So I got sick and tired of sitting down and typing in my credit card statement balance into Navy Federal BP each and every month. Since my Navy Federal card is set to automatically PIF from my checking account on the 29th of each month, I tried to do the same for my other cards.
Discover was relatively easy. I just called in, told them what I wanted to do, they transferred me to someone who knew how to do it, and they told me the web address and offered to walk me through the process (I didn't need their help, it was pretty self-explanatory). I told it to PIF my balance each month on the 29th.
AmEx was a bit tougher. I called in, explained what I wanted to do, and they sent me a form that I'm going to have to mail back. No word yet on whether or not I can pick the date on which I can pay. It's nice to have them all pay on the same date so I can just go online a few days afterwards, check my statements, make sure they're accurate and let them take the money right out of my account. 
You are a far, far, far, far, FAR more trusting person than I.
Even in the absence of any nefarious intent, one typo on the part of any one person along the line and your finances could be hosed up for months.
Having spent quite a bit of time dealing with the fallout of such things in the past, I don't even allow anyone direct access to my checking account, period - I have a secondary checking account from which I send EFT payments, and transfer exactly that amount from my primary account right before I make the payment. The secondary account has an overdraft limit of $0.00, so if they try to withdraw more than I gave them permission for, the transaction bounces instantly - much easier to sort out with the bank than a negative balance in your primary checking account, and who knows how many other bounces, overdrafts, service fees, etc. Also, you don't have to worry about tracking down the "accidentally" appropriated funds.
Good luck - hopefully you'll have a better experience with that than I did.
Even in the absence of any nefarious intent, one typo on the part of any one person along the line and your finances could be hosed up for months.
Having spent quite a bit of time dealing with the fallout of such things in the past, I don't even allow anyone direct access to my checking account, period - I have a secondary checking account from which I send EFT payments, and transfer exactly that amount from my primary account right before I make the payment. The secondary account has an overdraft limit of $0.00, so if they try to withdraw more than I gave them permission for, the transaction bounces instantly - much easier to sort out with the bank than a negative balance in your primary checking account, and who knows how many other bounces, overdrafts, service fees, etc. Also, you don't have to worry about tracking down the "accidentally" appropriated funds.
Good luck - hopefully you'll have a better experience with that than I did.
You are brave to set up a PIF order on an account that will always be changing in value. I have accounts set up to take my money out each month on a continuous basis (mortgage, car, life insurance), but those are set amounts and don't change month to month, so less chance of a goof up. But I would not want charge cards or revolvers to have access to my bank account.
I don't think sitting down once a month and manually typing in an amount in your Bill Payer is asking too much. But maybe you are a busy individual and just don't have the time.
Message Edited by Watchmann on 09-03-2008 07:51 PM