[RoboVil]

Originally Posted by biggamefish1

You can use an alternative payment method, like having the payment come out of your checking account without any fee.

I am loathe to have a business access my financial accounts. That being said, what I have done is set up a secondary checking account (American Express) where I can easily make deposits via an app and give them access to this account and not access to my main checking account. Also, as an aside, US Bank has a no-fee credit card which gives you 5% back on utilities which more than covers most, but not all, fees.

[RoseyRed]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

Absolutely not! I'm very selective on which payments come out of my accounts automatically. As in as few as humanly possible.

Many years ago, Mrs. EDJ had a membership at an exclusive women-only gym. She carried this membership into our courtship. When we were nearing nuptials and reviewing our finances together, we looked more closely at this gym. They had been out of business for a few years and were still auto-deducting the monthly fee. Phone calls, emails, visits to the location, nothing gained any relief. The only way to stop the auto-deduction was to close out the account (huge inconvenience) and re-set everything with all other payees, etc. That money was lost and never regained.

Huge hassle, and a long running avoidable expense.

Another time I joined a prominent well know and large health club. L.A. Fitness. When I went to cancel, I had to spend two hours on the phone speaking to three different people before I could make any headway in getting them to cancel my membership and the resultant monthly auto-deductions.

I will not easily allow another entity to have the ability to reach into my account and take out the money they feel they are owed.

They want to charge me non-nominal "convenience" or "transaction" fees, then they will get a hand-written check. Usually with something derogatory in the memo line. I like the idea of over paying by a wee bit.

wow!

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by RoboVil

I am loathe to have a business access my financial accounts. That being said, what I have done is set up a secondary checking account (American Express) where I can easily make deposits via an app and give them access to this account and not access to my main checking account. Also, as an aside, US Bank has a no-fee credit card which gives you 5% back on utilities which more than covers most, but not all, fees.

You can make a one-time electronic payment using your bank's online bill pay system. The business has no access to your account and there is no fee. That is how I make my monthly utility bill payment and other payments. Autopay is not required to do this.

[seecapecod]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

Digital banking was *supposed* to be faster, more secure, and less costly to banks and other financial institutions. Same with ATMs. Supposed to cut down on expensive tellers. Now we are getting charged for their cost-savings measures.

I find it annoying. So here's my remedy. I have a few vendors that do this to me. So I am happy to write them a check. Costs me a stamp. They can pay someone to receive, open, process, and deposit my mailed check. Then they can wait a few days for it to clear. These are all processes that cost them time, effort, and some money. Then they can take their "convenience fee" and shove it up their darkness.

A convenience fee is charged from the credit card Bank to the vendor who passes the fee on to the consumer. It wouldn’t make any sense to punish the vendor. The fee cannot be added to the cost of the service/item or that is considered surcharging and illegal.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by seecapecod

A convenience fee is charged from the credit card Bank to the vendor who passes the fee on to the consumer. It wouldn’t make any sense to punish the vendor. The fee cannot be added to the cost of the service/item or that is considered surcharging and illegal.

Why does The Villages need a vendor? I bypass the vendor and make the payment directly from my bank to The Villages electronically. There is no fee to do this. My understanding is that the only reason The Villages hired a vendor was to "hopefully" increase the number of customers who sign up for autopay. I don't use autopay, the vendor, or a credit card, and I pay no fee. The vendor receives no money from me.

[Lovey2]

Yeah, I pay from my bank online too. However, what I noticed is they send a "paper check", as required by the VCDD, they said. No problem for me, now that I have learned to enter it for an earlier pay date so the "Paper check" reaches them on time. Only found out because I had a late fee once, which the VCDD gladly refunded. I don't know what their game is, but I'm OK with it now that I know. And yes, to whoever said they don't have much pulled from their checking account. Bad experience there too...with the newspaper of all things. They "decided" once to pull for the year instead of bi-annually. Again, not a $$ issue just more of a "who the hell authorized that" issue. I won't allow it anymore. They can wait for my check.

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Lovey2

Yeah, I pay from my bank online too. However, what I noticed is they send a "paper check", as required by the VCDD, they said. No problem for me, now that I have learned to enter it for an earlier pay date so the "Paper check" reaches them on time. Only found out because I had a late fee once, which the VCDD gladly refunded. I don't know what their game is, but I'm OK with it now that I know. And yes, to whoever said they don't have much pulled from their checking account. Bad experience there too...with the newspaper of all things. They "decided" once to pull for the year instead of bi-annually. Again, not a $$ issue just more of a "who the hell authorized that" issue. I won't allow it anymore. They can wait for my check.

