Autopay bills??

[kp11364]

Do most companies in TV support auto-pay (e.g. Xfinity, SECO, water, etc.)??

I'm asking since I will most like be purchasing a home in TV first, then selling my home in NYC ... I will be doing more than one back-and-forth trip, and I don't want to have my utilities turned off in TV if I get stuck up north and a bill is due.

Thanks!

Kevin

[Villageswimmer]

Do most companies in TV support auto-pay (e.g. Xfinity, SECO, water, etc.)??

I'm asking since I will most like be purchasing a home in TV first, then selling my home in NYC ... I will be doing more than one back-and-forth trip, and I don't want to have my utilities turned off in TV if I get stuck up north and a bill is due.

Thanks!

Kevin


Of course.

[retiredguy123]

Almost all of the utility companies will email you an electronic bill that you can pay with online banking. I think some will allow autopay, but I avoid autopay like the plague. I don't want anyone to have direct access to my bank account or credit card.

[JoelJohnson]

Been doing auto pay for many years, never a problem.

[MickeyStevens]

Almost all of the utility companies will email you an electronic bill that you can pay with online banking. I think some will allow autopay, but I avoid autopay like the plague. I don't want anyone to have direct access to my bank account or credit card.

I too avoid auto pay but I do have all my bills emailed to me electronically. When they arrive I go on line to my bank and set them to be paid a couple of days before the due date.

[thelegges]

Everything Bill I have here is emailed, give them a call Seco and whichever North or Central Sumter will be happy to take care of that for you. Customer service is alway nice

[EdFNJ]

Every bill I get is paid by autopay and/or online. Worrying about someone getting my account info is meaningless this day and age because nothing you do will ever stop it short of NEVER ordering anything on the web or never giving your credit card to some teenage server who takes it in back to charge your dinner or never writing a check. I do have 2 checking accounts (not linked) and I keep enough to only cover bills in one and I can transfer funds between them in seconds plus my bank accounts require two-factor authentication (a code sent by text or an automated phone with code call sent to my cell phone) to log in. Unless you are a hermit your info is out there. My credit cards have been hacked dozens of times over the last 10 years. Must have been those gas station attendants in NJ where there is no self service.

[jimbomaybe]

The thing I like best about "Auto pay" type bill paying is the company's that charge you a "convenience fee" so they don't have to generate a paper bill ,send it, then process the check you send them and have the money go right into their bank account

[tlgraham]

Set it up through your bank.

[b0bd0herty]

Do most companies in TV support auto-pay (e.g. Xfinity, SECO, water, etc.)??

I'm asking since I will most like be purchasing a home in TV first, then selling my home in NYC ... I will be doing more than one back-and-forth trip, and I don't want to have my utilities turned off in TV if I get stuck up north and a bill is due.

Thanks!

Kevin

Yes, I have most all my "living" bills (water, electric, internet & cable) all on automatic withdrawal.

[banjobob]

Good comment I think having a credit card for “ unknown” is a good idea ,restrict the limit and use it only for online and out of view transactions.

[HORNET]

I have had my Amenity and Seco bills on direct deposit from Citizens Bank since 2007. I have never had A problem with either.

[BFISHER54]

Yes. All my bills are autopay.

[wsachs]

Pay most of my bills with credit card that gives me miles. Automatically charges the card, even my car and cart insurance and I get the miles!

[CFrance]

Almost all of the utility companies will email you an electronic bill that you can pay with online banking. I think some will allow autopay, but I avoid autopay like the plague. I don't want anyone to have direct access to my bank account or credit card.
Ditto. I use my online banking to pay our bills, but I don't give anyone access to our bank account. We got burned many years ago by one company taking $ out twice and by another one not stopping auto pay after we had opted out.


There are no TV-related bills that don't have access to pay online. It works the best for us.

