Online Bill Paying: How do YOU do yours?

[TPC]

Wife is about to retire and we plan on traveling long periods at a time.
Believe it or not we still write checks paying what few bills we have. Credit cards and a couple house utilities.

Do you use a program or did you set it up individually with each account?

 

[TonyFanelli]

Should be able to set it up with your bank. The bank I use has all accounts/ credit cards on the app. Very easy to set up bill pay and check your accounts and balances. I still write checks too for odd ball things like license plate renewal and annual taxes.

 

[angiebaby]

I put nearly everything on the credit card, that way nothing gets overlooked. Then make one lump payment to the CC using the app or computer. Some things I can't put on the CC such as mortgage, life insurance and motorhome payment. Those come out automatically from the checking account. I set everything up on autopay through the individual vendor, not the bank. I do most subscriptions through PayPal (which debits from the CC) because it's easy to cancel them.

 

[Waterjunky]

directly through my bank also......

 

[napanutt]

Should be able to set it up with your bank. The bank I use has all accounts/ credit cards on the app. Very easy to set up bill pay and check your accounts and balances.

I used to do most of my auto pays through my bank (Wells Fargo). It seemed to work fine but for some reason everything now is directly to the debtor either through ACH or my only CC that I pay off each month.

 

[napanutt]

I put nearly everything on the credit card, that way nothing gets overlooked. Then make one lump payment to the CC using the app or computer. Some things I can't put on the CC such as mortgage, life insurance and motorhome payment. Those come out automatically from the checking account. I set everything up on autopay through the individual vendor, not the bank. I do most subscriptions through PayPal (which debits from the CC) because it's easy to cancel them.

I try to use my CC as much as possible for the points but like you said some either don't accept CC or charge for it. I auto pay the CC full amount due each month from my bank.

 

[185EZ]

I can't remember the last time I wrote a check.
Most give discounts for doing auto pay or pay in full.
Only one that seems like a wash is the gas cards, 10 cents off a gallon or use cc for cash back

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

I put nearly everything on the credit card, that way nothing gets overlooked. Then make one lump payment to the CC using the app or computer. Some things I can't put on the CC such as mortgage, life insurance and motorhome payment. Those come out automatically from the checking account. I set everything up on autopay through the individual vendor, not the bank. I do most subscriptions through PayPal (which debits from the CC) because it's easy to cancel them.

This is what I do

 

[Sandlord]

I don’t even have checks anymore.
I do have an ATM card, but never use it.
I try to route everything through my credit card so I can get the points, (worth about $1100 per year in my case)
Then the credit card and any other bills are on autopay From my bank account.
Applepay on my phone is set to use my credit card also.

 

[ChumpChange]

Should be able to set it up with your bank. The bank I use has all accounts/ credit cards on the app. Very easy to set up bill pay and check your accounts and balances. I still write checks too for odd ball things like license plate renewal and annual taxes.

I used to do the same as well but going to the DMV website or the County Assessors site is just so much easier now and then it gets itemized on your online banking report instead of just seeing the check number. And I used to just go to AAA to do it. No charge if paying by your checking account number / eCheck.

 

[Mr. C]

I believe my wife (yes she in charge of the bills)
Makes all payments online through our firefighters credit union. Not through the individual account of say spectrum Culligan. Mortgage. Does that make sense.
Seems to work great and is a good way to get immediate fraud alerts.

 

[HNL2LHC]

I put nearly everything on the credit card, that way nothing gets overlooked. Then make one lump payment to the CC using the app or computer. Some things I can't put on the CC such as mortgage, life insurance and motorhome payment. Those come out automatically from the checking account. I set everything up on autopay through the individual vendor, not the bank. I do most subscriptions through PayPal (which debits from the CC) because it's easy to cancel them.

This is what we do. Only challenge is when your credit card number changes. We don‘t do it often but have to when a card is compromised. Good thIng is if you have an issues with an account or city/state like CA if they keep pulling cash without canceling you have the power to change the other items and close the account to get ride of the blood suckers.

 

[BabyRay]

I put nearly everything on the credit card, that way nothing gets overlooked. Then make one lump payment to the CC using the app or computer. Some things I can't put on the CC such as mortgage, life insurance and motorhome payment. Those come out automatically from the checking account. I set everything up on autopay through the individual vendor, not the bank. I do most subscriptions through PayPal (which debits from the CC) because it's easy to cancel them.

