The Easiest Way to Pay Bills in Columbia, SC: A Guide to City of Columbia Online Bill Pay

Paying bills can be a hassle. Between keeping track of due dates, mailing in checks, and ensuring payments go through on time it’s easy to get frustrated with the traditional bill pay process. Fortunately, the City of Columbia offers a convenient online bill pay system for a variety of services eliminating much of the frustration of paying bills each month.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know about paying bills online with the City of Columbia, including:

• The benefits of paying bills online
• How to sign up for online bill pay
• What bills you can pay online
• Available online payment options
• Tips for a smooth online payment process

Why Pay Bills Online?

There are several benefits to paying your City of Columbia bills online instead of by mail every month:

• It’s fast and easy – With online bill pay, payments can be made in just a few clicks either on your computer or mobile device No more writing and mailing checks or driving across town to pay in person.

• Pay whenever you want—you can make online payments 24 hours a day, seven days a week, whether you’re at home, at work, or on the road. Pay your bill online whenever you want, as long as you’re online.

• Avoid late fees—If you pay your bills online, you can make payments until the due date, so your payment will arrive on time and you won’t have to pay any late fees.

• Stay organized – Online bill pay keeps all of your billing and payment information in one convenient place. You’ll have a payment history available anytime you log in.

• Automatic and recurring payments – Many online bill pay systems allow you to setup automatic, recurring payments so your bills get paid on time without you having to remember.

• It’s secure – Online bill pay uses enhanced security measures like encryption to keep your financial information safe.

Clearly, transitioning to online bill pay makes managing and paying your bills much simpler. Read on to learn how easy it is to pay your City of Columbia bills electronically.

How to Sign Up for Online Bill Pay

Signing up to pay your City of Columbia bills online is quick and straightforward. Here are the steps:

1. Determine what City of Columbia bills you want to pay online. The city accepts online payments for water/sewer/stormwater services, parking citations, business licenses, and more. See the full list in the next section.

2. Visit https://finance.columbiasc.gov/online-payments/ and click the link for the service you want to pay online. This will take you to the sign up page for that specific service.

3. Enter your account number and any other information required to lookup your account.

4. Create a username and password. Be sure to choose a password that is unique and not used for any other accounts.

5. Read and accept the terms and conditions.

6. Provide your contact information like name, address, email, and phone number.

7. Enter your payment method details, whether paying by credit card, debit card, or e-check.

Once registered, you can login anytime and view or pay your bill with just a couple of clicks. The online portal also allows you to setup recurring, automated payments so you never miss a due date.

What Bills Can I Pay Online?

The City of Columbia accepts online payments for the following services:

• Water/sewer/stormwater bills – View and pay your utility bills through the Customer Web Access (CWA) portal. You can also setup recurring payments to have your bill paid automatically each month.

• Parking citations – Pay parking tickets quickly online and avoid having to mail in fines or visit the parking services office.

• Business licenses -Renew and pay for your annual business license electronically.

• Accounts receivable – Pay any accounts receivable invoices from the city through the online Teller portal. This includes items like false alarm fees.

• Retiree insurance – Retired city employees can view and pay their monthly retiree insurance premiums online.

The city is continually expanding online payment capabilities, so check the Online Payments page for additional services as they become available.

Online Payment Options

The City of Columbia offers several ways to pay your bills online:

• Credit card – Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover cards are accepted. A convenience fee of 2.5% is charged for credit card payments.

• Debit card – Debit cards with the NYCE Star and PULSE logos can be used online. The convenience fee is 1.5% for debit cards.

• Electronic check (e-check) – e-Check payments made through your checking account cost just $2.50 per transaction. No convenience fees.

• AutoPay – Setup scheduled, recurring payments from your credit card, debit card, or bank account so payments happen automatically.

The online bill pay portals accept most major credit and debit cards. Be sure to check the Online Payments page for the latest convenience fees. E-check payments offer the lowest fees when paying online.

Tips for Smooth Online Payments

Follow these tips and best practices when paying City of Columbia bills online for a smooth, hassle-free payment experience:

• Double check account numbers – Before submitting payment, verify your account numbers match what is listed on your paper bill to avoid processing issues.

• Keep payment info current – If your credit/debit card number changes, be sure to update the details within your online bill pay account. Outdated payment info can lead to failed payments.

• Allow 2-3 business days – When paying right at the due date, allow 2-3 business days for online payments to fully process and avoid late fees.

• Setup AutoPay – For hands off bill pay, setup scheduled automatic payments from your bank account or credit card each month.

• Check balances first – Before payments are processed, log in and make sure your bank/card balances can fully cover the amount due.

• Save payment receipts – Each time you pay online, save or print the confirmation page or receipt number for your records.

• Update contact info – Keep your email, phone, and address up to date in your online account in case the city needs to contact you about your bill or payment.

Paying your City of Columbia bills online is the ultimate in convenience and organization. By registering for online bill pay, you can quickly pay services like water, sewer, parking citations, and more from your computer or mobile device at any time. Payments can be made by credit/debit card or e-check and recurring AutoPay can be setup for hands off bill management. Follow the tips above for a smooth online payment process. Ditch the paper bills and experience the ease of City of Columbia online bill pay!