Whether we're talking personal finance, big business, retail, or hospitality, there is much to be annoyed about in the world of money. Here are my top financial grievances:
- Restaurants that charge for refills. Growing up, I got used to dealing with the occasional restaurant that made you pay for each additional soda, but then I moved to New York—where free refills are the exception, not the rule. It bugs me because it costs restaurants next to nothing to fill your cup from the soda fountain, so shelling out $3 to $4 per glass means an astronomical markup.
- ATM fees. More than hover cars or cell phones built into our heads, I look forward to a future devoid of ATM fees. I had a particularly annoying experience over the weekend, when I tried to use my PNC debit card at a Wachovia ATM—the machine said something about "no fee required," which made me really happy, until I realized that it was only free to check my balance, and that it cost a full $3 to withdraw cash.
- College meal plans. They're expensive, often mandatory, and usually lacking in healthy or vegetarian options. The best thing I ever did was ditch my school's plan.
- Super-expensive mid-plan cell phones. This was more of a problem for me in high school, when I used to break my phone every other second. When you sign up for a one- or two-year contract with a cell phone providers, many of the phones are free or up to $200 off, lulling you into a false sense of security. But if you break or lose your phone before your plan is up (and before you're eligible for an upgrade), it's often really expensive to replace. The best solution is usually to find a phone on eBay or use a friend or family member's old cell. But, I mean, why can't they just be cheaper?
What are some of your pet peeves? 
Comments (8)
I am so completely with you on the meal plan thing! My first year when I dormed, I was required to get a meal plan. The food was mediocre at best and had like no variety. It definitely was NOT worth $7 a meal. Seriously, $7 for a cereal breakfast? It's ridiculous and one of the main reasons I decided to not live on campus this year.
My pet peeve is 20 oz. sodas that are more expensive than 2 liters. I was at the local grocery today, and 2 liter Mountain Dews were 89 cents. 20 oz. MDs at the same store are $1.59. How does less soda and less plastic for the bottle turn into almost double the price? Even when the 2 liters aren't on sale, they're still much cheaper.
Another pet peeve is the price of concessions at the movie theater, ball games theme parks, etc. Ticket prices aren't high enough? Now I have to pay almost $10 for the same popcorn, candy and soda that would cost $3 anywhere else? I understand the need for a markup and making a profit, but those prices are ridiculous.
ATM fees make sense. Why should Wachovia not charge you to use the machine when you are using a different banks card? Afterall, they have to pay to keep the machine running, stock it, and then they have to collect the money from your bank! It doesnt make sense to just hand out the money to people who arent their customers.
I hate getting credit card offers for intended for other people in the mail, it makes me feel like someone might be getting ones intended for me. A huge identity theft concern.
On the cell phones . . . with AT&T for example, you can buy a $20 Go-Phone and swap the Sim Cards.
I hate ATM fees also! Especially when you have to pay that ATM machine to take cash out and even the place you bank at to withdraw some funds. That's a few dollars that you could be using, you know? How is it fair that you have to drive across town just to withdraw some money from your own bank's ATM? Completely lame (and I say this even after working at a bank).
I feel my college meal plan is a complete waste of money... Several thousand after four years. It's included in our boarding fee and pays for every meal served. Unfortunately, if you don't make it on time for the meal, there's no getting refunds. It's unfortunate because I only have time to eat about once or twice a week.
Midplan cell phones being so expensive is completely ridiculous too! Most phones seem to be more fragile everyday and so how do they expect us to keep up with it for more than one year?
I'm with BoA so they don't charge for ATM use but I would hate ATM fees. >_
I really do wish my school had a college meal plan. It would be a time-saver for me because I have many classes and I don't have enough time to do do schoolwork and make my own food. Plus, getting food in SF is expensive. @_@
My biggest financial pet peeve, is Long distance phone companies.
I used to work as a salesman for the 3rd largest Telephone company in North America. I would go around from business to business and convince the managers and owners that our plan was cheaper. One of the things I was trained to tell people, is that you are required to have a long distance company on your phone. I found out a year after I was hired, that I had been told to lie to people. There is no known requirement to have a long distance company on your home or business line. If you want to call long distance you will need one, call collect, or use a phone card. My family uses a calling card. we are charged 2.9cents a minute to call long distance. The card is through Sprint I believe. At one time I had an MCI card that was charging me 3 cents a minute. would somone care to explain to me why MCI can afford to charge 3 cents a minute on a calling card, but charges 5-10 cents a minute to call long distance via one of their monthly plans? Is there something about a calling card that makes your voice cheaper to send over the same phone line?
I agree. my bowl of cereal and a glass of water is not worth $7. even my bigger meals aren't worth that much.