This is what we do. Only challenge is when your credit card number changes. We don‘t do it often but have to when a card is compromised. Good thIng is if you have an issues with an account or city/state like CA if they keep pulling cash without canceling you have the power to change the other items and close the account to get ride of the blood suckers.

Same here. To minimize the risk of needing to replace a credit card, I have one that I use only for automated payments. That card sits in my safe, so I don’t make the mistake of using it elsewhere. I got slightly smart after my card was compromised a couple of times.

 

[Ol Man]

Use PayPal. That way you only have to change the credit card number in one place in case of a hack.

 

[boatnam2]

I still got the same 4 pack of check's I got when I opened my chase account 10 years ago, think there is way easier options out there.

 

[Your ad here]

My mortgage and utilities are paid from my checking account. Everything else is charged to 1 credit card. Since I'm RDP member it is paid off every month.

 

[Bear Down]

Been doing auto pay forever. I go to my respective account and tie into my bank account #, in case I ever lose a card or freeze it, the montly auto pay isn't interrupted. I like Paypal as well as I have that tied into my bank account, but not every vendor will do paypal. This biggest pain in the butt, is having to updated CC#s to those auto pay accounts when/if a card is lost/destroyed. Auto Pay is the biggest asset, I love it and don't ever worry about managing bills. And i tie in all my payments to pay day. Great problem to have TPC

 

[TPC]

Been doing auto pay forever. I go to my respective account and tie into my bank account #, in case I ever lose a card or freeze it, the montly auto pay isn't interrupted. I like Paypal as well as I have that tied into my bank account, but not every vendor will do paypal. This biggest pain in the butt, is having to updated CC#s to those auto pay accounts when/if a card is lost/destroyed. Auto Pay is the biggest asset, I love it and don't ever worry about managing bills. And i tie in all my payments to pay day. Great problem to have TPC

So many people we know have had their identity stolen. One of the friends of our girls dad is a I - security exec with B of A and he told us write your own checks to avoid it. So,, that's where we are, that's where we left off.
Time to modernize, stick our necks out.

 

[ChumpChange]

So many people we know have had their identity stolen. One of the friends of our girls dad is a I - security exec with B of A and he told us write your own checks to avoid it. So,, that's where we are, that's where we left off.
Time to modernize, stick our necks out.

Don’t click on stupid links.

Use the bank bill pay to send the payment.

Don’t use the utilities website to withdraw payment from your account.

 

[TimeBandit]

Set up auto pay with each individual entity.

Do NOT use wells fargo or other banks "bill pay".

 

[farmo83]

The only thing I auto pay is kids day care which is a fixed amount weekly. Everything else I put my eyes on before I pay. It helps keep me aware of where my money is going. Everything I can pay on a cc I do for points.

 

[ChumpChange]

Set up auto pay with each individual entity.

Do NOT use wells fargo or other banks "bill pay".

So the opposite of what I say to do do I have to ask what’s your reasoning?

Now you’re putting your account number on multiple sites. That will give multiple opportunities for each site to get hacked. You are now also relying, if it’s auto pay, for them to stop when you make the request.

Going through your own bank, they send electronically or send via their own paper check which does not have your account number on it but a bank ledger account.

And yes…I do use Wells Fargo’s Bill Pay.

 

[Bobby V]

Set up auto pay with each individual entity.

Do NOT use wells fargo or other banks "bill pay".

Why? I have WF with bill pay and never had an issue in 15 years.

 

[DarkHorseRacing]

Set up auto pay with each individual entity.

Do NOT use wells fargo or other banks "bill pay".

I have to disagree with this too. With your bank bill pay they have no skin in the game other than paying what you tell them to pay.

Giving your account info to the people who want to get as much money from you as possible is just begging for issues when you dispute a bill. With the bank bill pay you can send them a partial payment while you dispute. The other way, they clean your account out due to a “billing error” and youre fucked while you argue about it.

One throat to choke. Not many.

 

[TimeBandit]

I have to disagree with this too. With your bank bill pay they have no skin in the game other than paying what you tell them to pay.

