My daily tip from Family Handyman recommends not putting most bills on autopay. I disagreed with most of their list. Virtually all of my bills arrive via email, and if I miss one and don't pay it, I'm in trouble. With few exceptions, I pay for subscriptions myself, except for ones I know I want, like Amazon, Tivo, and Netflix. I might accept a magazine subscription for a trial period for $10, but I don't want to automatically pay $149 for a year. One autopay I did stop was the electric bill because some local people are getting ridiculously high bills - like $1,000 for a month. Several of my bills are paid with my Sam's Club credit card because I get cash back from that.
The card I use for automatic payments has a low balance. At least if that account gets hacked there is not much money they could get. Glad I get reimbursed for fraudulent charges from credit card company.
jinx wrote:
Glad I get reimbursed for fraudulent charges from credit card company.
Definitely. Using a debit card or bank account doesn't get you that protection.
This small TN town if i pay the electric and water bill with Auto Pay they charge an additional $5.00 so (po-ie) I will drive the 4 blocks and wright them a check and save $10.00 a month
jerryc41 wrote:
My daily tip from Family Handyman recommends not putting most bills on autopay. I disagreed with most of their list. Virtually all of my bills arrive via email, and if I miss one and don't pay it, I'm in trouble. With few exceptions, I pay for subscriptions myself, except for ones I know I want, like Amazon, Tivo, and Netflix. I might accept a magazine subscription for a trial period for $10, but I don't want to automatically pay $149 for a year. One autopay I did stop was the electric bill because some local people are getting ridiculously high bills - like $1,000 for a month. Several of my bills are paid with my Sam's Club credit card because I get cash back from that.
My daily tip from Family Handyman recommends not p... (
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I stopped all autopays because if they make a mistake it takes forever to get your money back!
clint f.
Loc: Priest Lake Idaho, Spokane Wa
AirWalter wrote:
I stopped all autopays because if they make a mist... (
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If they make a mistake then you need a new bank. Does this happen to you often?
I don't use autopay nor email bill. I always insist on paper bills and pay when I receive the bills.
BebuLamar wrote:
I don't use autopay nor email bill. I always insist on paper bills and pay when I receive the bills.
I use autopay for all my routine monthly bills, utilities etc. Never ever had a problem. never a need to remember the date a bill needs to be paid. I also use when I buy something over with a no interest charge. I set one up as soon as I receive my first bill. To me that's taking advantage of those interest free offers with no worries about late charges etc
Every utility bill I have is on auto-pay through an arrangement with my financial advisor's company. I would add more, but those bills are too big for what gets funded each month. I love auto-pay.
scooter1 wrote:
Me too.
I forgo some discount associated with paperless billing. I need the paper bill to remind me that I have bill. I don't check my email all the time. I do check my snail mail daily.
I charge nearly everything on my Costco Citibank card and pay it off every month. Every February I cash in my points - usually a bit over $200. Pays for the membership and then some.
I have only my phone and Internet/cable on auto pay. I get all bills by email and direct my bank to pay each one. I never pay through the billing websites.
Autopay is great, until they take an extra payment!
Yes, it happens way too often.
When your checks bounce, or your other payments go unpaid because you quickly go over your available funds.
Then auto pay isn't too much fun.
Yes, the offenders pay up, but who wants to go through that.
Can take months to clean everything up.
Go ahead! Ask me how I know.
Or my wife, my son, my daughter.
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