rocket finance

Whoever invented government bureaucracy. . .

. . . aught to be shut up in a room with no windows and do internet searches for articles on social security with a dial-up connection.

I love online bill pay – especially with my Chase checking account. I pay everything with the checks that are generated through online bill pay – mortgage, van loan, insurance, credit cards, the babysitter. I even pay my tithe with online bill pay. Everyone accepts it with no problems.

Except for city hall. Our local municipality sent out a notice a few months back that their office will no longer accept online bill pay checks for the water bill. No reason was given, just that they would only accept direct debit and personal checks from now on. The problem is that I don’t care for direct debit. We cut it very close with our balance every month and I don’t like to take the chance that we might be charged with an overdraft fee if the debit fell on the wrong day. Furthermore, I just like to have control over when that money leaves the account.

Another option is to mail a traditional check. You know that isn’t going to happen.

They won’t take a credit card.

The fourth option is for me to drive by city hall, stop and park, go into the office and pay the bill. At first, I used this method, but the hours that city hall is open are limited, plus I never actually carry a checkbook anywhere.

After a late charge and three months of trying to to remember to pick up the checkbook and to find a time to go to city hall, I just decided to pay the bill with online bill pay. I have done it for two months now, with no problems. I think a lot of other people in town are doing the same thing and the city is just dealing with it. Why can Culligan Water Softening accept online bill pay, but not City Hall?

This organization also requires the bill stub to accompany the check when you pay it at the counter, even if the account number is on the check. Obviously, my name and address is also on the check. The clerk told me that they need the stub in order to know which account to credit the payment – even though a bill stub does not accompany a direct debit payment.

I wonder. . . if I stopped paying my bill all together, would they know which account was overdue?