Giving your account info to the people who want to get as much money from you as possible is just begging for issues when you dispute a bill. With the bank bill pay you can send them a partial payment while you dispute. The other way, they clean your account out due to a “billing error” and youre fucked while you argue about it.

One throat to choke. Not many.

Exactly.

The bank has no skin in the game.

They have no reason to pay your bills on time. They make money KEEPING your money, not handing it out.

They are NOT responsible when they don't. I lived it. They hide behind the "user agreement" that gives them xx days to make the payment.

And you still need to be hands on to pay bills in this manner, it's not "automatic".

My Kaiser, Edison, SiriusXM and Spectrum are on automatic bill pay. They all email "bills" but I have them set up to debit from a "cash back" credit card automatically.

You can always dispute a charge with your credit card company if there is a problem. (I have never had a problem)

with 28 days to pay credit cards, I always find the time to do those online.

No one has "automatic" access to my checking account. It's never been "hacked".

my .02

 

[Bobby V]

Exactly.

The bank has no skin in the game.

They have no reason to pay your bills on time. They make money KEEPING your money, not handing it out.

They are NOT responsible when they don't. I lived it. They hide behind the "user agreement" that gives them xx days to make the payment.

And you still need to be hands on to pay bills in this manner, it's not "automatic".

My Kaiser, Edison and Spectrum are on automatic bill pay. They all email "bills" but I have them set up to debit from a "cash back" credit card automatically.

You can always dispute a charge with your credit card company if there is a problem. (I have never had a problem)

with 28 days to pay credit cards, I always find the time to do those online.

my .02

Not sure about the bank “keeping” my money. I hit the pay bill button on 3 accounts on Thursday. On Friday I got a e mail saying the bills were sent.

 

[Willie B]

… Pay all my bills on the same day… Lately been using my Wells Fargo ATM Visa card… call each bill pay department …95% of them have my card number…
… Never a problem… I only write one check and that is to my Gardner… In 30 years he’s never spoken a word of English… So I seriously doubt that he takes credit cards…

 

[TimeBandit]

Not sure about the bank “keeping” my money. I hit the pay bill button on 3 accounts on Thursday. On Friday I got a e mail saying the bills were sent.

That is not "automatic".

You don't earn cash back or points.

but you be you!

 

[Bobby V]

That is not "automatic".

You don't earn cash back or points.

but you be you!

I prefer to pay my bills when I want to. That’s just me being me.

 

[Angler]

Personal and Business are both on auto payments.
The banks/billpay cover any late fees if the vendor does receive the payment by the due date.
It's a no brainer!

Ain't noboby got time to write checks...

 

[ChumpChange]

Not sure about the bank “keeping” my money. I hit the pay bill button on 3 accounts on Thursday. On Friday I got a e mail saying the bills were sent.

True they are taking the money out of your account that day but then they are just moving it into their general ledger account and making money on the float that it takes in the mail. If they mail the check it could take 3 to 5 days. I’m going to assume that a different member probably paid the bill on the day that it was due and then was five days late the recipient of that bill was not set up on electronic and Wells Fargo had to physically mail the check, making him late.

Now if @TimeBandit really makes a ton of money in a checking account than more power to him. But until the last year, we’ve been at practically a zero interest rate environment.

This is just an example of something going wrong for somebody and unfortunately then thinking the system is completely bad because it didn’t go his way and actually moving into a less safe position and telling everybody else to do so as well.

 

[84miller]

Been around the block on this...make it all on credit card that you can...why it is easier to fight a fraudulent credit card charge...than having any bank withdraws from other apps. Stop using checks now...period...credit card only. Hint do keep a list of the bills you direct to credit card as if there is a fraud, you will get a new credit card and have to change the credit card number on those applications. I also place on my credit card an email and text for any charge over $10.00 so I can see charges as they occur. Lastly, I pay my card in total every month and get enough credits to actually use with Amazon, Lowes...etc....Good Luck.

 

[bowtiejunkie]

Most everything is auto pay, either to a credit card or via ACH from checking. The credit card payments are all auto pay monthly for statement balance. Auto pay mortgage as well. We still write some random checks for kid's school functions, and the semi-annual HOA dues. Done it this way for many years. Never any issues and low stress.

