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From: bytebug@pertec.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Sears "QuickPay" Bill-Paying Service
Message-ID: <157@pertec.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 26-Jun-84 09:53:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: pertec.157
Posted: Tue Jun 26 09:53:57 1984
Date-Received: Sat, 30-Jun-84 05:42:54 EDT
Organization: Pertec Computer Corp., Irvine, CA
Lines: 29

Included with my Sears bill this month was an ad for a new(?)
bill-paying service being offered by Sears.  For $3.95/month, you can
have Sears make electronic fund transfers in your behalf from your
checking account to payees of your choice.  You can arrange for
automatic payments to occure regularly (rent, car payment, etc), and
also you can call up with a touch tone phone and arrange for other
non-regular payments.  I called up the toll-free information number
(1-800-621-4667) for a "live" demonstration, where one of their
operators sets up a conference call between you, the operator, and the
QuickPay computer, to show you what can be done, and answer any
questions you might have.  I was impressed, and figure that $3.95 is a
bargain, when you consider the cost of stamps, checks, and gasoline (to
get the stamps and checks to the post office).

Any comments from people already using a service of this sort, since I
understand some banks and credit unions have been offering services
like it for awhile.  Anything to watch out for?

I got an ad for Bank of America's "Home Banking" service a few months
back, which is the same sort of thing, but they want $8/month in
addition to having a BofA checking account.  The advantage is that you
get to call up a computer instead of using a touch-tone telephone, but
when I asked about this, the Sears representative indicated that this
was in the future, and will be provided by the Sears/IBM/???? Teletext
service announced last year.
-- 
	roger long
	pertec computer corp
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