Technology! Haircut! and a surprise!

[rolanni]

So, that's the day-job for this week, and a long two days it was. Let us not speak of them again.

I came home to find that Bill Pay was on! I have entered three payees and scheduled Reminders. I feel so Accomplished. Two days appears to be the average trigger time, down from five-to-seven for snailmail. I note that for a Rush! (i.e. overnight) payment, I need to fork over $14.95 to the bank in extra fees, so we will avoid Rushes. I'll just keep entering bills and scheduling Reminders as the invoices come in. This time next month, I'll be nationwide! Or at least electronic.

Hexapuma's fan club will be delighted to receive the information that he will be getting a haircut tomorrow morning. No, we will not be selling locks of his fur.

Steve brought me red roses.

Comments

[kalilama.livejournal.com]

Two congratulations and an awwww.

[mardott.livejournal.com]

Yay for the end of the work week.

I've used some form of bill pay for so long, I can't imagine an existence without it. You should do fine.

Good for Steve. Some husbands just Get It.

[aitchellsee.livejournal.com]

A Hexapuma haircut? Is that because of the summer heat?

And let me take this opportunity to report the safe receipt of one (1) copy of SALTATION :-)

[klingonguy.livejournal.com]

I've recently started using online BillPay as well.

The lesson I've learned is to be sure and write down the confirmation code so you can point to it if/when there's a screw-up. In my case, a check to my publisher (for books ordered; normally, the publisher pays ME) went missing. Grrrr.

Bill Pay

[keristor.livejournal.com]

I'm puzzled. As far as I can gather this Bill Pay thing is something I have had on every online banking system for many years in the UK -- it lets me set up the destination bank code and account number, and either manual (I have to invoke it and enter the amount for each transaction) or automatic ("standing order", the same amount on a fixed day each month) Plus we have the "direct debits" which are the ones where the other person 'pulls' money from the account. I can do all those (except setting up direct debit, which needs the receiving person to set it up, but I can delete exising ones) on any bank account I've seen for many years, and don't need to contact the bank to set it up. If I didn't have online banking at all, that is usually an online web transaction to set it up (does take a day or so because it needs to be manually checked to prevent fraud).

The only thing our system doesn't do is send out a physical cheque (check), but since they are being phased out anyway (most places won't take them these days) and any services (and pretty much any person) has to have a bank account to function that is not a useful thing to do.

Is this something new to Americans? I've seen several other people implying that this is a new idea to them. Or is there something special I'm missing?

Re: Bill Pay

[(Anonymous)]

I think what you are missing is that in the US there are literally thousands of "banks" (I don't mean branche offices, I mean independent banks!) each with thier own offerings. Most of the larger banks have been doing the bill pay thing for many years, but a lot of smaller banks have avoided the cost of implementing it until some recent changes in banking laws made it advantageous for them to do so.

Re: Bill Pay

[elgordo303.livejournal.com]

poop ! ... that was me ...

Re: Bill Pay

[(Anonymous)]

Third part Bill Payers have existed for decades in the US, such as Checkfree (founded 1981). Some were web based, some ran from some accounting software such as Quicken, and some you could choose one or the other option. They were not expensive, but they were not free. You had to provide your checking account #, lots of personal information, and authorization for this 3rd party to access your bank account. Lots of people were really shy about authorizing a 3rd party to make transfers OUT of their accounts since the major of bills are paid by electronic transfer rarely by paper check - a new concept 20 to 30 years ago. Only in the last decade have US Banks really started to offer "free" bill paying as part of their services. It is available at most Credit Unions and the majority of the larger banks in the US. Slowly the smaller banks are offering it. Frankly, I don't know why banks haven't moved faster on it and promoted it more, it cuts down on the handling of paper checks since generally a bill paid via bill payer software doesn't generate one. (I have one small company that I pay monthly, that they cut and mail paper check.) If you are running an electronic checkbook (either by accounting software or a spreadsheet) and have a semi-regular income, it really helps with the budgeting. I can pay a bill early, if I have the funds or wait until the very last day, if I need to wait on a paycheck deposit. I guess it really didn't become popular in the US until the generation that grew up with computers reached adulthood and needed to pay bills. Susan

[(Anonymous)]

And for some of us, the bank wants to charge amounts that we the customers consider prohibitive. I refuse to pay extra for something so simple...it oughta be free. But! the credit union offers it for free if you have Direct Deposit of your paycheck so I have BillPay on there.

Roses and a haircut - lovely times.
Lauretta@ConstellationBooks