How to Pay Your Utility Bill Online in the City of Monticello

Paying your utility bill in the City of Monticello just got a whole lot easier thanks to online bill pay. As a resident of this charming Minnesota town, you can now skip the trip to City Hall and pay your water, sewer, and other city utility bills from the comfort of your home

As a long-time resident of Monticello myself I remember the days of writing checks and mailing them in or dropping them off at the payment box outside City Hall. It was kind of a hassle especially when the weather was bad or I was strapped for time. Now paying my bill takes just a few minutes on my phone or laptop.

In this article, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know to pay your Monticello utility bill online, including:

• What bills you can pay online
• How to set up an online account
• Available online payment options
• Tips for avoiding late fees
• Setting up auto-pay
• Troubleshooting problems

I’ll also share some of the key benefits I’ve experienced from paying my bill online versus mailing a check or paying in-person.

What Utility Bills Can I Pay Online in Monticello?

When you log into the City of Monticello’s online payment system, you can pay your monthly bill for:

• Water
• Sewer
• Stormwater
• Recycling and garbage collection

So all the major services covered on your monthly utility bill from the City can be paid online.

You can see your balance, look at your current charges, and make a payment through the online system. Being able to log in at any time and see how much you owe each month is very helpful.

How to Set Up an Online Account

Setting up an online account with the City of Monticello is easy and only takes a few minutes. Here are the steps:

1. Go to the City’s website and click on “Pay My Utility Bill” or “Pay Your Bill”

2. Click the green button that says “Pay Your Bill Now”

3. On the new window that opens, click “Pay or View Bills”

4. Select “Create a new account”

5. Enter your account number and the last name on your account

6. Create a username and password and provide your email address

7. Agree to the terms and conditions and click “Create Account”

That’s it! After you create your username and password, you’ll be able to log in anytime and pay your bill online.

Make sure to have your latest utility bill handy so you can enter your account number accurately. The system will even walk you through adding any leading zeros.

Payment Options for Paying Online

The City of Monticello offers several ways to pay your bill through their online system:

• Credit/debit card – Visa, MasterCard, and Discover are accepted. There is a convenience fee of 2.55% + $1 per transaction.

• Electronic check – Pay directly from your bank account with no convenience fee. You’ll need your routing and account numbers.

• Automatic bank draft – Set up recurring automatic payments directly from your checking account each month. No fees.

I really like the auto-pay option, which I’ll talk more about later. It’s easy to set up and helps avoid late payments.

The electronic check and auto-pay options let you avoid extra fees while still paying how and when you want.

Tips for Avoiding Late Fees

One of the best reasons to pay bills online is avoiding late fees! Here are some tips:

• Know the due date – Monticello utility bills are due on the 1st of each month. Mark it on your calendar so you remember.

• Set payment reminders – Use features like account alerts or calendar reminders to prompt you to pay on time.

• Pay at least 5 days early – To be safe, pay a few days before the due date in case of processing delays.

• Set up auto-pay – Automating payments is the #1 way to never miss a bill!

• Check your account activity – Log in periodically to review transactions and confirm payments went through.

I put a monthly reminder on my Google Calendar so I never forget when my bill is due. The late fee is 5% of the total bill, so those reminders save me money!

Setting Up Automatic Payments

Like I mentioned earlier, auto-pay is my favorite feature of the City’s online bill pay system. Here’s how easy it is to set up:

1. Log into your online account

2. Click on “Auto Pay Accounts” in the menu

3. Choose your payment method – credit card or bank draft

4. Provide the needed payment details

5. Confirm your enrollment

And that’s seriously all there is to it! The City will now automatically charge your card or withdraw from your bank account each month for the full statement balance. No more worrying about late fees or logging in to manually pay.

The auto-pay feature is free if you choose the bank draft option. It gives me peace of mind knowing my bill is always paid on time, and I have one less chore to remember each month.

Troubleshooting Problems with Online Payments

While paying your utility bill online is usually quick and easy, occasional issues can come up. Here are some troubleshooting tips:

• Account locked? Reset your password or call the City’s utility department during business hours for help accessing your account.

• Payment rejected? Verify your card details are correct or that your bank account has sufficient funds.

• Payments not posting? Confirm the payment went through on your end and then call the utility department to investigate.

• Didn’t get a receipt? Check your email spam folder. If it’s not there, log into your account to view payment history or call for assistance.

The City of Monticello’s friendly utility staff are available by phone Monday-Friday to help resolve any problems. Don’t hesitate to call them if something seems off with your online payments.

Why I Love Paying Bills Online

Making the switch from mailing paper checks to paying my utility bills online has made my life so much simpler. Here are a few of my favorite perks:

• It’s fast – The whole process takes 5 minutes versus writing and mailing a check.

• Saves money – I avoid late fees and stamps/envelopes. The auto-pay discount is nice too.

• More flexible – I can pay from anywhere anytime before the due date.

• Peace of mind – Auto-pay removes the stress of remembering to pay each month.

• Eco-friendly – Going paperless helps the environment a tiny bit.

• Easy to track – I can log in anytime to view my balance and payment history.

Unless I’m dealing with a super old-school company, I always opt for online payments. It makes managing bills and budgeting easier. The convenience is unbeatable!

Get Started Paying Your Monticello Utility Bill Online Today!

Signing up is quick and intuitive – just have your latest statement handy. Try auto-pay to save time and avoid late fees. And take advantage of the ability to monitor your account and payments 24/7.

If you have any hiccups, the City’s top-notch utility department is there to help get things sorted out.

Welcome to the world of online bill pay, Monticello! I think you’ll quickly come to love it as much as I do. One less hassle in life.