Julia Nortrup explained the implementation of utility customers in Ford City being able to soon make credit card payments online.
A long-awaited new service will soon be available in Ford City Borough. The Borough will be accepting online payments for water, sewage, and trash bills.
Office employee Julia Nortrup outlined the payment system at Monday night’s public work session.
“I was told the capability was paid for (by the previous council) and was waiting for implementation at that time. I confirmed with (Secretary) Lisa Bitner that it was approved by previous Council in September 2015. Since it was waiting there to be used, I decided to go further with research.”
Nortrup explained to Council that in order for online payments to be accepted, they had to go through a third-party credit card company for processing. As is the case with other utility companies such as West Penn Power that accepts online payments, a fee is charged by the third party to process the payment.
Nortrup said that residential customers would be charged $1.00 for an e-check (money taken directly from the customer’s bank account as if they wrote a check) and $3.25 for use of VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express credit cards.
Commercial customers would be charged a service fee of $5.50 for the credit card transaction.
Nortrup pointed out that these small service charges are much less than if the bill was not paid on time and accrued late charged.
Once implemented, online payments will be able to be made directly through the borough website at www.fordcityborough.org.
Nortrup said credit card payments will also be able to made in the borough office at the counter, but it would be limited to MasterCard, Discover or American Express.
“VISA has a requirement on their end that in order to accept payments at our counter, we would have to be open 24 hours, 7 days per week. So it eliminates using VISA at the counter in the borough office. However, customers may still use their VISA for payments made through the website.”
Online payments may only be accepted for the amount of the original bill. If a person wished to pay an additional amount, they could come into the borough office and a different amount could be accepted.
“If you were going away, and you wanted to pay your bill ahead, you could by coming into the office.”
Nortrup stressed that online payments are only for utility payments. They are not for landlord license fees, new service connections, or parking tickets.
Nortrup will request a contract from the processing company for review by council before final implementation.