Oct. 16--A gallon of gas, a postage stamp or a service fee -- Decatur Utilities' customers can select between these extra costs to pay their monthly bill.
"Everyday we have customers who call and want to know when we're going to start online payments," said Anena Maxwell, Decatur Utilities' customer service manager.
Now DU can respond.
Beginning Dec. 1, the utility company will accept payments by credit card, debit card and electronic check online and by phone, said DU General Manager Ray Hardin.
The additional payment avenues do not come without a cost, though.
For customers opting to pay with a credit card, debit card or electronic check, a $3.95 service charge will exist for every $600 of the bill.
Customers will incur the fee whether they opt to pay online, by phone or in person at DU's office.
The charge derives from Atlanta-based Paymentus Inc., a credit card processing company DU contracted with to handle all credit card, debit card and electronic check transactions.
DU began accepting credit card payments in 2003. In the five years since the program's inception, DU covered all of the processing service fees without passing them on to the customers. DU amounted $476,000 in service fee expenses.
With a projected increase in fees due to increase credit card use, DU opted to pass the fees along to the customers.
Although DU is expanding payment options, other payment options currently provided by the company will remain. The free payment options include mail-in, drop-off at the DU office and various Bud's Convenience stores and automatic bank draft.
Customers can elect to pay at the office with a credit card, debit card or electronic check, but the $3.95 fee will still be implemented, Maxwell said.
