Online bill pay?

[aces67]

I'm cheap and I like to pay my bills online so I've always done it through my creditors websites because it's free. Of course now there are some that won't let me like my mortgage company and it's time consuming to log in to each site separately.

If I used the online bill pay that my bank offers would that work? I mean would that still allow me to pay them directly online without having to send a paper check?

[bk2009]

For most, yes. I like doing it that way because I push the payment.

[LuciluS]

The payments will need to be mailed to the Bankruptcy Dept. and not the usual address you use when not in Bankruptcy.

I believe you will have to use the Bankruptcy Dept. address until your Bankruptcy is closed. Someone correct me if it is discharged date and not the closed date.

This will be the case for us when we file on 9/30/09. I plan on calling our Mortgage Co., truck loan co. and also will have Dh call on his ParentPlus Loan for the bankruptcy dept. address, as I do not want any payments to be delinquent.

Usually the only time I use snail mail is when I send our grandkids their Birthday cards with a check for the college fund and a $10 bill. We haven't paid most of our CC's since late last Sept. it's nice not getting all that junk mail LOL!

[kenshirley]

We have been using the bank's online bill pay system for a number of years.
You just need to know your bank's rules.
Not all merchants or creditors can be paid by your bank instantly as such. And even then it may take to the next day or two days for the electronics transfers depending on the creditor for credit. But that will be clear before you make the payment once you enter the payee.
Many have to have actual checks mailed out.
Usually it's quite clear with your bank's online system as to when that paper check will be there and in many cases it's guaranteed to be there by a given date. But it can take 4-8 days depending on your bank's system.
Some bank's subtract paper checks when the are mailed and some wait until the check clears just like if you mailed it.
The bad news is that in some cases it takes more time for that paper check they send to get there than if you just sent it yourself.
The good news is that you have an online record with your bank of what happened and when and it's easy to get to.
And what payments I made during the BK went to the same addresses they always went to but your creditor may have other requirements as mentioned above.

[Rick9972]

I'm cheap and I like to pay my bills online so I've always done it through my creditors websites because it's free. Of course now there are some that won't let me like my mortgage company and it's time consuming to log in to each site separately.

If I used the online bill pay that my bank offers would that work? I mean would that still allow me to pay them directly online without having to send a paper check?

Just remember one thing about using the bank's billpay. The bank makes their money on the interest they will earn from the time they withdraw the money from your account (the instant you schedule the payment) to when they actually send the payment out. (up to 5 working days later)

Thus you really have to schedule you payments at least a week ahead of time or you will be late.

[kenshirley]

I have been with 3 banks and a credit union over the last 10 or so years moving around and I have never heard of anyone taking so long to send something out.
If it's a check, and you tell it to go online today, it's mailed the next day.
If it's an online transfer, it's gone the next day and delivered then or the next day normally.

[LuciluS]

I have been with 3 banks and a credit union over the last 10 or so years moving around and I have never heard of anyone taking so long to send something out.
If it's a check, and you tell it to go online today, it's mailed the next day.
If it's an online transfer, it's gone the next day and delivered then or the next day normally.

I've also used 3 different banks since 2003 If the Payee is set up to use EFT's and I request such to be paid before 2 pm, Payee receives it's the next day.

As for Payee's who do not use EFT's the check is mailed the next day. ALL 3 of my bill pay's notes what day the check should be received. I've had problems twice with my sewer bill and the Bank admitted it was their fault and refunded me the late fee twice.

I also pay our medical bills thru Bill Pay & the Payee has held the check until the last day of the month to deposit it. I receive a photo copy of Bill pay checks with my monthly statement. The check I was referring to in the above sentence was dated 6/14/09. I had the same problem with a different medical payee at the end of 2008. Check was processed and mailed on 12/16/08 to my Dh's Cardiologist, but did not clear our back account until 1/5/09. I called his doc's office & was informed they decided to close their books on 12/15/08 & they were closed on 1/1-1/4 for New Years.

[Rick9972]

"The payment date is the date on which you want the payment to be processed. The date is automatically prefilled with the earliest possible date. The payee should receive the payment within 5 business days from this date."

This is the standard note on all the Billpay systems I have seen. *shrugs* I am just saying that you need to be very careful and manage your payments when using a bank's billpay system. I use it and love it.

[LuciluS]

"The payment date is the date on which you want the payment to be processed. The date is automatically prefilled with the earliest possible date. The payee should receive the payment within 5 business days from this date."

This is the standard note on all the Billpay systems I have seen. *shrugs* I am just saying that you need to be very careful and manage your payments when using a bank's billpay system. I use it and love it.

Rick:

I understand what you are saying as was the case with my local Sewer bill for 2 months. When a bill comes in the mail, I usually go ahead and set it up for the due date if I know it is an EFT. If it's going to be a snail mail check sent through bill pay, I usually just go ahead and use the date bill pay automatically shows. I'd rather the bank pay for the $.44 stamp than me1

I can remember when we moved from IN to AR in 10/04, one bank wanted to charge us $5.00 for bill pay. I was able to get a 'Senior Diamond Checking Acct.' which didn't charge and I was only a mere 50 yrs. old. The one time I was proud of my age


Luci

[fyi2]

I use and count on bill pay, I like the papertrail and the bank will follow up on anything that may go wrong (1time in 10yrs)

I just need to make sure i schedule it to go out in time for it to get there.. sometimes its the next day and sometimes it is 3-5days

set it up and send $1 then you will have a good idea

[aces67]

Thanks everyone! I set it up today and paid my cell phone bill. It says it goes electronically and it's not late until August 5th. Surely it will arrive by then and give me an idea of what to expect.

It does seem much easier than keeping up with all those different logins and passwords for each creditor.

[lrprn]

We've been using our bank's online bill pay for three years now and couldn't be happier. Sending your asset bill payments (or in our case, also our Ch 13 payments) out through your bank creates an airtight paper trail with a reliable third party backing you up in case your lender or creditor ever says "we didn't get the payment" or "we didn't get the payment on time" when you know they should have.

Unfortunately there are scummy lenders and creditors who get a payment and deliberately hold on to it long enough to create late fees that are hard to challenge if you've sent a personal check. Luckily, sending the payment through your bank nips that awful practice right in the bud too

[joh]

I've paided my mortgage with my online banking all though bk and had auto decutions for on 2nd mortgage.

[fyi2]

Thanks everyone! I set it up today and paid my cell phone bill. It says it goes electronically and it's not late until August 5th. Surely it will arrive by then and give me an idea of what to expect.

It does seem much easier than keeping up with all those different logins and passwords for each creditor.

It really is very convienent! call the bills in a couple days to see when they get it.. once you know that it is great

[TEW]

I'm cheap and I like to pay my bills online so I've always done it through my creditors websites because it's free. Of course now there are some that won't let me like my mortgage company and it's time consuming to log in to each site separately.

If I used the online bill pay that my bank offers would that work? I mean would that still allow me to pay them directly online without having to send a paper check?

Thats all I used I us Ebill and the bills show up right in my online banking.
Since my BK i shy away from using my debit card to pay my bills on creditor websites.
I kept paying the bills i wanted to pay from my bank.