1.  What is electronic Bill Payer, and is it free (yes!)?

It's a very easy, safe and convenient way to pay your bills from your UnitedOne checking account.  Electronic Bill Payer is one the most convenient services to be introduced since ATMs.  As a subscriber and at no charge to you, you can pay any bill through the Internet or from any touchtone phone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

2.  How do I get started?

First of all, you need to have a UnitedOne checking account.  Next, you'll need to organize all of your information about any individual, business, merchant or professional who generates an invoice for products or services that you want to pay through Bill Payer.  Gather together the individual or company names, billing addresses and account numbers they’ve assigned to you (phone numbers are appreciated if available).  Next, submit your enrollment request to the credit union for processing.

3.  How soon can I start making payments?

-If you have Internet access and are able to enroll online, you may begin using Bill Payer as soon as the credit union’s administrator approves your enrollment.  When a welcome letter is sent to you via e-mail, you’ll know you’re approved and ready to use Bill Payer.  Your welcome letter will contain all the information you need to begin using the bill pay program.  -If you are signing an enrollment form from the credit union, you will be able to use Bill Payer as soon as our administrator processes your enrollment request. When you receive your welcome letter by US mail, you’ll know you’re approved and ready to use Bill Payer.

4.  Is there anyone I cannot pay through Bill Payer?

There are a few entities not allowing payments through Bill Payer.  They include government taxing authorities; court directed payments such as alimony and child support; no payments are allowed outside the United States ; and there are limitations on payments to security companies, such as Ameritrade, for stock purchases or trade.

5.  Should the processing date I give be the date the payment is actually due?

No -- you need to allow a minimum of five (5) business days for payments to reach your payee.  Depending on the merchant, you may need to allow additional days due to the distance the payment will travel.  Remember, although you can schedule a payment for any time, payments are actually sent only on business days.  (We suggest you allow 7 business days for payments going to a Mountain time zone merchant; 8 business days for payments going to a Pacific time zone merchant.) 

6.  How far in advance can I schedule a payment?

You can schedule a single payment up to 90 days in advance.

7.  How soon are funds actually taken out of my account?

Bill payments are debited from your account on the processing date you request.

8.  What happens if I don't have enough money in my account to cover a bill payment?

If funds are not available on the requested processing date, standard credit union procedures will be followed which means your account may be taken negative to make the payment and a $25 overdraft fee assessed . 

9.  What is the difference between a variable/single bill payment and a recurring payment?

A variable/single bill payment is a one-time payment such as your telephone bill.  This payment amount fluctuates each time you pay it.  It can also be a payment you do not make regularly, such as a florist you use only occasionally.

A recurring payment is one made regularly for the same dollar amount, on the same day each month, such as your car or mortgage payment.  You only need to set up a recurring payment once in the system, and only adjust it when the payment is to be changed or canceled.  Otherwise, your recurring payments will be made automatically according to the regular schedule you arrange.

10.  How are my payments delivered and how can I ensure that my payee receives my payment by the due date?

You may schedule payments to be initiated on the day you enter the information, on a future date or on the same date each month.  Although you can enter payment information 24 hours a day 7 days a week, payments can only be made on business days.  Business days are Monday through Friday excluding holidays. 

After funds are withdrawn from your account, we may remit your payments by electronic funds transfer – OR -- if the merchant/individual does not accept electronic payments, we mail your payee a check drawn on an account we maintain for this purpose.  In some cases we make payment by some other appropriate means.  Because of the time it takes to remit your payment to the payee, they will not receive payment on the processing date (the date you instructed us to deduct the funds from your account).  Therefore, in order to provide sufficient time for payments to be received by your payee, the processing date should be at least five (5) business days before your bill’s actual due date.  Additional days must be added to this time frame if the payment is traveling outside of a 4-state radius.  And remember, we suggest you allow 7 business days for payments going to Mountain time zones, 8 business days for Pacific time zones.

11.  Why does it take five business days and sometimes more for payments?

Although a number of your payees accept payments electronically, many do not.  For those that do not accept electronic payments, we must send a check to that payee through the U.S. mail.  Once the check is received by the payee, it may take a day or so for that payee to process the check and post it to your account.  Even for electronic payments, it may take two or three days for your account to be posted.  Holidays must also be taken into consideration.

12.  How close to the original payment date can I change or cancel a bill payment?

You can change or cancel a bill payment up until 3:00 p.m. Central Standard Time on the processing date you originally gave us.

13.  What should I do if a payee has not posted my payment?

First, be sure to allow a minimum of five (5) business days (or additional days as mentioned above in question 5) for a payee to receive your payment.  If a payee does not post your payment within ten (10) business days of the date you requested the payment to be processed, simply dial the bill paying system and press "0" for Subscriber Services.  We will follow up on the payment and get back to you within 24 to 48 hours. 

14.  How do I add more payees?

You may use the “ADD MERCHANT” button online.  Or, you may also call Subscriber Services and we can take this information from you directly.  It is recommended that if you have more than three merchants to add, that you submit your request in writing.  You may fax this list to your local UnitedOne office for processing.  Be sure to include your name, user ID and detail on each merchant you wish to pay.

15.  What do I do with any payment coupon books or stubs?

These are no longer necessary.  You are welcome to just file them away.

16.  How can I prove payments and transfers were made?

Each time you enter a payment, you are given a transaction number so you can be sure we received your request.  In addition, payments will appear on your monthly statement.  You may also go online to Internet Banking and check your account history or call the Bill Payer system to hear a listing of your most recent transactions.

17.  How much does Bill Payer cost, and what if I don't use it after signing up?

There is no monthly charge for Bill Payer when you use it.  The following inactive fees may apply if you do not pay any bills in a calendar month:  no inactivity charge the first month where no activity takes place; $4.95 inactive fee the second month of no activity; $4.95 the third month of no activity.  After three months of inactivity, we may cancel your Bill Payer service.

18.  How can I cancel my Bill Payer service?

To make sure no payments are missed or duplicated, you will first need to delete any pending scheduled payments.  Then dial the Bill Payer line, press "0" for Subscriber Services, and we'll take care of your request.  You may also contact your local UnitedOne Credit Union office to process your cancellation request.

19.  What if I have a question and want to talk to a real person?

At any time while using the Bill Payer service, you can reach a Subscriber Service representative by calling toll-free at (866)248-0355 and pressing "0".  Subscriber Services hours are 6:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Central Standard Time.  If calling outside of these hours, simply leave a message and we'll call you back on the next business day (Monday through Friday excluding holidays).

20.  How can I be sure no one else can access my bill paying service?

You will access the system by entering your USER ID and PIN.  Only individuals with this information can access your account.  Be certain not to release this information to anyone you do not want to fully authorize as a user on your account.  If for any reason you believe this information has been compromised, please contact your local UnitedOne Credit Union office or change your PIN immediately.

21.  How secure is the Bill Payer process?

When a subscriber comes to the Bill Payer site, a secure connection is established that prevents any outside parties from viewing transaction information.  Any data that is transferred between locations is also made over secure connections utilizing data encryption.  All account information is kept behind a firewall to prevent any outside access.

22.  If I currently have an automatic payment for a bill coming out of my checking account, should I cancel it and use my new Bill Payer program?

We recommended that you NOT cancel any automatic payments UNLESS Bill Payer has the ability to electronically remit this payment to your merchant.  To determine if your merchant will accept electronic payments from Bill Payer, simply call that merchant and ask.  Merchants who have their own payment programs  will often times not allow third-party processors (such as Bill Payer) to remit payments to them.  Our main concern is that your bill be paid in a safe and timely manner. 

 

4/14/08