I setup alerts on credit cards to send an email for every charge, so I can keep track of charges.

 

[angiebaby]

Same here. To minimize the risk of needing to replace a credit card, I have one that I use only for automated payments. That card sits in my safe, so I don’t make the mistake of using it elsewhere. I got slightly smart after my card was compromised a couple of times.

That's a good idea.

 

[CarolynandBob]

I put nearly everything on the credit card, that way nothing gets overlooked. Then make one lump payment to the CC using the app or computer. Some things I can't put on the CC such as mortgage, life insurance and motorhome payment. Those come out automatically from the checking account. I set everything up on autopay through the individual vendor, not the bank. I do most subscriptions through PayPal (which debits from the CC) because it's easy to cancel them.

That is what I do except the pay pal. Everything on the America Airlines card or debited from any that charge a fee for using the card or those that don't allow cards. Review credit card every month for something that doesn't look right. This really racks up the miles on the cards.

 

[ChumpChange]

Same here. To minimize the risk of needing to replace a credit card, I have one that I use only for automated payments. That card sits in my safe, so I don’t make the mistake of using it elsewhere. I got slightly smart after my card was compromised a couple of times.

I got a replacement credit card in the mail and before I ever used it once, it had fraudulent charges on it. Fraud happens at every level, including what must have been internal on mine.

So yes it does minimize risk, but so does all the other recommendations in here.

Theft, fraud is like riding a motorcycle. It’s not if… it’s when.

 

[TPC]

IFraud happens at every level, including what must have been internal on mine.


Theft, fraud is like riding a motorcycle. It’s not if… it’s when.

That's getting common

 

[Joe mama]

I prefer to pay my bills when I want to. That’s just me being me.

Kicking back in the garage watching a game with a cold one just push send or in the jacuzzi with a cold one just push send. Sounds easy to me!

 

[OCMerrill]

I have one dedicated full screen of Apps on my phone for all the bills I pay. They are also in order from the 1st of the month on down based on due date.
It works for me and I can pay them anywhere. I have never used a Bill Pay setup and I bank with Wells Fargo and trust with that bank ... Nope.

My wife takes care of paying all the Business related bills.

 

[Hermosa]

We use 1 bank for all of our bill pay activity, I only keep enough money in that account to cover the bills, nothing more. Transfer enough in to cover monthly. All of our other accounts are with another bank and we don't do on line activity with those accounts, very minimal. Most is in person. So far, so good.

 

[RitcheyRch]

Pay everything through Wells Fargo Bill Pay.

 

[McKay]

I pay power $10K at a time, gas $5k, water $2k. That usually lasts a little over a year. Makes it easy.

 

[TPC]

I opened my account with B of A in 1970 and mis spelled my name and middle initial deliberately.

When those hacked State payouts hit recently that I did not qualify nor did I apply for - a claim was filed with all my BofA info and wrong spelling.
BofA has been hacked.

Holding that thought one has to be careful.

 

[CarolynandBob]

When I was in TN there were a few utilities that would not do auto bill pay or paperless. When I would get the bill in FL it would already be late. On those I would add up what I thought the bills would be for the 6 months I was gone in FL. Then I would pay for the 6 months. When I would get the paper bill it would show how much credit I had.

 

[BabyRay]

I’m not going to quote that one, and definitely not clicking on the link!

 

[was thatguy]

I’m not going to quote that one, and definitely not clicking on the link!

Bot-O-Rama

 

[530RL]

When I was in TN there were a few utilities that would not do auto bill pay or paperless. When I would get the bill in FL it would already be late. On those I would add up what I thought the bills would be for the 6 months I was gone in FL. Then I would pay for the 6 months. When I would get the paper bill it would show how much credit I had.

I too write a check once a year for what I think the total is. Send it off and don’t worry about it.

It is very common amongst us old people.

 

[J DUNN]

I don’t have any credit cards. Typically only bills that come to house via mail are utilities. The fixed price ones like trash and HOA I set up through my banks bill pay. The variable cost utilities I pay $20-$50 extra each month then true up at the end of the year, usually by skipping the last months payment or at least reducing it. That way I’m never late but don’t have to sit and pay bills but maybe once every 3 months just to reconcile.