Online Bill Payment: Is it Suitable for Everyone?
In the world of technology nowadays, where all things can be achieved with just one click of a mouse, or a tick in the keyboard, where almost everything can be done even when you’re just at home. One of the things that we can obtain online is bill payment. It is the easiest and the fastest way to pay our bills. It saves our time, money and energy plus the convenience of not leaving your home. But the question is, is it suitable for everyone? Some people say yes, but some still opted to use money order or sign a check to pay for their bills.
Just like all things, there are pros and cons associated with online bill paying. It depends on the individual. Those who are familiar and comfortable with using a computer to shop and pay bills will continue to do so. Conversely, those new to computers may not be ready to shop or, for that matter, pay for anything online. It is a matter of trust.
There are still individuals who require a receipt for bill payments. For example, a money order has a receipt; writing a check and receiving the monthly statement is another way of determining what was paid for and how much.
With paying bills online, while it is true you can always check your account online as well as receive an email that the bill was paid on said date; there is something about this method that some individuals will find most unsettling.
Again, it is a matter of trust and choice. While online bill payment is convenient, easy, and saves time and money (not to mention reducing the amount of paper which helps our environment), there are some people who cannot quite grasp the concept.
With identity theft a major issue these days, one cannot help but understand why some individuals prefer to pay their bills the old-fashioned way. There are so many nuances in conducting bill paying online that it is essential one understands the mechanism to avoid this ongoing problem.
Here is a case in point. A woman used one credit card to pay for items on one website. On the day she purchased an item, a notice appeared on the website that something was wrong with her credit card. She immediately checked her account and noticed everything was in order. The next morning, however, she received an urgent email from the credit card company asking she call them immediately.
Upon calling the company, she was asked if she had ever charged anything to a website, the name of which she had never heard before. She told the company she hadn’t, and they immediately told her they were cancelling her credit card and issuing another. Someone from the original website had obtained her credit card.
Now you may find this amazing, but this is how thieves work the system. The person charged one cent, that’s right, one penny to her account. When she asked the credit card company to explain why this individual only charged “one cent”, she was told that this is how identity theft begins. A person will charge a penny to the account, determine if the charge goes through, and then spend, spend, spend!
We should bear in our minds that this thing will happen to us too. Maybe not now, but who knows? Online bill payment saves time, generates savings and convenience but we are not 100 percent sure of our security. In this age of technology, even thieves go hi-tech! Make sure you’re using your card safely and securely. Be observant and vigilant.
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