ThisWeek CW 12/17/2015
http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/canalwinchester/news/2015/12/14/canal-winchester-will-make-online-payment-option-available-next-year.html
Online bill payments will be available to Canal Winchester residents after the first of the year — for a fee.
Finance Director Amanda Jackson told council members that a new financial system that includes an online payment option for water bills has been implemented, and a processing agreement is in place which will include an additional convenience fee charged to system users.
“We’re starting to wind down the year, so we’re closing things out and getting things ready for 2016,” she said. “I’m happy to say we’re putting the finishing touches on online bill pay for utilities, so once it is up and running after the first of the year, we’ll send out notification to residents.
“The only fee passed on to consumers will be for online credit card or online e-check payments, but if they come in, they can pay in person, at the drop-box, or through the mail without any processing fee like they always have.”
According to Jackson, the fee to pay online with an e-check will be $1.50. Using a credit card for online payments of up to $100 will cost the customer a fee of $2.95 with additional fees for higher payments.The fee goes directly to the bank processor, Point & Pay, so the city never touches that part of the transaction, she said.
“The reason for passing on these fees to the customer is that the city can’t really afford to absorb another processing cost,” Jackson said. “I’m sure some additional people would do it without the fee but this is a way for us to deal with our increasing costs.”
Mayor Michael Ebert said he felt the convenience factor shouldn’t be covered by everyone.
“I think it’s more appropriate to charge it to the users instead of making everyone pay it as part of their water bills across the board,” he said. “There are nine different ways to pay the bills, so this is just one of them.”
By introducing the new payment options at the beginning of the year, customers will be able to take advantage of them in time for the February billing cycle.
Jackson said she believes these new options will cut down on the hundreds of delinquent utility bills that occur in every billing cycle.
“We’re hoping with the ability to just log on and pay with a credit card, some of these people who don’t get around to sending in a check or dropping off a payment will see they can just log on and pay it right there,” she said.