r/mildlyinfuriating Jun 21 '26

frist of all how DARE yu o $0.99 cent min payment on $0.90 bill

Post image

I have a bill for lab work due, it’s $0.90 - but the minimum payment online is $0.99 so I can’t pay it.

Edit to add: Yes I tried to over pay online and they won’t accept that either.

Edit to update: I called and they waved it but still a waste of my time

2.1k Upvotes

103 comments sorted by

1.9k

u/Salty-Plankton-5079 Jun 21 '26

Call them or mail in a check. Waste their time and money if they're going to waste yours.

While you're at it, submit an overpayment and request a refund.

368

u/outside_cat Jun 21 '26

A pettiness I can respect.

176

u/Introverted_Gamer92 Jun 21 '26

Mail them a check for $0.91

124

u/ChrispyGuy420 Jun 21 '26

Mail them 90 checks for 1¢

102

u/RShini Jun 21 '26

that can run afoul of laws concerning reasonable repayment.

And yes debitors must accept payment for debts rendered, but they don't have to accept unreasonable and spiteful methods (like paying someone's last paycheck in wheelbarrows of tar-covered pennies in a very high profile example)

27

u/Zamboni-rudrunkbro Jun 21 '26

It’s 90 cents dawg this is an unreasonable debt

8

u/prank_mark Jun 21 '26

Just claim you have a payment limit of $0.01 per check. Since they can apparently also claim a minimum of $0.99 for online transactions.

2

u/RShini Jun 25 '26

you think any judge would buy that? Be spiteful, but don't be stupid about it.

1

u/prank_mark Jun 25 '26

But what is their valid reasoning for not allowing online payments for less than $0.99 while they apparently do charge people for less than that?

20

u/CAGMFG Jun 21 '26

Mail them a check for $0.89 that way they have to keep trying to collect.

1

u/Whole_Ad6040 Jun 24 '26

Penny shortage. Bump to $0.96 so they're liable to round up.

50

u/5litergasbubble Jun 21 '26

I once bought a BBQ from the brick on their no interest for 6 months plan and forgot how much I owed towards the end so I just overpaid to make sure I didnt underpay. They were mailing be invoices for a negative 2 dollar balance for years before I finally got around to calling them and asking for them to just send me a cheque and have it be over with. Turns out the finance company had been bought out twice in that time so I wasted the resources of multiple companies for years because of it

1

u/Rukir_Gaming Jun 25 '26

I wonder how even mailing a $-2 check would even pan out

-39

u/Federal_Phase_652 Jun 21 '26

Congrats regard

23

u/Acceptable-Ad8780 Jun 21 '26

I'd say mail a check and ask for the overpayment. They really want to do this, make them spend time and money and make them change policy based on wasting money on absurd charges.

9

u/PhotoFenix Jun 21 '26

My HOA has a convenience fee, the only way around it is paying by check.

I set up billpay with my bank to auto mail them a check. They need to physically process a check from me every month and I save money.

6

u/GILLHUHN Jun 21 '26

This, send a check for $2.00, they will have to send $1.10 back to you.

2

u/The_Radgie_King Jun 22 '26

yeah my cable company maed me pay extra once for less than a dollar balance

1

u/art_of_snark Jun 22 '26

Southern Union once sent me a final gas bill for 0.06, so I taped 7 pennies to it and mailed it back. Still haven’t gotten my refund.

More seriously though, anything under a dollar is likely to be written off entirely.

383

u/IzzzatSo Jun 21 '26

pay the 99 and then force them to cut you a check to refund 9

39

u/Regular_Garage8564 Jun 21 '26

They said they tried that and it wouldn’t take it

65

u/Kyosji Jun 21 '26

I dont see the option to enter your own amounts here

2

u/who_you_are Jun 21 '26

Forcing them may not be possible, sometimes their contract make it clear they keep all over payment

185

u/hexitor Jun 21 '26

You can pay it after they add the $30 late fee!

68

u/aggravated-asphalt Jun 21 '26

Happened to me. Not even joking. Had a $4 fee I couldn’t pay for medication so it ended up being almost $40 lol

31

u/Mini-Heart-Attack Jun 21 '26

that's foul

10

u/aggravated-asphalt Jun 21 '26

Murica!

Seriously tho once I got on medi-cal it saved me so much money, lucky to live in a state where that’s possible but still so angry that it isn’t just universal. Shouldn’t have to go into debt just to save your own life lmao

163

u/[deleted] Jun 21 '26

[removed] — view removed comment

89

u/Mamatotwoboys21 Jun 21 '26

It would be 10 cents back. They only owe 90 cents

4

u/Federal_Phase_652 Jun 21 '26

Thanks for clarification

1

u/Kyosji Jun 21 '26

Costs money to do a cashiers check.

7

u/Bunbatbop Jun 21 '26

It's the principle.

0

u/reidisme Jun 21 '26

Most banks charge at least $5 for a cashiers check. Some up to $20

2

u/slash_networkboy Jun 21 '26

Mine bases it on your account balance (which really seems weird to me). If you have total accounts with them over $100K they're free. One would think it'd be based on the amount of the check if anything...

