I can think of countless reasons to pay bills online. But shockingly, many do not take advantage of this tool. Some people don’t trust the Internet and feel that their payment will not reach creditors on time. And for those who aren’t Internet savvy, they may view the process as complicated. Paying bills online, however, can be simple and reliable. If you’re still relying on snail mail, here are seven good reasons to pay bills online.
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1. Save a Stamp
Have you been to the post office lately? If so, you probably know how much it costs to mail a single letter. Saving on stamps is one of the biggest reasons to pay bills online. Mail 10 or 11 letters and you can easily spend $5 on stamps. Keep this money in your pocket and buy yourself a cup of coffee instead.
2. Save on Fuel
Not only do you have to spend money to buy stamps, you have to drive to the post office, your bank or another place that sells stamps. This can be a huge inconvenience, as you may have to drive out of your way and make room in your schedule. Pay your bills online and this hassle can become a thing of the past.
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3. Payments Will Post on the Same Day
If you’re going to mail a bill, you need to send payment at least one week before your due date. This ensures a timely arrival. Because of a busy life, you may not think about a bill until it’s due. By this time, it may be too late to mail a payment. Paying bills online can alleviate a late arrival. As long as you submit your payment by a certain time on your due date (usually by 5 PM) creditors may credit your account the same day.
4. Environmentally-friendly
If you’ve taken other efforts to go green, paying your bills online only makes sense. Not only will this save an envelope, but if you request to have statements sent directly to your email, this saves paper and time. Plus, you don’t have to worry about a statement getting lost in the mail.
5. Pay from Any Location
It doesn’t matter if you’re at work, at home or off somewhere on vacation. When you make a decision to pay your bills online, you can submit a payment from practically any location in the world. As long as you have Internet access and you’re able to access your creditor's website, you can send a payment by its due date.
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6. It’s Free
Although some creditors charge a nominal fee for telephone payments, most allow customers to submit online payments free of charge. Of course, rules regarding fees vary by creditor. You will need to contact your individual creditors for additional information.
7. Secure Sites
Some people avoid online bill pay systems because they’re afraid of someone stealing their identity. This is a valid concern. However, many banks, credit card companies and other creditors go to great lengths to protect the personal information of customers. But there are ways to protect yourself as well. For starters, always look for security logos on creditor websites. Also, if you receive an unsolicited email from your creditors, do not click the links. This can be a hacker posing as your credit card company.
Paying your bills online is the fastest and best way to simplify your finances. With all the safety measures, and the fact that it’s convenient and often free, there’s no reason to mail another bill. Do you pay your bills online?
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