I found out my bank (Wachovia) this weekend never paid a bill that I submitted in December via their online pay. I felt stuck, like you. The credit card bill came for January, with “you didn’t pay us last month” fees. Is it right that I have to pay these?

I called Wachovia only to find they had no record of my “trying” to pay this bill. So, where’s my confidence that I want to use their online service for paying my bills, if I get no guarantee that they actually send checks on my behalf?

Your post is having me consider switching banks and abandoning the U.S. Postal Service. In this emerging economy of startups like Slacker, banks that likely don’t yet really get the Internet, and government-run institutions that are older than dirt but now tell us they don’t guarantee delivery without extra insurance and package tracking fees, it’s gonna get real interesting before it gets better, I imagine.

Much like “Here Comes Everybody” thinking, I can’t see how a company could do what you are asking. Think in terms of “what if their policy was to trust everyone” and provide that replacement.

Although there are clearly good people out there, the other end of the spectrum would clearly arise. If every claim was honored, they would be giving away products left and right. Why do we keep receipts for business expenses? Do your bosses not trust you? They probably do to a great degree, but the assessors need the verification and documentation is so very necessary for this. Yes it is trust, but it is also being responsible to your business. Do you think you could have purchased the unit with a $250 IOU w/ your signature? If so, the sales clerk must be willing to pay for the unit when you don’t return to do so or he knows where to find you to get the money back.

The concern that I would have with this business is the lack of follow-up and probably not the best stated position of the case by stating they don’t trust anyone – although that concept simply means effective business practice.

I haven’t bought anything by Slacker in the past, and this doesn’t help me to think I will, but my “boycott” isn’t because of their base belief that they need a documented exchange. It may, however, be partially on their lack of interest to man their customer service department and return e-mails effectively.