Bill Pay via Chase

We live in a town of around 22,000 and I noticed that Utility Bills can be paid electronically using either an "auth to withdrawal" facility, or a credit card.

Not knowing all the logistics and/or fees that may be involved, I was wondering why the town does not also support the ACH bill payment type of transaction from various financial institutions like Chase, etc, since it can "withdraw" funds using the same "conduit" ?

Commony referred to as "Bill Payment" - I basically setup a Payee list with my Chase account, and electronically transfer funds to pay bills.

But for those Payees not able to accept ACH directly, then Chase actually cuts a physical check & mails it, which I could have done in the first place.

tnx for any info on ACH payments -

Reply to
ps56k
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I can't tell you why they don't accept ACH payments, but regarding "which I could have done in the first place," let me make the following two points:

  1. Chase pays for the postage, not you.

  1. You can take care of paying the bill when you receive it, but have the payment sent out no sooner than necessary. So you get the float on the money, and you can take care of bills that might come due while you are not at home--on vacation, business trip, etc.

Those two, especially point 2, are the reason why Quicken bill payment is so wonderful to me. And I don't really care whether the money goes out by check or ACH; the result is the same as far as I'm concerned.

Reply to
Ken Blake, MVP

Yes, indeed. It is so 20th century to manually pay bills, especially the reoccurring type. Actually writing out a check, digging up an envelope and postage? I THINK NOT!!!

Reply to
Sharxster

I write checks to only two people, both of whom provide services here in my house. I give them the checks, so there's nothing to mail. And there's no issue of the payment not being due until later, so I don't mind doing this the few times a year that I do it.

Reply to
Ken Blake, MVP

I still use checks for birthday and Christmas gifts for my grandniece and grandnephews. I don't use e-mail E transfers because my bank charges the sender (me) a fee for such transactions. The fee is more than the cost of postage, envelope, and check. Am I cheap? A most definite YESS!!!

Reply to
Sharxster

I wonder if when Chase creates and mails a physical check, can you see the actual image on your online account - like any other deposited paper checks ?

Reply to
ps56k

I can't speak for Chase, but assuming that they do the same as my bank, Bank America, does, the answer is no.

Reply to
Ken Blake, MVP

Actually creating and MAILING a PAPER check is so bloody archaic--positively 19th century!

Reply to
Sharxster

I am a long time Chase on-line bill payer. The answer is, indeed, no.

Rich

Reply to
<z

With Wells Fargo you can see the actual image of the check -- front and back.

Reply to
Arnie Goetchius

Interesting. USAA does show the check image when they have to cut a paper check. The money does not get removed from your account until the check is actually cashed.

Reply to
Arthur Conan Doyle

"Sharxster"

we get it - you're a geezer with an attitude - now shut up and go away...

Reply to
ps56k

Just the opposite--only financial "geezers" rely on checks aside from the rarest of occasions.

Reply to
Sharxster

Interesting. I'm surprised to hear that.

Reply to
Ken Blake, MVP

Perhaps so, but as far as I'm concerned, I don't care. It doesn't matter to me at all. I tell my bank to send some company or person x dollars and they do. How they do it is up to them, and the result is the same to me whether they do it with paper or by EFT.

Reply to
Ken Blake, MVP

it only started the last 6 months or so.

Reply to
Arnie Goetchius

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