Utility Bill Payment

[retiredguy123]

The Villages has implemented a new system for billing and paying your utility bill. It uses a new vendor, "Invoice Cloud". If you choose paperless billing, you get a monthly email where you can view and pay your invoice. Page 2 of the invoice offers 4 payment methods: "Autopay", "Online", "By Mail", and "In Person". The "Online" method directs you to go to "districtgov.org" and pay the bill using either a credit/debit card and pay a fee of 2.75 percent, or use an Echeck and pay a fee of $0.95. However, there is another online payment method that is not mentioned on the invoice. You can log on to your personal bank website and use their bill pay system to make an electronic payment directly to The Villages, and avoid the $0.95 fee. This is how I have paid my bill for years, and, according to The Villages, it is still available. This information was confirmed to me by The Villages District bill pay office today by an email.

[CFrance]

The Villages has implemented a new system for billing and paying your utility bill. It uses a new vendor, "Invoice Cloud". If you choose paperless billing, you get a monthly email where you can view and pay your invoice. Page 2 of the invoice offers 4 payment methods: "Autopay", "Online", "By Mail", and "In Person". The "Online" method directs you to go to "districtgov.org" and pay the bill using either a credit/debit card and pay a fee of 2.75 percent, or use an Echeck and pay a fee of $0.95. However, there is another online payment method that is not mentioned on the invoice. You can log on to your personal bank website and use their bill pay system to make an electronic payment directly to The Villages, and avoid the $0.95 fee. This is how I have paid my bill for years, and, according to The Villages, it is still available. This information was confirmed to me by The Villages District bill pay office today by an email.
Thank you very much for that information. I have been paying our bill the same way as you for years but thought that had become impossible. I resent their $%^&* 95-cent fee and will go back to sending payment through my bank.
I wonder if they still allow you to drop the bill and a check in the box at the postal centers, another payment method they don't mention.

[Bill14564]

My autopay also has no fee. It's like Echeck but with no work required and no possibility of missing a payment.

I too am unhappy that they added fees to the standard Echeck payments.

[twoplanekid]

Another discussion on the whys and wherefores of this change to the payment system below.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/village-center-community-development-district-online-payments-live-333215/

from my post # 30
Have asked staff to prepare a list of changes to charges for the various payment methods from the old system to the new.

And this is the reply I received from district staff today: (Invoice Cloud is the new system)


"Changes to charges are outlined below. This will be posted on the Utility Page tomorrow:

There was a change to the homeowner charges as follows:

E-Check went from $1 with Point and Pay to .95 with Invoice Cloud.

Credit/Card went from 2.3% with Point and Pay to 2.75% with Invoice Cloud.

The charges with autopay have not changed. If they pay with their banking account (checking or savings) there is no fee. Same thing with bill pay services."

I personally pay using autopay out of a checking account and do not have statements sent to me using the mail as that saves the district and NSCUDD money. I can always access my billing/invoices using the district online viewing system.

[villagetinker]

Thank you very much for that information. I have been paying our bill the same way as you for years but thought that had become impossible. I resent their $%^&* 95-cent fee and will go back to sending payment through my bank.
I wonder if they still allow you to drop the bill and a check in the box at the postal centers, another payment method they don't mention.

Yes, they do, I immediately complained when I saw the initial announcement, and was told checks were still being accepted at the drop sites, and that is what I have continued to do.

[billethkid]

Bank bill pay continues...they do send a check.

[JGibson]

Wouldn't it make more sense to charge no fee or even a 2% discount to encourage folks to pay electronically instead of the labor that goes into inputting a physical check?
I know other companies like cell companies offer discounts for Autopay so they don't have to deal with paper checks.

[twoplanekid]

Wouldn't it make more sense to charge no fee or even a 2% discount to encourage folks to pay electronically instead of the labor that goes into inputting a physical check?
I know other companies like cell companies offer discounts for Autopay so they don't have to deal with paper checks.

What saves the District money is to not send statements to customers by mail. I use autopay directly from my bank and don't asked to be sent a statement as I can lookup all of my past payments on districtgov.org.

NSCUDD has looked at a discount option but legal staff says that it's tricky to do.

[retiredguy123]

What saves the District money is to not send statements to customers by mail. I use autopay directly from my bank and don't asked to be sent a statement as I can lookup all of my past payments on districtgov.org.

NSCUDD has looked at a discount option but legal staff says that it's tricky to do.
A lot of people in The Villages are "old school" or just stubborn and they do not like autopay. I am one of them. I don't like giving someone permission to transfer money out of my checking account. I want to see the bill, and authorize the payment myself.

[keepsake]

I always say .. Push the payment, don't let them pull it.

[Bill14564]

I always say .. Push the payment, don't let them pull it.

I always say... I have better things to do than manually make regular, monthly payments.

I move money once to make sure there is enough in the account for the payments then I forget about bills for the next 30 days.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

I don’t let vendors pull except one, life insurance. I also pay my bills ahead of time so there is an owed amount between -50 and 10 $. The check is through autopay fixed amount so the payments gets recorded before the bill is sent. I just look at the bill each month and file it away for tax deduction filing.

