How Many of You Pay Bills Online?

Aunt Bea said:
My iPhone mobile banking app still requires two step authentication the same as if on a computer or tablet.

The apple tap ‘n’ pay feature in my phone is safer than a conventional credit card because it won’t work without facial recognition.

It just takes a bit of getting used to.
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I understand. Both My X and my daughter use their phones to pay everything...Apple Pay.. and they tell me..'' it's perfectly safeas long as you keep your phone locked''.....the trouble is I would never remember to keep my phone locked, so I just won't take the risk...
 
hollydolly said:
I understand. Both My X and my daughter use their phones to pay everything...Apple Pay.. and they tell me..'' it's perfectly safeas long as you keep your phone locked''.....the trouble is I would never remember to keep my phone locked, so I just won't take the risk...
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Many people do. I plan to have my robot take care of all these things when they go on sale at Tesla.
 
I pay all my bills online from my credit union account except for my rent. The company that I pay my rent to charges $8.00 for online payments. So I give them a money order instead. My account at my credit union is an online account so I have no checks for it. No automatic withdrawls. I pay them all on time as soon as I get my checks in my account.
 
I pay all my bills online. Depends on the source as to how I pay them. My landscaper comes twice a year, let's me know the price and I send him payment from my bank via Zelle. Same with the window cleaner.

Most other bills I pay by credit card because I either earn cash back or miles. I paid our property taxes via credit card and will probably earn enough miles to keep me frequent flyer status with AA. I also paid the homeowner's insurance via credit card and will earn lots of cash back. I pay all my utilities via credit card and if I earn 2% cash back I'm essentially lowering my energy costs.

The only recurring payment that comes out of my bank account is my gym membership because they don't accept credit cards. I pay my credit card bills off in full during each statement period, so I'm not paying interest. I never miss a payment because every vendor I deal with (utilities, credit card companies, insurance) sends me an email as a reminder.

I can go into the credit card app on my phone at any given time and check charges, so I'm not really concerned.
 
seadoug said:
I pay all my bills online. Depends on the source as to how I pay them. My landscaper comes twice a year, let's me know the price and I send him payment from my bank via Zelle. Same with the window cleaner.

Most other bills I pay by credit card because I either earn cash back or miles. I paid our property taxes via credit card and will probably earn enough miles to keep me frequent flyer status with AA. I also paid the homeowner's insurance via credit card and will earn lots of cash back. I pay all my utilities via credit card and if I earn 2% cash back I'm essentially lowering my energy costs.

The only recurring payment that comes out of my bank account is my gym membership because they don't accept credit cards. I pay my credit card bills off in full during each statement period, so I'm not paying interest. I never miss a payment because every vendor I deal with (utilities, credit card companies, insurance) sends me an email as a reminder.

I can go into the credit card app on my phone at any given time and check charges, so I'm not really concerned.
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I check mine too plus if it looks suspicious they message me to see if it's me. If I don't respond in a certain time frame they just shut the card off.

I wish I they were all like that one they advertise where you can turn it on and off to use it.
 
I have paid my bills online for ages. Checking accounts and visas are all with the same bank.
I get email alerts every day. I use my visas to buy stuff online. I like to keep my balances at zero so
I make payments as soon as a charge shows up so I usually see my balances a lot.
I dont have a debit card and never will.

Some bills are automatic withdrawal on my visas and extra checking accounts.
I do this for points on my visas and to keep the visas and the accounts active.

I do online bill pay for my utilities. I do this because the amount fluctuates.
Also so that maybe someone will find me if I croak since I live alone.

Online bill pay from your checking is the same as you mailing a check. Its just that the bank does it instead.
You have complete control over how much and when it gets sent.

I dont do any banking or other sensitive stuff on my phone or my tabA. I have visions of being scanned while out and about.
If somebody hacks my phone all they will get is cat videos and facebook reels and jigsaw puzzels.
 
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Yes, me too. Pay online, by computer.
It was scary at 1st, but I made adjustments for my insecurities.

I have 1-checking acct that I pay all bills. I still keep track with the handwritten book.
I do not like debit cards. I like the control and seeing what is in my acct, with the checking online method.

I have 1-charge card that I use for all online purchases. (easy to monitor). A red flag pops up for me when there is an online purchase with any other charge card.

I probably have save $$$ on stamps, paying by web.
From what I understand, some stores are tacking on 3% fees, if someone elects to pay by charge. I do not like this.
 
I still write checks for all bills and have no intention of stopping and I also very, very rarely carry my old flip phone preferring instead to watch it collect dust sitting on the dinning room table.....smart phone ? what the heck is a smart phone ?
 
Most of my bills are set up to be paid automatically from my main checking account on or before their due dates. I haven't had checks for that account in at least two decades. The only thing paid by ACH from my secondary account, which is at the credit union, is my granddaughter's college tuition. I just paid my doctor tele-visit bill online yesterday. The company that handles billing made it super easy to do. I'd rather pay online than mail a check since I no longer trust the postal service.

I only write two checks a month from the credit union account. One is for our HOA dues, which can be paid online, but they charge an extra $5. It's more fortuitous to write the check and deposit into the community's mail box for management to pick up.
 
^^ no it isnt - I still dont know what you meant by the 'boss or foot soldiers' - but we are not giving any info away by saying 'right here on this thread' that we pay bills by internet or credit card - which is what your post seemed to imply

Cash isn't 100% secure either. Even less so IMO
 
January said:
could you explain this please - I'm still not seeing how unidentified people saying they pay by credit card or internet banking from unidentified bank accounts is giving any info to would be thieves. :unsure:
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Right! Several years ago, a member said I shouldn't have given the name of my bank on here for security reasons. I replied I challenge anyone to try hacking the account of OneEyedDiva. :LOL:
 
IMO us old folks have more to fear from the people closest to us as we age than we do from scammers, hackers, and boogeymen.

I feel much safer in automating my finances in ways that require minimal human contact than I do in using cash, paper checks, etc…

We all need to do what we are comfortable with while keeping an open mind to the options available to us.
 
Aunt Bea said:
IMO us old folks have more to fear from the people closest to us as we age than we do from scammers, hackers, and boogeymen.

I feel much safer in automating my finances in ways that require minimal human contact than I do in using cash, paper checks, etc…

We all need to do what we are comfortable with while keeping an open mind to the options available to us.
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famous last words - let's all watch out for Aunty Bea!
 
Can my online banking be hacked. Sure. Any site can be hacked by somebody with the right skills and motivation.
Heck they can use your paper checks to gain account access. Or they can " wash" your check and cash out your account.
Is it likely for them to target me. Probably not. I keep a very low profile. The world sees me as an older widow who drives a older car.

Besides that I have all my alerts set on all my account to email me on any transaction over a dollar.
The bank sends me an email every day with my balance and any transactions that were made.
You cant worry about everything. All you can do is keep a close watch on your stuff.

FYI. You dont have to pay those $5 fees if you use online bill pay. I have sent gift money to individuals this way in the past.
You add the person etc as a payee using their name, address and any other info you want. If their name is on the banks list then it gets paid electronically. If not then the bank will mail a check. And yes they do mail a check. My bank sends electronic payments (1-2 days) or paper checks (approx. 5 days)
 
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