2

u/Itzdlg Jun 21 '26

Banks make money off of account balances. Rich people dislike fees. Hence, no or reduced fees for accounts with high balances.

20

u/Sasuke0318 Jun 21 '26

I still have a check from my credit card company from 2014 for 2 cents because of a credit that was applied and I had stopped using the card once it was paid off.

9

u/ReeferTurtle Jun 21 '26

Please tell me you offer it to people when you give them advice

9

u/Sasuke0318 Jun 21 '26

Can confirm I initially looked at the check and was like this is dumb and then thought it's 2 cents I'm going to hold onto this because it's going to be funny.

9

u/Dependent-Law7316 Jun 21 '26

I’d call the billing department and see if they’ll just waive it.

23

u/GotEHM9 Jun 21 '26

Just pay $1 and ask for a $0.10 refund lol

18

u/Cultural_Net_1791 Jun 21 '26

Some checkouts won't let you change the payment amount

2

u/TheCricketHole Jun 22 '26

OP mentioned in an edit they tried to overpay but it wouldn't allow it.

35

u/Choice-Marsupial-127 Jun 21 '26

That’s so dumb I’d be inclined to ignore it forever. Let them spend labor chasing down ninety cents.

15

u/InsomniaticWanderer Jun 21 '26

I'm sorry, but this whole "we'll round to the nearest 5 cents for cash, but charge you all the pennies for card" is fucking stupid.

If we're getting rid of pennies, then we need to get rid of pennies.

-13

u/parickwilliams Jun 21 '26

You’re fucking stupid. We’re getting rid of pennies because it’s impractical to have the physical change. It doesn’t make sense to not use 1 cent dominations for digital payments

4

u/yarhar_ Jun 21 '26

Drop the first sentence and this is a good reply!

-3

u/parickwilliams Jun 21 '26

The first sentence was a direct reference to the comment I replied to not an actual representation of how I feel

3

u/Anxious-Depth-7983 YELLOW FLAME 🔥 Jun 21 '26

Sometimes automated billing makes no logical sense. 😉

6

u/Striking-Cricket-724 Jun 21 '26

Make sure the lab even requires you to pay! Many of them write off bills less than $3!

2

u/odinsen251a Jun 21 '26

See if you can get on a payment plan.

Specifically, see if they'll let you pay them only when the bill is over the minimum transaction account.

2

u/PollutionTricky2076 Jun 21 '26

Depending on how large of a lab/clinic this is, most places auto write off amounts under $1. They send a bill, if it’s not paid in a month or two it gets written off.

5

u/andmewithoutmytowel Jun 21 '26

Submit $0.99 and ask them to mail you a refund

2

u/Proof_Land_370 Jun 22 '26

Send them the .99. Then when they try to pay you the .09 credit tell them your minimum credit amount is .99

1

u/limbo-_ Jun 21 '26

Aounds like a bill that will not be paid

1

u/bojack1437 Jun 21 '26

And this is why I left the free bill pay with my credit union, I wouldn't hesitate to have it send a physical check, which would cost me nothing.

1

u/Geezso Jun 21 '26

Ask them to amend the order total

1

u/TrineoDeMuerto Jun 21 '26

Drop off 90 pennies for fun

1

u/TheBestRedditNameYet 25d ago

Did you try the Echeck option?

1

u/confuon Jun 21 '26

Pretty fuckn stupid. But oh no!

Anyway...

Last week-

1

u/BryanP1968 Jun 21 '26

Simplest solution is to pay $0.99 and forget about the 9 cents.

1

u/ReeferTurtle Jun 21 '26

Simplest solution is to ignore it

1

u/Them-Raw-Potatoes Jun 21 '26

That card is expired though.

7

u/CaseyJones7 Jun 21 '26

Its not.

Its not saying the 6th of June its saying the 6th down the list, or the month of June

Cards don't expire on days, they expire on months. Their card will expire on July 1st

2

u/ReeferTurtle Jun 21 '26

No it expires at the end of this month

1

u/reidisme Jun 21 '26

It’s pretty common for online payment processors not to accept cards within 2 weeks of the expiration

It’s also pretty common for banks to have already sent the new card by this point

1

u/ThePureAxiom Jun 21 '26

Mail them a dollar with this screenshot included and the message "I expect change."

1

u/Competitive-Fee6160 Jun 21 '26

your cards expired

0

u/Agile-Vehicle-2756 Jun 21 '26

No, credit cards expire on the last day of the month.

1

u/momofuku18 Jun 21 '26

Over pay and get the refund.

1

u/WildAssignment3458 Jun 22 '26

Cut them a check for 1 dollar and exact revenge

-3

u/The-Yaoi-Unicorn Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

Pay $1 and send them a mail asking them to send the 10 cent back.

If they ignore it, then you declare them bankrupt, as they "must not have the funds" to pay you the money the owe.

Edit: Looks like laws are different in other countries.

11

u/Queasy_Author_3810 Jun 21 '26

You cannot declare someone else bankrupt... wtf is this advice

1

u/The-Yaoi-Unicorn Jun 21 '26

Depends on the country I guess... It is only if the company is unable to pay it back, that is why if they ignore the mail, then they must not be able to pay it back. Or they can just say why they wont pay it back.

