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What do I need for Bill Payer?
You must have a Share Draft Account with B-M S FCU. Payments can not be taken from any other account. You must also be set up for Net Access.
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How much does Bill Payer cost?
There is no charge for our Bill Payer service.
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How do I sign up for Bill Payer?
You can sign up by visiting your local B-M S FCU branch office, emailing us at jhiles-skopas@bmsfcu.org, or calling us. You can reach us at (732) 227-6704, or toll-free at (888) 423-7265.
You will need to provide us with your name, mailing address, and account number. We will provide you with a copy of our "Disclosure & Agreement" Form. You will become eligible to use Bill Payer when we have received your signed acknowledgement.
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How does Bill Payer work?
You set up merchants to be paid by either selecting them from a pre-existing list, or adding them to your personal list of merchants. You then set up a payment to be made along with the amount and the date the bill is to be paid.
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Can Bill Payer send payments to merchants outside the US?
No. Merchants must have a U.S. address.
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How do I set up payment to a merchant?
From Bill Payer, click "Find Payee" to select a merchant from our Master List. If you cannot find the desired merchant, click "Add Payee". You are responsible for accurately completing the Payee screen.
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Why do I need to set up nicknames?
Nicknames are used to distinguish merchants. When you use the "Add Payment" function, you must select the appropriate merchant by nickname. Use nicknames that are relevant and distinguishable for each merchant.
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How long must I wait before I can make my first bill payment?
Payments made to new payees must be scheduled at least five (5) days from the date the new payee is set up.
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Can I change payee information?
By selecting "Modify Payee" you can change nickname and account number. Other changes to payees require that you delete the existing account and establish a new payee. If you must delete a payee, make sure that all payments to that payee are also deleted. You will receive a confirmation number for any deletions.
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Are there merchants that Bill Payer will not pay?
Yes. Excluded merchants are governmental agencies (including but not limited to federal, state and local taxing authorities), collection agencies, as well as the recipients of court-ordered payments such as child support and alimony. Payments to any persons or organizations outside the U.S. are also excluded.
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What will happen if I submit a merchant that is listed on the Bill Payer "no pay" list above?
Bill Payer will not allow a payment to an "excluded merchant", and will remove it from the database. Our guarantees will not apply to late fees for payments made to these merchants.
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I just added a merchant to my personal list, and now the merchant is listed as "inactive."
What does that mean, and what should I do?
New merchants are listed as inactive while their billing information is confirmed. This procedure normally takes 5 business days. Verification of information prior to payment eliminates many of the problems that would result in an incorrect payment.
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What is the "Pending Payment" list?
Once a payment has been established, the information will be displayed in your Pending Payment list. Payment information can be modified any time prior to processing.
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How many payees can I have?
Bill Payer allows payment to a maximum of 45 merchants.
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What is the difference between a One-Time Payment and a Recurring Payment?
If your payment amount or payment day changes from payment to payment, it must be set up as a One-Time payment.
A Recurring Payment is a payment that is always the same amount and is paid at regular intervals.
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What are the set-up parameters for Recurring Payments?
Recurring Payments are set up once and can be repeated weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, quarterly, or on the last day of the month. Weekly payments can be set up for payment to be made on Monday through Friday. Bi-weekly payments will occur every other week on the same business day as the initial payment. Monthly and quarterly payments can be set up to occur on any day of the month. Payment dates that fall on non-business days will be processed on the next business day. Payments that fall on invalid dates (i.e. on the 31st, during months with less than 31 days) will be processed on the next business day.
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What is the cut-off time for B-M S FCU making payments?
Payments must be set up before 7:00 A.M. EST on any given business day. All payment requests received after that will be held for payment on the next business day.
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How long will it take for a merchant to receive payment?
For your initial payment to a vendor, you need to allow 5 business days for us to verify the merchant information. You must also allow an additional 5 business days for payment to be sent. We have no control over the vendor's processing of your payment, so you may want to allow for that, also.