[Ecuadog]

I always say .. Push the payment, don't let them pull it.

Bingo. You and me both.

[Eebnhab]

Another discussion on the whys and wherefores of this change to the payment system below.

https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-general-discussion-73/village-center-community-development-district-online-payments-live-333215/

from my post # 30
Have asked staff to prepare a list of changes to charges for the various payment methods from the old system to the new.

And this is the reply I received from district staff today: (Invoice Cloud is the new system)


"Changes to charges are outlined below. This will be posted on the Utility Page tomorrow:

There was a change to the homeowner charges as follows:

E-Check went from $1 with Point and Pay to .95 with Invoice Cloud.

Credit/Card went from 2.3% with Point and Pay to 2.75% with Invoice Cloud.

The charges with autopay have not changed. If they pay with their banking account (checking or savings) there is no fee. Same thing with bill pay services."

I personally pay using autopay out of a checking account and do not have statements sent to me using the mail as that saves the district and NSCUDD money. I can always access my billing/invoices using the district online viewing system.

If it saves them so much money to have us autopay, then they shouldn’t charge for the service.

[bowlingal]

write a check, deposit in the slot for amenities payments and be done with it. Don't even need a stamp. Sometimes, technology gets crazy, ridiculous, expensive and out of control.

[Bill14564]

If it saves them so much money to have us autopay, then they shouldn’t charge for the service.

They don't charge for autopay.

[Bill14564]

write a check, deposit in the slot for amenities payments and be done with it. Don't even need a stamp. Sometimes, technology gets crazy, ridiculous, expensive and out of control.

It's all about how much time, effort, and money you are willing to put into it. Some prefer to write a check every month, I filled out an autopay form once a few years ago.

[Sandy and Ed]

A lot of people in The Villages are "old school" or just stubborn and they do not like autopay. I am one of them. I don't like giving someone permission to transfer money out of my checking account. I want to see the bill, and authorize the payment myself.
AMEN to that brother!! Allowing someone to access your account “‘til forbidden” is IMHO, forbidden.

[midiwiz]

My autopay also has no fee. It's like Echeck but with no work required and no possibility of missing a payment.

I too am unhappy that they added fees to the standard Echeck payments.

and should someone hack that database, all your information is available. Autopay happens to be the easiest way to open yourself up to scams and hacks.

[Normal]

I wish Leesburg Electric was as easy to pay every month. I like the new autopay system.

[MandoMan]

The Villages has implemented a new system for billing and paying your utility bill. It uses a new vendor, "Invoice Cloud". If you choose paperless billing, you get a monthly email where you can view and pay your invoice. Page 2 of the invoice offers 4 payment methods: "Autopay", "Online", "By Mail", and "In Person". The "Online" method directs you to go to "districtgov.org" and pay the bill using either a credit/debit card and pay a fee of 2.75 percent, or use an Echeck and pay a fee of $0.95. However, there is another online payment method that is not mentioned on the invoice. You can log on to your personal bank website and use their bill pay system to make an electronic payment directly to The Villages, and avoid the $0.95 fee. This is how I have paid my bill for years, and, according to The Villages, it is still available. This information was confirmed to me by The Villages District bill pay office today by an email.

I think The Villages might be wiser to eat that credit card fee. Dealing with checks takes time and personnel. It would be better for The Villages to just have the money deposited in their account every day. They would still have to process who has paid, but they wouldn’t waste time handling a check. I’d rather pay for a stamp than pay about $5 extra for the pleasure of charging the bill.

[williewonka]

I have a simple method. I receive the invoice/bill via email that goes to a utility folder where I review it. I have an automatic monthly Billpay transaction that pays an estimated monthly amount which is slightly higher than expected. This results in a small credit being carried in the account. Each December, I use Billpay to pay the remaining statement balance so the balance for the next year starts with 0. Many vendors pay bills in a similar way to get discounts for early payment.

[ccrider]

A-men to the Retired Guy. I want a bill in my hands and I will pay it on time - every time.

[JGibson]

and should someone hack that database, all your information is available. Autopay happens to be the easiest way to open yourself up to scams and hacks.

Every server in the world is susceptible to being hacked. The key is to not connect an autopay to your life savings accounts.

[Ecuadog]

Everyone's system works, until it doesn't.

[keepsake]

What about CenturyLink in January charging us for the US mail bill each month ... unless you sign up for the large print bill. More hoops to hassle the customer with.

[Velvet]

A lot of people in The Villages are "old school" or just stubborn and they do not like autopay. I am one of them. I don't like giving someone permission to transfer money out of my checking account. I want to see the bill, and authorize the payment myself.

I NEVER do autopay. Too many mistakes in the past on my water bill. I check every bill before I pay it. And once you give permission for autopay it is very difficult to get your money back.

[New Englander]

I pay my Villages Utility bill directly from my Citizens First Savings account. It is an electronic debit. I chose to use my Savings Acct over my checking because I might not have enough $$ in my checking when they make the debit.

[Babubhat]

Goes through central Sumter utility bank billpay electronically like all my bills