Paying bills with credit without service fees?

[Thb0307]

Hey, some of you might have saw my last thread where I was looking for a way to pay my utility and cable bills with a credit card to establish credit, and have my dad pay off the balances for me online.

I have figured that out thanks to help from from some of the members here. Now I'm looking for a way I can pay my utility and cable bills with a credit card without having to pay transaction fees. The payees have payment services through phone and online but charge a fee. My bank's (USAA) web pay will only allow payments out of my checking account and not credit. Any way to get around these transaction fees while paying credit?

[disneysteve]

Do the payees offer automatic billing to your card without a fee? I have several bills that are just automatically charged to my CC each month. I don't have to do anything.

[am_vanquish]

It depends on the company. I've got three great examples from my own utility bills:

Cable/Internet: I can make a single payment manually or recurring automatic payments with a credit card and they won't charge me a processing fee. My favorite bill to pay online.

Power Bill: I can set up a recurring automatic payment to a credit card without a processing fee. However, a single manual payment to a credit card by website or by phone will charge $5.95 for processing.

Gas Bill: Any credit card payment made at all, recurring/single or auto/manual will charege $7.95 no matter what. They also charge $5.95 to setup an automatic withdrawal from a checking account. I hate this bill and it's the only check I write for utilities every month ... because I refuse to pay them a fee to process my payment.

[MonkeyMama]

Sorry, I am no help.

I just find the responses interesting. All of our vendors either take credit cards (no charge) or don't take them at all.

I don't automatically charge anything.

$7.95 per transaction? Ouch!

The exception is the government of course. But even our local government agencies have been trending away from passing on charge card fees.

I guess I should consider myself lucky!

[kork13]

Yea, it's not likely that you can make it work... My power and water bills could be paid by credit card, but as mentioned, they pass on the processing fee (and then some). Some utility companies allow free CC payments, but I'd venture to say very few (though you may be able to do it with cable -- I can, but only via single, non-recurring payments)

[maat55]

Some of my bills are payed by CC and some are not. Some will allow you to auto pay by check for free, but not on CC.

[snafu]

It seems to be a mixed bag with individual utilities companies setting protocols. Our gas company encourages customers to use automatic withdrawal. I really like their budget system which makes the sum the same amount 11 months and adjusts each June. 2013-14 was a really cold winter so my budget has re-set $ 18. higher each month. They do not permit CC billing at all. nada.

We can pay cell phones and electric/water/sewerage [one provider] if set as re-occurring. We get a small discount for paying municipal [property] tax on their self operated TIPPS [Tax Instalment Payment Plan]. City administration loves this program with money paid every month. People who pay via their PIT mortgage provider are submitted in June. The majority of outright home owners [paid off mortgages] likewise make one annual payment in June. I believe these can be paid via CC but there is a service fee.

All the providers accept payment from ATM with no service charge.

[marvholly]

I have to look into this a good deal more. I have 3 BIG bills due in the next 3 weeks: real estate taxes, home owners insurance and auto insurance. I DO have the cash saved up but would pay by cc for the rewards.

I KNOW there is a BIG fee on the real estate taxes so I will write a check.
I have previously paid both insurances by electrinic funds transfer but will check on the 'fee' to pay by cc.

All my utilities (except internet) charge a fee (gas, electric, water, phone).

[Drake3287]

I pay everyone of my monthly bill's with a credit card because of cash rewards and have never paid a service fee or finance charge. The only bill's I can't put on a charge card are property taxes and my mortgage payment. If you do some research I bet almost every monthly bill you have can be charged on a card.

[marvholly]

I have checked into paying house & auto insurance by cc. Both do 'allow' it. However, both will continue to automatically continue to charge the card at renewal time.

This is NOT for me as I intend to compare rates annually from ow on. Saved myself a bit on the house this year & could have on the auto if the agen assigned to me had NOT been a liar.