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From: rld@bentley.UUCP (Bob Duncanson)
Newsgroups: net.consumers
Subject: Re: Sears "QuickPay" Bill-Paying Service
Message-ID: <427@bentley.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 29-Jun-84 15:18:55 EDT
Article-I.D.: bentley.427
Posted: Fri Jun 29 15:18:55 1984
Date-Received: Sun, 1-Jul-84 08:25:51 EDT
References: <157@pertec.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Piscataway
Lines: 36

I have been using a service like this for a long time.
My bank account is City Federal Savings. I give them a list of
1) "merchants" I wish to be able to pay on an irregular basis, by phone
I call an 800 number at the bank, and talk to a person during business
hours (I almost never do this) or leave my instruction with the answering
machine (almost always). I have my wife's account, all the utility
companies (gas, phone, electric) and my VISA card, among others
on this list.
2) another list of "merchants" I wish paid a regular amount at regular
times. These are paid automatically. I have my mortgage, gas, electric,
phone, cable tv, garbage collectors and charitable donations all on this
list.  I have NEVER had a problem, except once a utilty company messed up.
(the gas, phone and electric are on both lists. I pay an estimated amount
every month, and if I get too far behind I call up as above to supplement.
Once I got too far beyond and write to the company for a refund.)

I can change the list whenever I want, just by filing a supplementary form.
I am notified by mail with a complete detailed listing
a week or two after I file that the lists are updated.
The report shows dates and amounts for the periodic bills.
The period is not necessarily one month, other periods are allowed.

The monthly bank statement identifies each payment by "merchant name",
which is better than: CHK 09387761420 $375.00!

At the end of each year (well, in January) I receive a summary of amounts
payed to each "merchant" for the past year -- useful for tax-figuring!

The whole thing costs me on $0.15 per transaction, which is less than the
twenty cents (soon to go up) that I would pay in postage if I mailed
a check!

-- 
[Nothing cute to say.]		Bob Duncanson		cbosgd!bentley!rld
				AT&T Bell Laboratories,	Piscataway, NJ
				eventually to become:	Liberty Corner, NJ