Once you have made your initial payment to a payee, your Payment History will notify you of payment method (electronic or check). For every subsequent payment, you should allow two business days for electronic merchants and five business days for those merchants paid by check (unable to receive electronic payment). Please remember that B-M S FCU cannot control the delivery of payments by the post office or the posting schedule of the merchant even though the payment is actually credited to your account. Because merchants may not post the payment the same day that they receive them, we recommend that you allow a few days in your payment schedule to insure timely payment of your bills. It is your responsibility to select dates to allow enough time for the payment to get to the merchant so that you are not late with your payments.
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I found the merchant that I'm looking for, but the address is different. Do I need to set up a link with the address that I have?
Many times vendors are entered into the system with a local address for mailing payments. There is no cause for concern if you find a different mailing address on the Bill Payer system. Bill Payer may be transmitting payment to a regional or national office, rather than a local payment center. If there is any doubt, we encourage you to add the merchant and provide all the required information. We will then determine the correct mailing address, and if necessary, change the mailing address on the system.
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What happens if there are not enough funds in my account to cover the payment?
We will be unable to process the Payment Request and you may incur an Overdraft Fee. You will also need to re-initiate the Payment Request. You will be responsible for any late fees charged by the merchant.
IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THAT YOU MAINTAIN SUFFICIENT FUNDS IN YOUR SHARE DRAFT ACCOUNT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY CRITICAL FOR RECURRING PAYMENTS. WE SUGGEST THAT YOU REVIEW YOUR ACCOUNT BALANCES IN NET ACCESS' "PERSONAL FINANCE SERVICE" SECTION BEFORE SCHEDULING A PAYMENT.
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Is there a dollar limit of checks that can be written?
Yes. There is an upper limit of $25,000.00 for any given check. If you need to send more than the maximum amount, you can send multiple remittances to the same vendor. There is no lower limit.
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I made a payment to a merchant through Bill Payer and it has not been credited to my account?
What should I do?
Follow these procedures:
- Check your records, verifying name and account number. Often, a typing error or date error is responsible for a missed payment.
- Wait at least four business days for an electronic payment and seven business days for a check payment.
- Call the merchant at the end of this time to see whether they have received the payment. The merchant may have received payment, but not yet credited your account.
If you feel that an inquiry is necessary, please be aware that there is a fee for every Payment Inquiry initiated. You can submit a Payment Inquiry to B-M S FCU through any of the following channels:
Local Call |
732.227.6700 |
Tie Line |
8.821.6700 |
Toll Free |
888.423.7265 |
email |
info@bmsfcu.org |
We will need the following information for each inquiry:
- Your name
- Your account number
- Payee name
- Your account number with the payee
- Payment processing date
- Payment amount
- Payment due date
If it is determined that the fault does not lie with B-M S Federal Credit Union or its Bill Payer program, an $18.00 service charge will be incurred.
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How long does it take to resolve Payment Inquiries?
B-M S FCU's service standard is that 80% of all payment inquiries are resolved within ten business days. The majority of payment inquiries are resolved within five business days. B-M S FCU's ability to resolve payment inquiries quickly is dependent on the degree of merchant responsiveness.
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What can I do to reduce the time it takes to conduct an inquiry?
Keep your credit union updated with your email address, mailing address, and home and work phone numbers, so that we can contact you immediately if we have any questions.
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Can I stop a payment?
You can stop payment on a check any time prior to it being processed by us. Go to "Pending Payments", select the payment to be stopped, and then click on "Delete Payment". Once a payment has been sent, it cannot be stopped, and will be processed according to standard procedures. Occasionally, B-M S FCU may be able to stop a payment made by check; however, electronic payments cannot be stopped.
A $30.00 Stop Payment Fee will be incurred if we stop a payment for you.
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How do I cancel Bill Payer?
You can't.
Seriously, call us at (732) 227-6700, or toll-free at (888) 423-7265 and ask to speak with our Bill Payer Representative. Prior to cancellation, all pending payments must be deleted; otherwise, payments will be made. Your cancellation is immediate. Monthly fees will not be refunded if you choose to cancel Bill Payer.
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Termination of Services
B-M S Federal Credit Union may terminate Bill Payer at any time without prior notice.
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