4 ms·

> Also google bills a month ahead. Who does that?? Who bills for services not yet rendered?? TimeWarner does. https://www.timewarnercable.com/en/support/faqs/

• porpoisemonkey 10y ago
  I think it mostly boils down to fixed-price vs usage-based billing. It seems like utility companies that do usage-based billing (cellphone service providers, electricity, water, etc) typically bill for the previous month so that they can wait for the usage metrics to come in. For fixed-price services like cable service, video subscription services, housing, etc. I've had a consistent experience of being asked to pay for the next month up front. (They typically phrase this as "at the beginning of the billing cycle" on their terms of service.) I'm guessing the reason is that when it's done this way it reduces the risk of the customer defaulting on the amount after the service has already been consumed. > Monthly charges are billed at the beginning of your billing cycle and may take a few days after the billing date to appear on your account. https://help.netflix.com/en/node/27 https://help.netflix.com/en/node/27 > We automatically bill your Payment Method on the calendar day corresponding to commencement of your subscription. https://www.hulu.com/terms https://www.hulu.com/terms > You pay for your subscription in advance of the covered month. http://help.hbonow.com/app/answers/detailHBO/a_id/139/~/how-do-i-cancel-my-hbo-now-subscription%3F#billing-cycle http://help.hbonow.com/app/answers/detailHBO/a_id/139/~/how-...