My payments are made electronically, and they are processed within one day. No paper checks are sent.

Are you sure you are using the correct payee information on your bank's bill pay system? My bill pay system does not send a paper check, and I am pretty certain that the VCDD does not require a paper check, nor do they want a paper check. I use Truist Bank for bill pay.

[SaucyJim]

Originally Posted by VAtoFLA

It's not a fee for the service provider. When you are a business and you accept credit cards, you are subject to fees on the transactions that are not minimal. Those asking for service charges are essentially giving you the choice to avoid those fees by doing what you are doing while your other business relationships don't offer you that choice and just use the CC interchange fees as an additional cost of business and hit everyone for them whether they use them or not.

You get to choose and you do choose what is right for you, but suggesting they "shove it up their darkness" for providing you an extra option is a little harsh.

This would be a valid argument if things had changed more recently. Things have no changed. The fees from the CC companies have been there for decades. This is a money grab we’re seeing more and more. Restaurants that charge this fee incur a massive penalty of 100% of their revenue stream from me. I don’t go there any more. Other places (like my Villages utility bill) charge these fees, but like another poster indicated, there are workarounds. I pay direct from checking and avoid the fees or revisit the dark ages and write a good, old-fashioned check.

The fee indicated in the OP seems high, though. Is there any possibility it is from the the tee-time system for access?

[cjky2k]

Sorry!!! My husband was wrong. It’s $8.00 even for the tee time. Sorry.

[Lisanp@aol.com]

I pay my district bill online from MY bank's online bill pay system. The Villages receives the money within 5 days as a paper check as they do not accept electronic payment receipts.
Online banking IS easier, faster and more convenient - and FREE - I do not even pay for that stamp!

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Lisanp@aol.com

I pay my district bill online from MY bank's online bill pay system. The Villages receives the money within 5 days as a paper check as they do not accept electronic payment receipts.
Online banking IS easier, faster and more convenient - and FREE - I do not even pay for that stamp!

I don't know why they send a paper check. I pay my bill the same way and it is processed as an electronic transfer. No paper check.

[Topspinmo]

Originally Posted by ElDiabloJoe

Digital banking was *supposed* to be faster, more secure, and less costly to banks and other financial institutions. Same with ATMs. Supposed to cut down on expensive tellers. Now we are getting charged for their cost-savings measures.

I find it annoying. So here's my remedy. I have a few vendors that do this to me. So I am happy to write them a check. Costs me a stamp. They can pay someone to receive, open, process, and deposit my mailed check. Then they can wait a few days for it to clear. These are all processes that cost them time, effort, and some money. Then they can take their "convenience fee" and shove it up their darkness.

Got make money some how. Same with tax bill with all add ons. If there was not fees there would be no Banks. Credit cards are self explanatory… credit = fees and interest.

[PlentyOfFish]

It is NOT convenientfor me to have to come up with another $8
Also...EIGHT DOLLARS?

Originally Posted by dewilson58

GOOGLE is your friend.................

"ICI FEE VILLAGE CENTER $7.99" appears to refer to a charge or fee associated with Village Center Utilities in The Villages, Florida. It is likely a convenience fee or a specific service charge, potentially for online or credit card payments, though the specific nature of the charge isn't detailed in the search results.
Village Center Utilities is a department of The Villages Community Development Districts and is located at 984 Old Mill Run, Lady Lake, FL 32162. They can be reached by phone at +1 352-750-0000. Payment options include online, credit card, auto-pay by bank draft, mail, drop box, or in-person at one of the District Customer Service Centers.

[GoRedSox!]

I also pay this bill with online banking. At first, they issued a paper check. Now, it’s an electronic transfer that occurs within one day. I have never had an issue making a timely payment this way. It costs me nothing.

[Lovey2]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

My payments are made electronically, and they are processed within one day. No paper checks are sent.

Are you sure you are using the correct payee information on your bank's bill pay system? My bill pay system does not send a paper check, and I am pretty certain that the VCDD does not require a paper check, nor do they want a paper check. I use Truist Bank for bill pay.

No, I can't be sure sure. I use Chase and have never had a problem elsewhere. I called and they told me "they", the VCDD, required a paper check. Again, not a problem except that I have to remember to enter it early on in the month for payment. Actually, it says when I pay it "paper check". Hmmmmm....some day when I'm bored maybe I'll call again. LOL Or, as you said maybe the address or something else is wrong. I entered what I believed to be right, then it pulls up a payee. Maybe I'll check that first. Thanks...