Bill Pay FAQs

Got questions? We've got answers.

To make getting started a little easier, we've put together this list of answers to the most common questions people have about receiving and paying their bills online.

Q: Who is CheckFree?
A: CheckFree is the leading provider of financial electronic commerce services and products. CheckFree makes it possible for you to receive and pay your bills online -- through your financial institution. CheckFree enables you to pay your bills at your convenience, anytime, day or night. And, we make sure your payments are processed accurately, securely and on time.

Q: Is receiving and paying bills online hard to do?
A: Electronic billing and payment is easier and takes less time than opening the envelope containing your paper bill, reviewing it, writing a check and keeping manual records of your transactions. Just click to view the bill online, enter the payment amount, schedule the payment date and you're done. And, if you're stuck on paper, print a copy for your files.

Q: I already pay some bills online. Isn't that the same as paying e-Bills?
A: No. If you already pay some bills online, you're using the paper bills that come to your curbside mailbox to get the details you need - like the biller's name, your account number, the amount due and due date - to log-on to the Internet and pay those bills. You have to do this every time for each bill you want to pay online. This can become a hassle, particularly if you misplace or accidentally toss your bill.

E-Bills, on the other hand, are conveniently delivered right to your computer! You'll find all the same information you're used to seeing in your paper bills. Then, when you're ready to pay, all you need to do is choose the amount (or choose the default option to pay the full amount due), schedule the date you want the bill paid and click to pay. You don't have to worry about losing your bills, and you don't have to remind yourself to pay on time.

Q: How do I sign up?
A: Simply log on to the Athol Savings Bank online banking, click on payment manager button and then follow the instructions to register for Bill Pay.

Electronic Payments

Q: Who can I pay online?
A: Anyone you pay today with a paper check. From your mortgage company to your lawn care service, to your child in college.

Q: How can I pay my lawn care service? They don't accept electronic payments.
A: Through this service, you can pay anyone. If an electronic payment isn't a direct connection, the system will print and mail a check for you.

Q: If I pay bills online, do I have to give up control of when payments are made?
A: Absolutely not! You'll always be in control of your checking account. You decide who, when and how often to pay. Need to cancel or change a payment? No problem, as long as it's done before the processing date.

Q: I already automatically deduct some payments from my bank account. Isn't that the same thing?
A: That's an automatic debit. A car loan payment you've authorized your bank to deduct from your checking account each month is an example. Electronic billing and payment is like an automatic debit, only better, because you have the flexibility to change the payment date and amount - giving you ultimate control. If you want to set up a recurring bill to be paid automatically, you save more time every month.

Q: How can I keep track of the bills I pay?
A: When you pay bills online, the service automatically creates a record of your payments that you can view at any time. The account history has more detail than you would probably keep by hand! That means you can check the status of your payment or just take a general accounting of where you are. And unlike a check in the mail, you have proof that you've paid on time. Also, the data may be downloaded into Quicken® or Microsoft Money® - check with your service provider to see if there is access to this feature.

Q: Is it safe and reliable to pay online? How can I be sure?
A: Your financial institution is in the business of protecting your money. CheckFree has been providing high quality financial electronic services for more than 20 years. We never sell consumer data. And when you use a service that is powered by CheckFree, you're backed by our guarantee.

Q: What is the CheckFree Guarantee?
A: It's the symbol of quality for electronic billing and payment. The CheckFree Guarantee protects you against fraud and late payments. The guarantee only applies, though, where service providers' payments are "powered by CheckFree." More than 800 service providers rely on CheckFree for the service behind their brands.

Q: How long does it take for the billing company to receive my payment?
A: Typically four to five business days. Check the Web site of your financial institution for the recommended schedule. More than 75% of CheckFree's payments are made electronically, securely, from your account to the merchant. The remainder of payments are mailed by check, generally to smaller merchants.

Q: How much does it cost?
A: Providers offer this service for free or charge a small monthly fee. Check the Web site of your financial institution. In most cases, it's less than you'd spend on stamps!

e-Bills

Q: Some of the companies that I have accounts with have sent me notices in my paper bill letting me know I can receive my bill online. How does that work?
A: Hundreds of companies now make it possible for you to view and pay your bills online. When you enroll in a bill payment service through your financial institution, not only can you pay your bill, in many cases, you can view it online as well. These online bills are called "e-Bills," and you can pay them from one site!

Q: How can I receive e-Bills by e-mail?
A: Some services give you the option to ask for e-Bills or reminders to appear in your e-mail inbox. Another convenient feature that may be offered is to set parameters for a bill, and if it's within those parameters, it is paid automatically. If the bill goes over the amount, you are alerted to approve payment before it's sent. Let's say your cable bill is usually $60. You can ask the service to "just pay it" if its $60 or less, but alert you if the bill is more than that amount. This saves you time every month, and you can change the amount or cancel the feature by billing company at any time.

Q: How will I benefit from receiving an e-Bill?
A: For starters, it's convenient. When you receive e-Bills, you're just a click away from viewing and paying your bills.

Q: I like keeping a paper record of my bills. Can I still do this?
A: Whether you're making a payment or receiving an e-Bill, you can print a report of your transactions at any time. It's a great service for getting organized at tax time. You decide how much of a paper trail you want to keep…you're always in control with electronic billing and payment.

You'll also find that the service can make your bank statement more informative. For example, instead of listing "Check #1234," the payee will be named, for example "Acme Power Company" or "American Red Cross." This makes it easier to find deductions at tax time.

Take it from CheckFree, the Company that Powers Payment on the Web^SM.