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What Inept Billing Software Have You Encountered?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the you'd-think-they'd-be-smarter-than-this dept.

Chris asks: "I am a Sprint customer signed up for automatic payments, and over the past week I've found that Sprint has a computer system that does three ridiculously inept things from a programmers standpoint. First, they send a 'Do not send payment...this amount will be charged' bill then a 'Disconnection Imminent' notice for the same amount, within a week of each other. When customer service is called about this, everything appears fine to the customer service rep, and they assure the client that everything is fine. Finally, the computer system shuts down the customer's cell phone for lack of payment, even if the customer has a credit card on file and has given Sprint authorization to use it. What's the worst experience Slashdot users have found with billing systems that don't make any sense?"

5 of 219 comments (clear)

  1. Don't blame the computer... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    ...just because some idiot manager made decisions that someone else wrote into software. Blame the company.

    And by the way, have you ever tried to write a phone billing system? There's a lot more to it than meets the eye.

    1. Re:Don't blame the computer... by c0d3h4x0r · · Score: 2, Insightful

      And by the way, have you ever tried to write a phone billing system? There's a lot more to it than meets the eye.

      Were you a business strategist for Microsoft?

      Just because something is difficult, that's no excuse for not getting it right before unleashing it upon the world.

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      Moderator hint: a comment is neither "Flamebait" nor "Troll" if it is true.
  2. Some places just make it hard to give them money by Qzukk · · Score: 3, Insightful

    What do you think they make more money from, you paying your bill on time, or you paying your bill plus a reconnection fee?

    Take a look at credit card company websites, if you're paying online, both of the ones I've used make you jump through extra hoops to reschedule your payment to transfer now instead of at the last second before the due date (that many more days of interest, plus the chance that something goes wrong at the last second, and bam! Late fees!).

    --
    If I have been able to see further than others, it is because I bought a pair of binoculars.
  3. Re:No charge.. by gfxguy · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Nice story. Why on earth would they have to divide anything by the amount paid? Sounds like urban legend to me.

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    Stupid sexy Flanders.
  4. Hands down... by mstyne · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Modernbill is most definitely the worst billing software out there. I'm amazed at the amount of people who use it.

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    mstyne: real name, no gimmicks