legal tender?

Question

I dont know if this is the best place to ask this, but its the closest I could find to a legal system.

Verizon has recently told me that if I cancel my home phone and keep only my internet service with them then they will no longer be able to send me a paper bill. Instead, I would have to set up a credit card only payment with them. NOT a debit card. But only a credit card.

Frankly this is absurd. I have recently gotten around this by ordering their Cable TV service. Oddly enough, NOW they can send me a paper bill again.

My question is...is this legal. And more importantly, how do they get around the CASH issue. It is my understanding that money issued by the Federal Govt is "Legal tender for all debts, public and private". So, is it legal for an American company to sell a service to an American living in America and to tell me that they wont accept Federal currency?

Thanks in advance.

I have a credit card by the way, I just dont like to use it. Esp not for Verizon.

Lets get this straight, I dont send cash in the mail. I almost always pay with a debit or credit card for everything I buy. My point was a company telling me that if I wanted to cancel a certain type of service then I could no longer pay with a debit card as I had been doing, but I HAD to use a credit card. Which got me to thinking about the cash aspect of this. I thought cash could be used for everything. I would like to thank everyone who sent in a usefull answer.

Answer 1

I've never heard of anywhere refusing a cash payment. Also it does seem odd that they won't issue statements for one thing and not another.

My advice...they are jerks. Get a new supplier for all three and when you cancel, tell them why.

Answer 2

If the business has no venue whereby a person can physically in person purchase items or service, then a business may opt to accept credit cards only for purchases. The types and makes of credit cards accepted are as per the contracts the company has signed with the banks and service companies, so certain card types and makes may be excluded. Debit card acceptance is an optional card type to accept.

So, if you cannot go into a Verizon store and pay your Verizon Internet Service bill at the Verizon store, then this is totally legal.

HOWEVER if the company specifically states that they do not under any circumstances send paper bills, then they are required by law to provide you with a discounted rate if they do bill some people for that service via paper billing under other circumstances.

Answer 3

Legal tender means that when you offer a person or party payment in cash (actual coins and paper - not a debit card or other electronic transfer) it must be accepted as valid payment (presuming that it is legitimate, i.e. not forged). A debit card does not count as legal tender. If there is a way for you to pay your bill in cash, then they must accept such payment. However, there is nothing (at law) to stop them from requiring the security of a credit card back-up before they will open an account and do business with you. Ever try to rent a card on a "cash only" basis?

Answer 4

The communication industry has close ties to the credit card companies, who are owned by the "mega-banks" that control the financial policies of the entire nation. In my opinion the banks are facilitating a plan to eliminate tangible currency or "hard cash". In favor of a credit based, global, computerized system. I say, return to the gold standard and gimme my silver! You must see- America;Freedom to Fascism. Watch for free on google video.

Answer 5

They are a business offering a service. If you don't like their terms, you don't have to buy the service. They have a right to do whatever they want in this case. Do you seriously send cash in the mail?! Where do you live? I could use some free money!

Answer 6

I'd rather use a CC than send cash through the mail.