Thorsby implements online bill pay system for water customers

Published 9:51 am Thursday, May 1, 2014

When Thorsby residents receive their water bills in the coming days, they’ll have a new option for making the payment.

Residents can now pay online through a new nexBillPay system.

Town Clerk Crystal Smith said some customers used the new system even before it had been announced.

“They said they love it,” Smith said. “They said it’s very simple.”

At TownofThorsby.com, the “nexBillPay” link can be found on the left side of the homepage. Upon clicking the link, and acknowledging the security statement, users are directed to a site maintained by nexBillPay.

Customers must create an account with nexBillPay to be able to process a payment. To sign up, customers must enter the account number found on their water bill, along with zip code, email address, username and password.

Once an account has been created, users can enter their billed amount and then choose whether they want to pay by check or credit card.

“It’s very user-friendly,” Smith said.

The nexBillPay system replaces the town’s former credit card service agreement.

The town absorbed all of the fees associated with that arrangement. With the nexBillPay system, customers will pay the fees, allowing the town to save about $6,000 a year, Smith said.

The fee to pay online with a check will be $2.95. Fees for credit card use will depend on the amount of the payment: A payment of less than $150 will carry a fee of $3.95, a payment of more than $150 but less than $300 will carry a fee of $5.95, and a payment of more than $300 will carry a fee of 2.95 percent of the payment amount.