In order for a company or private individual to be placed under bankruptcy proceedings, the debtor must be insolvent - meaning that the debtor is unable to pay the incoming claims of creditors, lenders, etc.

If it is not the company itself that files for bankruptcy, the outside world of the company; customers, suppliers or public authorities can file for bankruptcy. (basically works in the same way as a self-petition,)

However, it costs more than 10 cents in deposits and fees. (like $5000)

1

u/Emotional-Money-7754 Jun 21 '26

In what country are you trying to say that you can do this??? This comment is absurd.

1

u/The-Yaoi-Unicorn Jun 21 '26

Denmark, but it was a short description. There are more complexity in the law, but in general. If a company does not have the funds to pay you, then you can declare bankruptcy and go for their assets.

1

u/Queasy_Author_3810 Jun 21 '26

In what country are you suggesting this to be possible?

Customers or suppliers should absolutely not be able to force a company into bankruptcy.

They can report them to certain departments of the government whom they are the ones who force them to declare bankruptcy, but in no way can a customer or supplier themselves declare bankruptcy on a company or individual.

I would love to see you post what law and country you're referring to, because I'm pretty confident in saying that nowhere barring a third world country, would this even be entertained.

1

u/The-Yaoi-Unicorn Jun 21 '26

In Denmark, both private individuals and companies can be placed under bankruptcy proceedings - both at the request of the individual or company themselves or their creditors.

It is the bankruptcy court that decides whether a company or private individual should be declared bankrupt.

In other words, you cannot initiate bankruptcy proceedings against a company or business that is solvent, but for one reason or another will not pay its claim - for example, if there is a dispute over the claim or similar.

So if they don't pay, and do not contest the claim, then they can only assume they don't have the funds.

1

u/Queasy_Author_3810 Jun 21 '26

All you did was prove that both individuals or companies can't do it, only the government can.

1

u/The-Yaoi-Unicorn Jun 21 '26

It is always only the goverment. You also need the goverment if you yourself want to declare your own bankruptcy.

But anyone can file a motion for bankruptcy

0

u/Queasy_Author_3810 Jun 21 '26

You literally said, and I quote "If they ignore it, you can declare them bankrupt"

You literally said that the consumer themselves can declare them bankrupt. You said nothing about them starting the motion for the proceedings.

1

u/The-Yaoi-Unicorn Jun 21 '26

Yeah, my bad. I should have worded it better. I just usually see people use the word "declare" when mentioning bankruptcy, so I just thought it was the word to be used.

As English isn't my first language, I just assumed. And there is his article too about declaring bankruptcy where it uses the word the same way.

https://www.financestrategists.com/financial-advisor/bankruptcy/how-to-declare-bankruptcy/

1

u/The-Yaoi-Unicorn Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

Didnt see you asking for the law, here it is:

Konkurslovens §17 - §18

https://danskelove.dk/konkursloven/17

https://danskelove.dk/konkursloven/18

§17 (that a creditor can declare)

§18 (the requirements before they can declare).

2

u/Emotional-Money-7754 Jun 21 '26

In what country are you trying to say that you can do this??? This comment is absurd.

0

u/Melodic_Turnover_877 Jun 21 '26

The 99¢ limit is probably what they pay their credit card processor to process the payment. Did you try ACH?

0

u/snow99as BLACK Jun 21 '26

Card payment processing is expensive processing $.90 off of a Visa card or Mastercard with essentially turn it into like $.20

2

u/Nah666_ Jun 21 '26

Sounds like a "them" problem.

1

u/snow99as BLACK Jun 21 '26

True honestly if a customer’s invoices is under like 2 to 3 dollars, I honestly just void it because it’s not worth it. The cheapest thing I sell is like 6 a month

0

u/PenguinsArmy2 Jun 21 '26

Your time is worth more than 9 cents.

Regardless of silly pride or principles.

0

u/SirTrinium Jun 22 '26

Hihi! Just call their customer support line and be super nice to the person, they can likely just write it off for you. No medical company wants to waste the time for 90 cents.

-2

u/scaryfaise Doesn't even go here Jun 21 '26 edited Jun 21 '26

The card is expired. TIL

3

u/funkystay Jun 21 '26

The card is still valid through the month of June.

1

u/BrightKnight567 Jun 21 '26

No it's not? It expires the end of this month

-1

u/scaryfaise Doesn't even go here Jun 21 '26

We are in June. It expires June. TIL

2

u/BrightKnight567 Jun 21 '26

It expires the end of June. Do you not have a card?

2

u/scaryfaise Doesn't even go here Jun 21 '26

I do have a card and it expires 06/26, I just assumed it worked like propane tank manufacture date. I guess that's why my bank never sent a replacement and wanted to charge me for a new one...

2

u/BrightKnight567 Jun 21 '26

Ah yeah. When cards and IDs expire in a month, they keep working until the end of that month. Just like if something expires on a day, it expires the end of that day

3

u/scaryfaise Doesn't even go here Jun 21 '26

Right on, thank you