How much time should a "Late Fee" be good for? Is there such a thing as an in-formal understanding?

As most folks know, if you sign up to use some sort of services, as consumers, we are usually charged for services "after" you use them.  Of course new customers with little or no history usually pay a deposit, and then it is returned at some point for timely payment.

I just encountered a first time ever life event for me.  That being COMCAST "Captured" my on line service today at around 3:30 P.M. and interrupted it, without any warning.  No Notice, No Disconnect Warning, Nothing.  Then tonight as I am writing this the Cable TV portion is going off as I am writing.

In the midst of an online session, my ISP captured my service and forced me to contact the company to make arrangements to make a payment or terminate my service until paid.  Then tonight the much touted "On Demand" is now interrupted by a flick of a switch, and that even after making arrangement to pay the bill in full on this coming Friday. 

Now I am NOT saying they aren't entitled to do do that, as they are the ISP I am trying to use.  Yet, I do have some payment history, and am considered a "long time" power user of sorts.  We have been late (more times then I like) but have always paid the Late Fee and went on with life and internet.  This Time Though; I am appalled to find out they have changed their policies concerning such doings and find myself no longer able to count on a "Friendly - Late Fee- Arrangement" where you simply agree to be be late and pay for the privilege.

Just what is it, that causes an otherwise decent and dependable company to take this course of action with an otherwise cooperative (albeit late) service user who has a history of paying the bill (along with late free agreed to), but always paying in the end.  Is it really so bad to pay the late fee and then pay on the agreed upon late payment date?  Is this not what the firm and I "mutually" agreeing to?

Or is there a more sinister and more predator instinct at work here.  COMCAST spend big buck on advertising it's position against it's nearest rival or greatest competitor (AT&T of late) and promising this or that and enticing us to sign up for this introductory offer or that.  And some time or another we have tried this or that.  Now for the first time in my memory; the COMCAST Giant Hand comes into my home by it's cable and captures my computer to the end, that I have run a line from our ATT Hi Speed internet my wife was trying to my computer.  And guess what, I discovered it is as fast (all around) as my cable was.  Now I am only 7/8 of a mile from the hub and I am told that is close enough to make a difference.  So Lucky Me.

Thank You COMCAST for giving me the reason enough to make the decision to terminate the one that was the greatest threat . . .that being the most likely to be abusive. . . that being the one that showed their true colors . . . that being the one who would do the last the thing I would ever expect from my ISP host without first notifying me. . . . that being COMCAST High Speed Internet Provided here in Muncie and Managed by where-ever!

Now please understand; I am Not saying I am not at fault, or even Not to blame; but I don't deserve this kind of treatment during the holidays, after being a loyal customer for a fairly long time.  Just goes to show you it is really all about CASH FLOW after all.  Or are they just proving a point?  That they are doing this now because they think they can and I don't have any other options.  After all, I don't make a lot of money, I am late more often then on time, and They are the Great and Mighty COMCAST and I am just a consumer.  I am allowing myself to freely assume, that some "Risk Management type" somewhere in their organization has convinced the company I cost to much to "keep" and even with my "always Paying" I cost more then I am worth.  So. . . . .

Good by COMCAST. . . . Hello AT&T DSL.  Can anyone say; that if you give them power to "capture the market", they will find a way to become less kind, gentle, forgiving, and more fundamentally business driven and less likely to understand hard times in our little community.

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