[mydavid]

I too avoid auto pay but I do have all my bills emailed to me electronically. When they arrive I go on line to my bank and set them to be paid a couple of days before the due date. I'm with you kid

[Girlcopper]

Do most companies in TV support auto-pay (e.g. Xfinity, SECO, water, etc.)??

I'm asking since I will most like be purchasing a home in TV first, then selling my home in NYC ... I will be doing more than one back-and-forth trip, and I don't want to have my utilities turned off in TV if I get stuck up north and a bill is due.

Thanks!

Kevin
Call them and ask

[hav7979]

I too avoid auto pay but I do have all my bills emailed to me electronically. When they arrive I go on line to my bank and set them to be paid a couple of days before the due date.

We move back and forth to michigan. Chase is our main bank. We opened a citizens first (free account) and set all our auto pays to that account. Each month we transfer funds into that account to cover the auto pays. We keep a buffer in that account but if it gets hacked we are only out a few hundred dollars and not thousands. If there was a major problem we could just close that account and open a new one. Would not have to get new checks or anything
Just reset our auto pays to the new account. With all the cyber breeches I would never give anyone direct access to out main account.

[NY2TV]

Pay most of my bills with credit card that gives me miles. Automatically charges the card, even my car and cart insurance and I get the miles!

The only monthly bill I pay by credit card is Xfinity. I didn't know you can pay Teco, Seco and CDD with credit card. I will look into that.

[pollysue]

yes they do, we have all our utility bills autopay. its taking average 18 days for our mail to be forwarded from our home state.

[Uphillputt330]

We have all of the TV related bills on autopay - SECO, TECO, District amenities /water. We pay the credit cards directly only after we review the charges.

[retiredguy123]

The only monthly bill I pay by credit card is Xfinity. I didn't know you can pay Teco, Seco and CDD with credit card. I will look into that.
Of the ones you mentioned, I think Xfinity is the only one that will accept a credit card. Massey and most doctors will accept credit cards, but most utility companies will not.

[bob47]

I believe after you authorize auto pay for a provider, you cannot force it to be shut off. You can only request that the provider stop it.

Is this correct? And if it is, is it a concern to anyone?

[Dbraisted]

When you pay with direct debit (auto pay) or a credit card it makes it so much easier if you become ill or begin to have (forgetfulness). Your designated fiduciary power of attorney will have an easier transition and will have no problem keeping things paid for you. Keeping a list of what bills get paid how and with passwords for accounts also helps if you need someone to handle your finances. I have seen many children struggle to figure all this out for parents when there is no clear paper trail.

[J1ceasar]

It's simple to make a list and check each account online on their websites at the beginning of the month or the 15th and then do it electronically yourself. That way no worries about connecting accounts or auto-paid troubles

[talonip]

I always use autopay. Everyone in the villages accepts it. I rarely write a check except if it’s for getting grass cut.

[Rzepecki]

The thing I like best about "Auto pay" type bill paying is the company's that charge you a "convenience fee" so they don't have to generate a paper bill ,send it, then process the check you send them and have the money go right into their bank account

I get a $10 discount on my Xfinity bill for paperless billing and autopay; $5 discount on other bills for same.

[CFrance]

Of the ones you mentioned, I think Xfinity is the only one that will accept a credit card. Massey and most doctors will accept credit cards, but most utility companies will not.
Or if they do, there is an extra charge to put it on a credit card.


I do pay some bills by cc to get the miles from the cc. But I can review the payments and contact the cc if they're wrong or double-billed.

[gdharbek@gmail.com]

all but Comcast you cant trust them!!!!!

[OhioBuckeye]

Been doing auto pay for many years, never a problem.

This is the first time I’ve ever Auto paid & I’m 71 yrs. old. I always thought like RETIREDGUY123, never trusted anybody with my private information. But I’m doing it & it’s been about a yr. now that I’ve been doing it. I watch my account very closely & if I ever see where any of my utilities charge me 1 cent more than what they say I owe, it’s cancelled. No problems yet. But I really do see RETIREDGUY’S point. Today’s world is getting very dishonest!

