e bill payment struggle

[LivingAlmostLarge]

So I decided to try the e bill pay from B of A. It didn't work. Yes I had them "mail" a payment to the gutter guy, yard service, and guitar lesson. None of them "received" the payment. So the checks that were cut on the 1st of the month, and expected to be delivered 11/9 never got received and I have struggled for 2 days to call and argue with the bank. They said "it's been posted". I said they didn't get it. The person kept arguing with me and I explained it's an E check I want to see the signature on the back like a normal check that posts. They had to transfer me to the on line ebill pay and they finally understood the point and what I wanted to know. Turns out none of the "posted" checks were cashed or signed or deposited.

So yeah lovely failure. they suck. I ended up mailing checks off today to everyone.

[kork13]

I've normally had no issues using my bank's bill pay service to get checks mailed for me, but we did recently have a similar problem. A person we hired for a job didn't receive the check, even after almost 2 weeks. I nearly wrote a new check myself for her, but then suddenly the check arrived after nearly 3 weeks & posted to my account when she cashed it. Not sure what the delay was... another bill pay check from a couple days previous arrived & was cashed within just a week.

Just keep an eye out, and make sure that those mailed payments don't suddenly show up & get cashed as well.

[SavingMoneyGoals]

I use Wells Fargo Bill Pay option and I never had an issue. That sucks though. Hope you get it sorted!

[rennigade]

Is this really how paying bills through your bank works? I recently heard this and didnt realize...

When you epay a bill through your banks website...someone at the bank has to physically send out a check for you to the company. That seems odd to me and a bank like b of a or wells fargo would have millions of checks to send out daily.

Now I heard this from a smaller local bank in PA...so take that for a grain of salt.

[Jluke]

is the ebill really easier than writing a check and mailing it?

It's almost like when the bank handles the escrow account on your home and you hope that they make the payment on time...

I wouldn't feel comfortable with a bank handling either task.

[rennigade]

is the ebill really easier than writing a check and mailing it?

It's almost like when the bank handles the escrow account on your home and you hope that they make the payment on time...

I wouldn't feel comfortable with a bank handling either task.

I pay 99% of my bills through my bank...ive done it for 10 years now and never had an issue. I never really thought about how that money gets to the account.

When I enter a new payee I have to enter the account number/address. I just assumed it electronically made its way to the specified account number at the other end.

And Yes...paying through your bank is where its at.

[MonkeyMama]

is the ebill really easier than writing a check and mailing it?

It's almost like when the bank handles the escrow account on your home and you hope that they make the payment on time...

I wouldn't feel comfortable with a bank handling either task.

Yes, ebill is so much easier/faster than writing checks. I couldn't even imagine writing it all out, stuffing envelopes, finding stamps, etc. (Plus going to the store to buy stamps?)

I would absolutely never let a bank pay my property taxes. I've seen too many nightmare scenarios with banks dropping the ball. In contrast, I've never had any problems whatsoever with bill pay (I have been using for about 20 years with various small credit unions). I may agree with you on not using a big bank for that type service.

[MonkeyMama]

So yeah lovely failure. they suck.

That's a bummer. I LOVE online bill pay. Keep in mind that there's other financial institutions with much better service on this front. I think that sounds ridiculous.

[snafu]

LAL, I use the bank's 'Transfer' system for smaller, occasional/intermittent vendors like yard service or music lessons mentioned. It's very efficient, your input when convenient and pay electronically the date you request, without fee. B of A snail mail cheques? really?

Jluke, have you personally experienced bank failure to pay escrow or a bill as requested? Can it be ascribed to urban legend?

[Drake3287]

I've been using the BofA online banking since it first came out years ago and have completed hundreds and hundreds of transactions without a hitch. As for a payee that doesn't except e-payments, BofA actually sends a physical check in the mail. You have to include ample time for the entire process to work including the US Mail.

I'm guessing something got screwed up accidentally because it usually works great.

[disneysteve]

Is this really how paying bills through your bank works? I recently heard this and didnt realize...

When you epay a bill through your banks website...someone at the bank has to physically send out a check for you to the company.

If the payee accepts electronic payments, it is sent that way. A physical check is sent only when the payee can't accept electronic payments.

Example: My cousin is on our cell phone family plan. He uses his online banking to send me a check every month for his share of the bill. I do get a physical paper check in the mail from the bank.

I'm sure it is still all done automatically. It isn't like some poor soul is sitting at the bank writing and mailing the checks.

[Jluke]

Jluke, have you personally experienced bank failure to pay escrow or a bill as requested? Can it be ascribed to urban legend?

A family member had that happen where the bank didn't pay an escrow bill on time b/c it wasn't in-line with their normal payment period (something along those lines). Family member had to pay a penalty and missed out on the 2%discount for paying in the early time window.

[MonkeyMama]

Jluke, have you personally experienced bank failure to pay escrow or a bill as requested? Can it be ascribed to urban legend?

It's not urban legend. Mistakes happen.

[sblatner]

I think the checks probably arrived but got thrown away because the receiver thought they were junk mail. That has happened to me way too many times to count. I just reschedule the payment and it goes again and they receive it.

Once, I had someone else's check get put in an envelope with one of my checks. Luckily I knew the person who received the wrong check so they put it in the mail addressed to the person on the check.

I don't know if I have ever not had a bank send out a check that I requested.

I have an issue with B of A and Wells online bill pays because they withdraw the money from your account when the check is sent - not when it is cashed so you don't know if it has arrived or not. I do bookkeeping and most of my clients use First Republic. FRB does not deduct the money until the check is cashed.

[MonkeyMama]

I have an issue with B of A and Wells online bill pays because they withdraw the money from your account when the check is sent - not when it is cashed so you don't know if it has arrived or not.

Eek! I didn't know that anyone still did that. That ruins the entire bill pay experience. In that case, I'd be in the "it's easier to just write a check" camp.