So today, I ran out to pay my taxes and get my little sticker for my license plate.  I have entered the debit card world and use it for everything these days.  I knew from the last time I was at the tag office, there was a small fee attached for using it, but so much easier to swipe and go.

As I approached the window, the teller next to mine informed the woman there would be a one dollar charge for using her card.  I get to my window and am told that my would be three (3) dollars and change.

OF COURSE I asked why I had to pay more than the woman next to me.  I was bluntly informed that the company that processes the cards takes a percentage of the value of the vehicle.

Clearly my car was three times more expensive than the other woman’s car.                    (I saw it for myself when I got to the parking lot)

When I complained of it being a rip off, the teller wasn’t happy.  Just kept bluntly telling me that I could always write a check.  (She’s probably had this complaint before.)  I couldn’t write a check, I didn’t bring my check book.

However, the idea of it all stuck with me on my trek back out of the new “Taj Mahal” of courthouses to my vehicle.

First off, we moved to the computer age and computerized everything so it would be cheaper than hiring people.  So now there are never  enough cashiers, tellers, clerks, the what not ANYWHERE, and now we are paying a FEE to use this computerization.

Now, we have this huge unemployment rate, a complete and total HASSLE every time we need to make a business related phone call.   First of all, we have to choose a language, and then follow through with a litany of choices and still sit on hold, get disconnected, or God forbid, have to start over.  We use our credit and debit cards and are charged a fee for using them.  I really don’t get that.  And now, percentages rather than a flat rate????

We are self serve.  WHY should we pay more to do the work ourselves.  Just like tip jars at food places that do orders for take out.  You called it in, you used your car and time to go get it.  WHAT have they done?  Nothing but cook it for the same price you would have paid except that you didn’t require the use of a table, silverware, plates, etc.  And even more importantly, a wait staff.  Surely they can afford one employee to hand out the bagged food.

I have tol question the idea of paying more for self service.  I would much rather be charged a fee for choosing to deal with a human, rather than a computer.  I am a good tipper of wait staff (have been one in a previous life).  But wouldn’t you much rather have them say, you can self serve for free, or it will be a dollar to have a human assist you!  I would.  If you are gonna suck every penny out of me for such rubbish, then by God, have a real human being help me.

I can’t believe the government couldn’t find a more reasonable contractor to do this tax processing.  What a scam.  As if it cost more to process her bank card as opposed to mine.

I have some other thoughts, but they will have to wait until tomorrow.