Bill pay basics 5 min read
How to Pay a Bill That Has No Online Payment Options
Bills can often be an enormous pain to pay, and they shouldn’t be!
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In this guide
Let’s start with the simple part. Some bills are super easy to pay online. It’s still a pain to have to maintain multiple different logins and passwords to so many different payees, but at least it’s clear how to pay.
Unfortunately, many other bills aren’t this straightforward. For example, your kid visits the doctor and weeks later you get a co-pay request with zero clear way to pay it, only a reference # and an address. How many times has this happened to us all?!
Here’s the good news. When a bill has no online payment options (or at least no clear one), you still have several options.
Start by confirming the bill amount and the payee
Before researching the best way to pay, first make sure that the bill is legitimate and the amount is correct.
This is especially important when a supposed bill or invoice arrives by email or text (or even call) and asks you to act quickly. Scammers often pretend to be utility companies or other well-known organizations. The Federal Trade Commission advises consumers to contact a utility directly using the number on a prior bill or its official site if an unexpected message threatens disconnection or requests urgent payment. The FTC warns that search ads can lead to bill payment sites impersonating a company. Start from a known bill or the company’s official homepage when checking payment instructions.
If you recognize the service but not the amount, ask for a detailed itemization of the charges before paying. This is a totally fair question, and legitimate payees will be happy to explain this.
Now, if the bill is legit, onto how to pay it.
1. Use your bank’s bill pay service
Most banks and credit unions let their customers schedule payments from their online banking portals. Depending on the payee and the bank’s system, the payment may be electronic or the bank may mail a paper check on your behalf. The CFPB explains that some recipients, including many individuals, cannot receive electronic payments through a bank bill pay network and must receive a paper check.
You will typically need the payee’s name, mailing address, and the account number or payment reference. Enter those details carefully. A bank may show a directory of payees, but being listed does not necessarily mean the payment will be delivered electronically. Check the bank’s stated delivery date and make sure it leaves enough time for the payee to receive and process it.
A bank’s bill pay portal, even if very manual, can be a good fit when you already have the payee information and if your bank offers the service without a fee. It also gives you a record in your bank’s account history.
2. Dust off your checkbook and mail a check
Where’s that old checkbook from 2009? Yep, it may be time to find it! If the payee confirms that they accept checks, you can write one from your checking account and send it with the remittance slip or invoice details. Validate the exact payee name and mailing address and always include the reference #. You may even want to take a photo of the check as proof that you sent it.
Mailing a check, simple as it sounds, still takes a bit of planning. The USPS service standard for First Class Mail is one to five business days, and delivery is not guaranteed. A payment is considered received when the company gets it, not when you drop the envelope in a mailbox. For example, the CFPB explains that a mortgage servicer may charge a late fee if a mailed payment arrives after the due date. Check the rules for your particular bill and allow some extra time as a buffer.
And make sure you keep enough money in your account to cover the check when it is deposited.
3. Pay by phone or in person
Now we’re getting really old school!
Some payees accept a card or bank payment over the phone or take payment at their location. Ask whether there is a convenience fee to do this. The CFPB describes convenience fees as charges for using a particular payment channel. A company may offer a free mail or in person option while charging for an online or phone payment.
If paying over the phone, call a number from a trusted source. Do not provide card or bank details to an unexpected caller who pressures you to pay immediately (this is a typical scam). If you make an in-person payment, ask for a receipt and keep it until the payment confirmation appears on your account.
4. Use an online bill payment service that mails a check on your behalf
This is where tech solutions come to the rescue!
Some digital services let you enter payment details online and organize for a check to be prepared and mailed to the payee. As always, you should confirm the payee, address, amount, and account reference before authorizing any payment.
BilliePay is the newest example of a modern and tech-enabled online bill pay product. A bill pay user can upload a bill, use BilliePay’s AI to extract all the payment details, review and/or edit them, and then have a check mailed to the payee on their behalf. BilliePay never holds any of the user’s money; it manages the extraction of the information and then the check mailing from your account to the address of the payee.
That's it. Good luck!