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online billpay no longer free; looking for new one
10-03-2010, 08:30 AM
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#1
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 353
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online billpay no longer free; looking for new one
It used to be that to qualify for better rates and such my credit union wanted me to use online billpay, which I happily did for a long time... Now, I guess they decided (or figured out?) it should be the other way around - to qualify for free bill pay I have to do a bunch of other things... in other words, after a dozen years with this institution as my primary bank (though it's a CU), I am now looking for a better place which would offer a free checking with online bill payer.
Can you folks recommend or suggest problems with online bill payment systems of other banks / CUs? Does/Did anyone here use online billpay at Alliant, Ally, USBank, PNC, others?
Thanks!
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10-03-2010, 09:02 AM
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#2
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,252
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If you can keep $25,000 combined in your IRA, brokerage, & checking, then the only game in town is the WellsFargo PMA package. Everything is FREE. You get free trades on everything which is worth it alone.
Otherwise, USAA is a good place. I currently have $0.00 in my USAA checking and have never been charged a fee. In fact, I wouldn't even have a USAA account if they didn't pay me indirectly $6000 over the last few years.
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10-03-2010, 09:02 AM
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#3
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 102
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I am currently using USBank and Schwab online bill pay, and both have functioned flawlessly for me, and are free with a checking account.
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10-03-2010, 09:30 AM
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#4
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Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Flyover country
Posts: 25,358
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It has always been free with my USAA bank checking account.
__________________
I thought growing old would take longer.
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10-03-2010, 09:44 AM
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#5
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 8,827
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Bank of America has great online bill pay -- free.
It is the only thing I like about BOA, I might add, and is one of very few "free" things they offer.
__________________
Rich
San Francisco Area
ESR'd March 2010. FIRE'd January 2011.
As if you didn't know..If the above message contains medical content, it's NOT intended as advice, and may not be accurate, applicable or sufficient. Don't rely on it for any purpose. Consult your own doctor for all medical advice.
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10-03-2010, 10:45 AM
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#6
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Chicago
Posts: 1,008
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PNC offers free online bill pay with Free Checking. There's a minumum $2k for free ATM usage though.
We opted for the Performance Select Checking (min $10k) to get a free safe deposit box - $100 annual credit (we got the 2nd largest box) and free domestic wire transfers. The free wire transfer convinced me because I use it a lot. Some banks charge $30 or more for this service. I find I'll wire any amount since I don't get charged for it.
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10-04-2010, 05:48 PM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: midwestern city
Posts: 4,061
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I am with Bank of America - they have a great online bill payment system. And it's free as far as I know (not sure for how long though).
__________________
Very conservative with investments. Not ER'd yet, 48 years old. Please do not take anything I write or imply as legal, financial or medical advice directed to you. Contact your own financial advisor, healthcare provider, or attorney for financial, medical and legal advice.
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10-04-2010, 06:32 PM
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#8
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 17,774
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My Capital One visa is offering bill pay--I presume it's free. And maybe gives points, too. Maybe I should look into it for myself....
__________________
“Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?” J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
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10-04-2010, 07:44 PM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,150
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I don't even use an online bill paying service.
I do have various recurring bill payments automatically taken out of my credit card and checking account. The bills that don't have this service (one or two a month) I write an old fashioned check.
To keep up to date where my current balance is I rely on my old style checkbook register (remember those things? ).
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
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10-04-2010, 11:09 PM
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#10
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Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 748
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I have used ING and ALLY billpay, Ally pays a little more interest on the money that I keep in the account for the bill pay, but both have been very easy to use. I do like ING's online program a tad bit better, but the nice thing about Ally, is while they cut the check and send it before the due date, they don't actually debit your account until the day you have set up as the pay date (if that makes sense). A couple extra days float.....
__________________
I don't want to spend my entire life at work. I deserve more. - Want2retire aka W2R
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10-04-2010, 11:30 PM
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#11
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,242
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I use Chase.... opened an account at Capital One, but did not like their bill pay program... so have let it just sit with a little money in it....
Have not tried the online banks for checking, but might look into that as I do have an ING savings account and it pays a lot more interest than either bank... hint... Chase is zero for my account, but if you had... say $90,000 in your checking account they raise that up to .01% (not a mistype)....
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10-05-2010, 07:55 AM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by easysurfer
I don't even use an online bill paying service.
I do have various recurring bill payments automatically taken out of my credit card and checking account. The bills that don't have this service (one or two a month) I write an old fashioned check.