[cj1040]

Many charge a fee that is more than the cost of a stamp I have learned.

[twoplanekid]

Do most companies in TV support auto-pay (e.g. Xfinity, SECO, water, etc.)??

I'm asking since I will most like be purchasing a home in TV first, then selling my home in NYC ... I will be doing more than one back-and-forth trip, and I don't want to have my utilities turned off in TV if I get stuck up north and a bill is due.

Thanks!

Kevin

Please use the District E-Billing system for your monthly water, sewer, trash and amenity billing as it saves the District monies for not having to send paper statements.

Village Community Development Districts (https://www.districtgov.org/departments/utilities/ebillSignup.aspx)

You can always look up your previous bills here--> Village Community Development Districts (https://www.districtgov.org/departments/utilities/payInquiry.aspx)

[llmcdaniel]

Just be sure to keep track each month. Directv is notorious for raising rates without telling you, and then it’s a phone fight to get things straightened out. Also, Massey’s lawn care was charging a fortune for lawn care, weed spraying, bush and tree trimming, and pest control while we were gone for several months. Our neighbors called us and sent pics of the mess our yard had become as they withdrew their pmts but neglected to do the work. Another phone fight. Good luck.

[davem4616]

Until the pandemic we did a lot of travel...I also was concerned with avoiding late charges while we were away

the only regular bill that I wasn't able to have hit a credit card that gives me 2% cash back on everything was the Leesburg Electric company (that's who provides the electricity in our village)...for that ONE bill I allow them to debit a separate checking account that I maintain just for them.

[rmd2]

The only monthly bill I pay by credit card is Xfinity. I didn't know you can pay Teco, Seco and CDD with credit card. I will look into that.

You can but I wouldn't. I would not have anything set up where someone can automatically bill my credit card any more than I would let anyone automatically go into my bank account.

[petiteone]

I'm a snowbird and I auto pay everything even when I'm in The Villages.

[browndw1]

Almost all my bills are on autopay to a credit card. They are all paid on the due date. Works great with one exception. If the credit card is ever hacked, or canceled for some reason and the bank has to issue you a new card, it is a pain to have to change all the auto payments to the new card. I used to write an average of about 20 checks a month. Now down to one for lawn mowing.

[Happyone2]

They all do auto pay...

[john352]

When I closed on the purchase of my home in The Villages in 2004, I had a Citizens First Bank account and set up for autopay on all the utilities. It has worked flawlessly since that time. I am single and live alone. I do not have to worry about getting the bills paid if I go on a trip or if I get sick. I use Bill Pay at Citizens first to pay my credit card bills; it is free and no postage cost and the credit card companies do not have my bank account info.

[kathyspear]

You can but I wouldn't. I would not have anything set up where someone can automatically bill my credit card any more than I would let anyone automatically go into my bank account.

I use a CapitalOne card for most things and they are great about monitoring my charges. If a monthly bill is particularly high they send me an email and ask if the charges are legit. Occasionally a charge gets put through twice and before I have even noticed it they let me know. No situation is foolproof but I find CapOne to be reliable and great to work with. Just my experience.

kathy

[LindaManson]

I use bill pay through USAA and they even mail checks to locals vendors like lawn care and smaller companies that don’t have online auto pay. I even sent checks to friends through the bank on occasion. I even send bank checks to VCDD for the water bill and amenities and don’t have to pay the % fee to do online payment. I don’t use auto pay, but will use a onetime online payment if timing running out for some reason. Bank bill pay is great.

[JoMar]

We use autopay for every thing that will accept it......have been doing it that way for years....never an issue. Also use paypal, to a CC, and apple Pay, to a CC, whenever possible.

[Garywt]

Most do but things like electric and water I don’t. I know it does not happen much anymore with automatic readings but if a meter is read wrong they could try to take $100,000 or more out.

