After viewing, users simply click their mouse to authorize payment and store the bill for future reference. The charge for the service varies depending on which institution is selected as the web site where bills will be received and paid. They can then view the bill online and issue instructions on amount and date of payment. Or, they may give instructions to automatically pay bills from certain vendors each month without prior review. In either case, payment history and copies of bills are accessible online through a secure user identification system.
Electronic bill paying as a benefit for employees is at a very early stage.
We re at the beginning stages, waiting for consumer adoption. But CheckFree isn t just waiting. The infrastructure is in place, thanks to the company s history in the financial electronic commerce business. The company is working to sign up national billers and large regional billers to present bills electronically to consumers and, according to Fontaine, now has 77 under contract. CheckFree is also allowing consumers to receive and pay their bills at any choice of web sites.