To keep up to date where my current balance is I rely on my old style checkbook register (remember those things? ).
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Same here. I even pay my electric bill automatically via VISA and reclaim 1% every month.
My credit union has auto bill pay, but I only use it for my mortgage.
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10-05-2010, 08:27 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,697
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Quote:
Originally Posted by easysurfer
I don't even use an online bill paying service.
I do have various recurring bill payments automatically taken out of my credit card and checking account. The bills that don't have this service (one or two a month) I write an old fashioned check.
To keep up to date where my current balance is I rely on my old style checkbook register (remember those things? ).
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This is pretty much how I do things. Most of my regular monthly bills (electric, phone, cable TV) I pay via electronic payment from my checking account. Only one regular monthly bill I pay via paper check because they, surprisingly, have never set up auto-pay (I have asked them several times) even though we mail the check to their BANK! Go figure.
My non-monthly payments I pay by paper check even if I could auto-pay them. One reason is that some are large and another is that I want a paper trail. The bank which has my credit card has a branch down the street so I pay that in person, thereby avoiding any chance of the Post Office losing my check (and the walk gives me some exercise and a chance to get quarters for the laundry LOL!). One small annual bill goes to my credit card.
Most of the transactions in and out of my mutual funds are done electronically, but they are initiated through the mutual fund's website (or phone system).
__________________
Retired in late 2008 at age 45. Cashed in company stock, bought a lot of shares in a big bond fund and am living nicely off its dividends. IRA, SS, and a pension await me at age 60 and later. No kids, no debts.
"I want my money working for me instead of me working for my money!"
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10-05-2010, 09:05 AM
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#14
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 17,242
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Quote:
Originally Posted by travelover
Same here. I even pay my electric bill automatically via VISA and reclaim 1% every month.
My credit union has auto bill pay, but I only use it for my mortgage.
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I would do that, but my utilities charge a fee... like $5 or $10... so you are not getting the full benefit... and only when your bill is big enough...
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10-05-2010, 09:16 AM
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#15
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Denver
Posts: 3,519
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Our Wachovia checking account - now Wells Fargo - started charging $5.95/mo for access to the account using Quicken/Money.
I find that incredibly arrogant and greedy. Here we are - saving them money by not going into a branch (which is just a few blocks away) each time we want some information, but they feel they can turn around and charge for the service - while just about every bank offers it for free!
I called to have the charge removed. They changed my account type (now, that I'm over 50) and lo & behold - not only is the fee removed, but the minimum is reduced too!
I think there is much to recommend the "Move your money" movement. I plan to get out of this bank soon!
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10-05-2010, 09:34 AM
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#16
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,145
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa
Bank of America has great online bill pay -- free.
It is the only thing I like about BOA, I might add, and is one of very few "free" things they offer.
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+1 (especially about the "only thing I like about BOA")
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
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10-05-2010, 10:08 AM
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#17
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texas Proud
I would do that, but my utilities charge a fee... like $5 or $10... so you are not getting the full benefit... and only when your bill is big enough...
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Made me look. Apparently my utility just eats the credit card charge.
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10-05-2010, 10:16 AM
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#18
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Recycles dryer sheets
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 193
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I use Fidelity. Unused funds in MM. They automatically deduct the funds from the MM when they pay, not when you schedule a future payment.
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10-05-2010, 12:34 PM
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#19
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Naples
Posts: 2,179
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rich_in_Tampa
Bank of America has great online bill pay -- free.
It is the only thing I like about BOA, I might add, and is one of very few "free" things they offer.
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I've been with Bank of America for years, going back to when it was Nations Bank. Always had a good relationship with them but they never made a cent off of me. As I remember, the checking account is free as long as you have met some basic requrements. In my case it was direct deposit of my retirement/social security check. Their online banking is then free and great. I no longer write checks.
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10-05-2010, 12:40 PM
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#20
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Moderator Emeritus
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 12,901
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Quote:
Originally Posted by walkinwood
Our Wachovia checking account - now Wells Fargo - started charging $5.95/mo for access to the account using Quicken/Money.
I find that incredibly arrogant and greedy. Here we are - saving them money by not going into a branch (which is just a few blocks away) each time we want some information, but they feel they can turn around and charge for the service - while just about every bank offers it for free!
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That $5.95 monthly fee pushed me over the edge at Wachovia. I now bank at USAA, free checking, free online Bill Pay, free Quicken download.
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