Traditional bill pay services have probably reached peak adoption, and will slowly tail off. Paying bills directly with the vendor / service provider with a credit/debit card is growing (in the U.S.).
Agreed. Also, incorrect charge? Call the utility. If that fails, call the credit card, and ask for a “charge back”, and tell them you called the bank. Problem solved, and the bank extracts a cut of the reversed charge from the vendor. (In the US)
Also, you probably get cash back on the normal payments, and other bill pay methods let the utility pocket that (plus the credit card company’s cut).
Having said all that, I wish the govt would ban credit card transaction fees, and provide a secure anonymous alternative, but I don’t make the rules, and, as a consumer, I pay the 1-3% transaction fee tax either way...
Also, you probably get cash back on the normal payments, and other bill pay methods let the utility pocket that (plus the credit card company’s cut).
Having said all that, I wish the govt would ban credit card transaction fees, and provide a secure anonymous alternative, but I don’t make the rules, and, as a consumer, I pay the 1-3% transaction fee tax either way...