Are e-checks all done?

[Zeke]

I've had 2 e-checks not collected timely by the state of California. I have the transaction #, amount and date and time down to the second. CA imposes a late fee when they fail to collect on the check.

Is e-check the villain here or will they help? For the record I will never do this again but it will cost me 3% to use a CC. That adds up when paying property tax.

The other transaction was the DMV and although it got paid eventually, I went a year w/o the renewal sticker and paperwork. They said 3 times. "It's in the mail." I used a sticker from a car not driven for the remainder of the year.

One can't call the state, it's menu after menu and then a non native English speaker on the other end, if you get that far.

[GH85Carrera]

I pay our state income taxes with a bank draft, even my quarterly income taxes, both state and federal.

Property taxes they let me pay 1/2 before the end of the year, and the second half before March 15th. Again all electronic, and done withing 24 hours of clicking send.

[Zeke]

IDT my CU offers that. I guess that's just a way to not have to mail a check.

[KFC911]

I haven't written a check (ran out of paper checks) in 20+ years.... everything is either by bank draft, or autopay monthly on my debit card and all regular incoming is via direct deposits. That said .... my county will also tack on an extra 4% if paying property taxes via card, so I use my CU's "Webpay" service to annually pay 4 bills (two counties for prop. taxes) and the IRS and NC dept. of Revenue for years which I owe. For tax refunds ... both direct deposit into my acct. ... but when I owe more, I "think" the "Webpay" feature might still cut a paper check for the state. That varies depending upon who the other parties are .... Uncle Sam will be drafted immediately .... Uncle Zeke would be sent a paper check.

"Uncle Encie" might take a while .... but he always takes my $$$ .... eventually

[Zeke]

I looked up bank draft. I guess it's like a one time auto pay? I was sent a doctors bill and I had to sign up to a 3rd party website to pay that with a CC. I sent a check to the address instead. Would the CU have done that if I had the PO Box #, etc.?

We autopay as much as possible and it's easy. I used to use PP autopay but that stopped years ago. In fact, I kicked PP to the curb when they demanded my SS#.

I hate to dick around with payments to the county tax with a check. God knows what will happen. Like my tags that never showed up. The DMV guy told me exactly when and where they were mailed from. USPS throws mail out when they are overloaded. It's been found in dumpsters. It's been found in carts at the back of a warehouse after months. I had a check mailed to me from the same zip code. Never saw it. The guy had to pay 30 bucks to cancel it and give me another.

I don't want to use mail.

[KFC911]

Yes ... I got out of the "using mail", sending checks, etc. decades ago. Everything I recieve on a regular basis is directly deposited into my CU checking account, and all of my bills are paid either by them charging my debit card, which is deducted immediately, or via a bank draft .... there is just a subtle difference .... the entity I am paying either has my debit card #, or my CU (bank) routing # and account # on file. There is nothing sacred about giving your bank (CU) to them fwiw .... it's been printed on the bottom of every check you have ever written. It's how everything works ...

I have evolved into using all three for regular auto payments .... 99% are via debit card or bank draft with the occasional "Webpay" .... mostly for property tax bills .... I ain't gonna pay via card (at 4% added on, that would literally be many hundreds extra) and I do a "Webpay" for each tax notice individually with the "notice ID" # denoted in the comments section so they know which tax bill it is for (I have a few). Once I set up all this stuff it's been totally painless, efficient, and bulletproof.

Well.... it's not totally painle$$ .... it hurt$

Hope this helps!

[KFC911]

When I was about to run out of paper checks two decades ago, I ordered some more (they were free with my CU) and I soon wrote my last one that I had on hand.

I'm still waiting for my new checks to arrive

[Zeke]

Well, the closest thing to what you call a bank draft is me entering the routing number and bank # on an external site the LA County Tax Assessor sends you to in order to pay online. It's that or a physical check or CC.

IOW, they don't take drafts. So now my money is in limbo and they are assessing me 10% for being late when I did the transaction a day early.

I guess what I was asking is if there is a company behind e-check that can verify anything but the print out I have with a time stamp and a transaction number. The county is asking me to prove something to them that I have no idea how to access.

Why is it my fault? This is 2 times now with 2 different government agencies.

My wife won't leave CA. If she would I would be in Costa Rica.

[KFC911]

For the occasional "Webpay" e-check that I have sent.... it shows up on my acct. the day they sent it (whether electronically or via a paper check they cut).... surely the info that you have should suffice or contact your e-check provider? But Costa Rica sounds nice too ....

Good luck Milt!

[Zeke]

That's what I'm asking. Who TF is the provider? The Tax Collector sent back and AI email putting the onus on me. I see small claims court in my future.

[john70t]

Originally Posted by Zeke

I've had 2 e-checks not collected timely by the state of California. I have the transaction #, amount and date and time down to the second. CA imposes a late fee when they fail to collect on the check.

One can't call the state, it's menu after menu and then a non native English speaker on the other end, if you get that far.

That sounds like an individual or class-action.
With attorney/court costs.
Plus punitive damages.

Every other old or weak or minority taxpayer probably might face the same challenge in paying bills on time.
(as a responsible citizen)

It should become a standard: Protecting the weak.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by Zeke

That's what I'm asking. Who TF is the provider? The Tax Collector sent back and AI email putting the onus on me. I see small claims court in my future.

Your bank or CU is the place I would start at (although they are using "somebody" to do it for them) ... they aren't actually printing checks. You're going to need to talk with someone "up the chain" maybe at the bank AND the state revenue office too.

I think I would actually try to start with state .... just a level or two higher up ... easier said than done I'm sure.... good luck!

Edit: On many menu driven systems via phone you can circumvent the nonsense buy continually saying "representative" until you get to a real person.... then ask them for their supervisor .... maybe more than once.

[GH85Carrera]

I use the E-checks for several items. The guy that sprays my yard to kill weeds is a classic one. He comes by early, and makes little noise, and is gone and leaves an invoice on my front door with a rubber band around the door knob.

They have an "estimated" delivery date on the account. It is convenient for me.

[Zeke]

If I say 'representative' or push zero a voice says we don't recognize that entry. That trick died a long time ago here.

[Scott Douglas]

Zeke, you should join AAA and use them for DMV reg.
I was in/out in less than 10 minutes with tags in hand. I don't trust the mail system for stuff like that any more.
So far, mailing a check to the county tax assessor has worked for us when property taxes are due.

[Zeke]

I went to AAA with my missing tag problem and they said go to the DMV. I'm a member but I find the place obnoxious.

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by Zeke

Well, the closest thing to what you call a bank draft is me entering the routing number and bank # on an external site the LA County Tax Assessor sends you to in order to pay online. It's that or a physical check or CC.

FWIW, I find this to be the easiest way to pay a government entity.
Wisconsin has no surcharge for doing this, Iowa charges me a quarter. Less than a stamp.

The son-in-law uses his credit union's e-checks to pay me for the privilege of living in a house I bought them in Iowa. I won't call it rent because rent implies I'd be making something on this deal. Today's the 7th, still no check for June. I've blamed him for sending it after the first Friday they get paid, but maybe it is the machine of spitting out and mailing the check that is to blame.