Online Bill Pay: Discussion

[Client9]

I pay almost everything via online bill pay through my CU.  I only write checks for Rent and haircut lady.

I was skeptical at first and actuallt liked sitting down and writing out the checks. 

[Watchmann]

Have paid using my credit unions free bill payer since 2000.  Probably close to a thousand payments over the years.  Only once did one go astray, for a water bill in Chicago. They had actually received the payment but somehow it got sent to the dead file because they couldn't figure out the account it was supposed to go to.  Their error, quickly fixed.

I pay AMEX from the AMEX site, and have autopay for insurance premiums, mortgage, and auto loan.  Long recurring payments in the same amount month after month are more convenient if an autopay is set up.  In over 35 years of having life insurance premiums deducted from my checking account I've never had one payment go awry.  I am not concerned about a reputable insurance company having access to my account.  The amount they can bill me is set by contract.  Have not had any crooks so far.

I know like clockwork that the CitiMortgage and Toyota Motor Credit payment will be taken out on the first business day of the month.  My mortgage was originally with ABN Amro, but CitiMortgage took them over last year.  I was prepared for a royal mess up when the change occured and guess what, nothing bad happened.  Starting in September 2007 CitiMortgage became the owner of the loan and the monthly payment continued on as normal.  All CR's reported correctly the change in loan providers.  And the year end interest statement was correct.  No complaints with having autopay set up for long contracts.

Message Edited by Watchmann on 07-27-2008 08:20 PM

[Anonymous]

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siang wrote:

I pay through the credit card payment page (unless the don't have one) and never have any issues. I have no problem with them having my bank account info.....nothing bad has ever happened. My electric company, phone company etc also have that bank info, again nothing bad has ever happened.

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I do the same.

[Anonymous]

I pay everything from my primary checking account @ WAMU.  The only bill that is automatically deducted every month is my mortgage.  Everything else is a manual payment from their web site or I do "Bill Pay" from WAMU's site.

I've never had any problem (knock wood).

[MsKiwi]

I pay manually at the ccc's websites and well before the due date. I actually pay twice a month just so I never get caught late. ( I'm paranoid about it.) I'd probably be a great Amex customer.

[KingAdrock]

Thinking about it, I do have my car insurance paid by having it pulled from my bank account every month. But other than that everything is online from my bank. I also don't do the autopay thing. I like to decide exactly how much to pay and when, every month.

[Anonymous]

I have never had a problem paying my bills online. I really hate writing a check. I have had the same box of checks for a long time to. I like the fact that I have all the proof of payment right on my bill pay page. My bank will dispute any foul ups too. I love it.

[Anonymous]

I pay bills with my banks billpay if they don't take CCs (local utility board).  And my bank offered to give me $100 if I paid two bills online, so....   well I don't have to tell you guys how awesome free money is.

[athensguy]

For those that are writing checks, couldn't you still use your online Billpay to pay those items? If my CU can't ACH the money for me, they will send a check.

[Anonymous]

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@athensguy wrote:
For those that are writing checks, couldn't you still use your online Billpay to pay those items? If my CU can't ACH the money for me, they will send a check.

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My bank will also send a check to anyone. I wanted to stop writing checks out to my Dad, because at the time I had to pay for checks, so I use my bank's online billpay to mail the check to my Dad. Doesn't cost me anything, and I don't have to write the check.

I used to use the individual credit sites to make the payments. Then when I started banking with a place that had free online bill pay I like the idea that I can look at all my past payments in one space and I like that it comes out of my checking account before posting at the site. In most cases the payments are received the very next day.

I still pay my car payment via the creditor's site and one credit card, only because for some reason my bank's online bill pay will only send them a check.

I also like it because if something were to happen to me, someone else could get into the site and pay my bills for me without having to do too much work.

I have only once had a problem with my bank's online bill pay, they pulled the money out and then a system error caused them to put the money back. They paid it correctly the very next day. And while I can see how that would cause some to freak out, because I have never been the person who waits until the day before the bill is due, that 1 day delay didn't cause any problems at all.

I don't do autopay and doubt I ever will. The idea of not being in charge of the money moving, worries me.