Most of my bills are set up as bill pay through my bank so a click or two a bill gets paid.

[Nell57]

I have all my “must pay” bills on autopay. I keep a checking account at one bank for the autopay bills. My investment accounts are at another bank here in Florida.
The only bill I NEVER put on autopay is Xfinity...Spectrum...Centurylink.
After I cancelled services It took me four months of wrangling to get Centurylink to STOP taking money from my account.
You can pay it online or just call it in an charge it.
Are you going to be a snowbird for a while? If so, cancel the account when you leave.
When you return your account resets at New Customer rates. Or switch companies if that’s a better deal.

[Girlcopper]

Ditto. I use my online banking to pay our bills, but I don't give anyone access to our bank account. We got burned many years ago by one company taking $ out twice and by another one not stopping auto pay after we had opted out.


There are no TV-related bills that don't have access to pay online. It works the best for us.

I do all my auto pays by CC. Easier to dispute tham having it yanked from my bank acct

[bowlingal]

you can have the companies charge your credit card. Much safer than having them debit your bank account. That way you have a much easier time getting a refund if needed.

[Lindaws]

Yes, we use it for everything we can

[bp243]

Do most companies in TV support auto-pay (e.g. Xfinity, SECO, water, etc.)??

I'm asking since I will most like be purchasing a home in TV first, then selling my home in NYC ... I will be doing more than one back-and-forth trip, and I don't want to have my utilities turned off in TV if I get stuck up north and a bill is due.

Thanks!

Kevin
Yes, autopay works perfectly for us. If you have a brokerage account, it's very easy. If you autopay with a credit card and that card is compromised, you will likely need to resubmit your requests, so use a system that is the most reliable.

[lvlwallach]

Yes. You still get notifications and mail when due.

[Carla B]

I believe after you authorize auto pay for a provider, you cannot force it to be shut off. You can only request that the provider stop it.

Is this correct? And if it is, is it a concern to anyone?

Yes, that's what I understand. I say this because I was in Citizens First one day and there was a very frustrated man arguing that he could not get a certain vendor to stop drawing from his bank account and wanted Citizens to force it. They refused.

I have refused to give Xfinity and Verizon autopay or autocharge privileges. Xfinity just raised their monthly rate with this month's billing without notice. They are sneaky that way.

[retiredguy123]

Yes, that's what I understand. I say this because I was in Citizens First one day and there was a very frustrated man arguing that he could not get a certain vendor to stop drawing from his bank account and wanted Citizens to force it. They refused.

I have refused to give Xfinity and Verizon autopay or autocharge privileges. Xfinity just raised their monthly rate with this month's billing without notice. They are sneaky that way.
I would just close the account.

[retiredguy123]

you can have the companies charge your credit card. Much safer than having them debit your bank account. That way you have a much easier time getting a refund if needed.
Typically, utility companies will not accept a credit card, or they will charge a fee.

[jagpa@alumni.psu.edu]

Purchased our TV home March 2020. We pay all our bills with auto pay. No problems at all.

[RonaldJ]

Bought home here a year ago and they all accept auto payments.

[kayak]

I will not allow any company to auto draft my account. I pay all my bills through bill pay with my bank. All my bills except one are setup to pay automatically. I get an email from the bank saying I have an e-bill that will be paid on a certain date and the amount is given. If there is ever a problem I can go to my online banking and change or cancel the payment before the scheduled payment date.
The one bill I cannot setup for auto payment is The Villages utilities. I get the bill via email and have to go to my online banking and manually schedule the payment each month.

Allowing a company to draft my account can lead to big problems that can take a long time to fix.

[jtpearce34476]

Auto-Pay is an option that is available from most companies these days. Some, like DISH even offer a discount ($5 mo.) to customers that select it. Call International Satellite & Antenna (352-237-3811) for a price quote on multiple services (Spectrum, CenturyLink, DISH, ATT-DirecTV and more.