How to Pay Your City of Columbia Utility and Service Bills

If you live in Columbia, South Carolina, you can use all of the great city services and amenities. But you also have to pay your fair share of taxes and fees that pay for city services. We will look at the many easy and on-time ways that people and businesses in Columbia can pay their city bills in this guide.

The City of Columbia provides billing and collection services for utilities like water, sewer, trash, parking fees, business licenses, and more. There are several options for paying your city bills whether online, by phone, in person, or by mail.

Online bill pay through the city website

The easiest way for people in Columbia to pay their bills is to do it online through the City of Columbia website. You can use the online payment portal to pay:

• Water and sewer bills
• Solid waste and recycling fees
• Parking tickets
• Business licenses
• Building permits
• Hotel/motel taxes
• And more

The online payment system accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and American Express cards for a small convenience fee You can also pay directly from your bank account with an electronic check and avoid extra fees.

Pay water bills through the utility website

For your Columbia water and sewer bills, you can also make payments directly through the Columbia Water website. This portal offers 24/7 access to pay with all major credit cards and e-checks.

Columbia Water has partnered with Value Payment Systems to allow in-person credit card payments for a 25% fee Debit cards are 1.5% with a $1.95 minimum. These third-party fees can be avoided by paying with cash, check, or your bank account online.

Pay over the phone

Many city bills like water and parking tickets can be paid over the phone using the city’s automated payment system. Call the number listed on your bill to pay with a debit or credit card through the automated system anytime day or night.

There is a small $3–$4 fee for using the phone to pay, but this varies by service. Allow 2 business days for payments to post to your account.

Mail in your payments

To pay city bills through the mail, simply send a check or money order to the payment address printed on your statement. Be sure to include your full account number to ensure proper crediting.

Mailed payments take 5-7 days to reach the city’s processing center. Allow enough lead time before your due date so payments arrive on time. The mailing address for most city bills is:

City of ColumbiaPO Box 7997Columbia, SC 29202

Pay in person

You can also pay city bills at two staffed payment locations:

• The Payment Center at 3000 Harden St. accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit/debit cards from 8:30am to 5pm weekdays.

• The Mailroom at 1505 Charleston Hwy. accepts cash and checks from 9:30am to 5:30pm weekdays. No credit cards.

In-person payments allow you to get same day payment confirmation without worrying about mail delays. Just be sure to bring your bill.

Drop off payments after hours

For after hours payments, a 24/7 drop box is located outside the Payment Center at 3000 Harden St. Just place your check or money order (no cash) in an envelope and deposit into the drop box anytime. Payments are processed the next business day.

Sign up for automatic bank draft

You can automate city bill payments directly from your bank account by signing up for automatic bank draft. This convenient option deducts your bill amount each month on the due date.

To enroll, fill out the EasyPay form through the city website or by calling customer service. Bank draft helps avoid late fees since payments happen automatically.

Get email and text bill reminders

Along with automatic payments, be sure to set up bill reminders through your online city account. You can receive due date alerts by email, text message, or mobile push notifications.

Bill reminders help you avoid forgetting a payment before the due date which can result in penalties and disruption of city services.

Check for billing assistance programs

If you are struggling to pay city bills on time, Columbia offers assistance programs based on factors like income, age, disability status, and more.

• Payment arrangements can provide flexible bill due dates.

• The Pay As You Stay program discounts water bills for qualifying customers.

• Limited bill forgiveness is available for low income households.

Check with the city’s customer service team about bill help if you are facing financial hardship. Keeping your accounts current avoids collections actions.

Avoid late fees and service disruption

Paying city bills on time avoids penalties like late fees, interest charges, and even service disconnection. For example:

• Water bills incur a 10% late fee if not paid within 15 days of the due date.

• Unpaid parking tickets get a $10 late fee after 25 days.

• Trash collection can be suspended for past due solid waste bills.

So be sure to pay on time every month using the most convenient option for you. Sign up for bill reminders so you never miss a payment deadline.

Update your contact information

To receive billing statements and payment confirmations promptly, keep your contact details like mailing address, email, and phone number up to date on your city accounts. Notify customer service any time this information changes.

Accurate contact info helps ensure you get important bill notifications and avoids issues like missing paper statements in the mail.

Paying city bills on time takes some planning. But Columbia offers convenient and flexible payment options to fit any schedule and budget. Reach out to customer service if you need bill help or guidance choosing the best payment method for your needs. Keeping accounts current allows city services to continue without disruption while building good credit.