online bill pay - all the choices

I use automatic, pre-authorized debiting from either my credit card or checking account for all regularly occurring debts. Above all, I spurn using Quicken for ANYTHING to do with paying bills, aside from recording them, of course. I only use checks for family gifts.

"ps56k" wrote in news:it8kg3$mis$1 @dont-email.me:

I have used Bill Pay from Citibank in the past via "Direct Access", dating from before there was a web service for it. At the time there was

1 company that initially always credited the payment late and charged late fees, for which I had to complain at Citibank to get refunds or credits. This eventually taught Jamaica Water on LI to better its ways. I believe it has since been taken over at least once.

I forget whether Citibank debited at the payment delivery date (when a USPS sent check), or when that check was cut before it was mailed out. I believe it was the latter. Something to ask your bank. I use now Chase in NJ, and they use this method.

Never used Checkfree directly,so don't know about them. With no bank have I had any problems to speak of,and all were resolved in my favor (I'm always right, except ... ).

I currently do this with all services/payees, if at all possible. I had to cancel it for Verizon, notorious for overbilling and slow crediting, when I changed my service. Once all was settled, I reinstated it and no more problems until next time my Verizon contract is up for renewal.

It is of course important to have sufficient funds available. In that I'm lucky (we have been very frugal and saving-oriented). It is also important to keep on top of bills and catch mistakes as soon as possible, unless you want to extend credit where none is deserved.

This is usenet. YMMV, and caveat emptor ...

"ps56k" wrote in news:it8kg3$mis$1 @dont-email.me:

Where possible I have vendors (CATV, Electric company, cell phone) charge my Visa credit card for their monthly bill. I pay all other repeating charges from my checking account via Online Bill Pay. I've been doing this formore than 10 years and have never had a problem.

Chase Bank BillPay works fine, and it's working from within Quicken for me. Payments to almost any service or anyone can be made from it. It's drawbacks are relative long advance schedule time prior to due date and low to none interest on money in the checking account.

I use my bank's (BA) bill paying service, but I do it through Quicken, rather than on my bank's web site. That's because

1. it's very easy to do that way

1. besides paying the bill, it automatically creates the entry in the check register. Besides that being easier, I can't forget to make the register entry, nor can I make an error in the entry.

2. If I'm going to be away on vacation, I pay in advance the bills that will become due while away (at least the approximate amounts--rounded up--that will be due) and schedule them to be paid on the appropriate dates, rather than immediately.

1. With large companies, the bank does this by EFT, but with smaller companies (or individuals) the bank cuts a check and mails it. So it's their stamp for mail, not mine.

This works very well for me, and I recommend it. Almost the only time I write a check is for someone who comes to my home, does some service, and wants to be paid immediately, rather than receive something in the mail. So I write very few checks.

I have an overdraft protection setup so that if I am overdrawn, the bank automatically debits my home equity loan. It only kicked in once in the last 3 years because of a mistake I made (in depositing something to the wrong account) so it is seldom used.