pay for my legal services and not my operating costs. The sad thing is that the Law Society allows this nonsense about billing for operating costs to continue. For the last seven years, I have only billed real third party bills as disbursments. No stamps, phone calls, faxes, photocopying -unless supported by invoice by Kinko’s or the like, or anything else. Clients pay for my legal services and not my operating costs.

The sad thing is that the Law Society allows this nonsense about billing for operating costs to continue.

]]> By: Jason Young http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79671 Jason Young Fri, 26 Oct 2007 22:13:43 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79671 Does it speak to greediness or poor marketing? I'm biased, but I think it's the latter. Does it speak to greediness or poor marketing? I’m biased, but I think it’s the latter.

]]> By: Student http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79670 Student Fri, 26 Oct 2007 20:27:59 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79670 As a law student, the recent flood of negative press and comments about my future profession is disheartening and concerning. :( As a law student, the recent flood of negative press and comments about my future profession is disheartening and concerning. :(

]]> By: seva http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79669 seva Fri, 26 Oct 2007 16:19:51 +0000 http://www.robhyndman.com/2007/10/26/they-even-charged-me-for-the-stamp/#comment-79669 alas, and sadly, I fully agree. Although $0.50/page photocopying is even worse. I heard of a client, plaintiff in a wrongful dismissal suit, telling his lawyer that he'd gladly go to Kinkos and do his own photocopying at $0.02/page and then bring the results back to the lawyer. alas, and sadly, I fully agree. Although $0.50/page photocopying is even worse. I heard of a client, plaintiff in a wrongful dismissal suit, telling his lawyer that he’d gladly go to Kinkos and do his own photocopying at $0.02/page and then bring the results back to the lawyer.

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