Paying Bills at the Post Office Just Got Easier

Going to the post office used to be a chore. You’d have to stand in line for ages just to buy a book of stamps. But these days the United States Postal Service (USPS) has made paying bills and other errands a breeze. In this article we’ll explore all the ways you can pay bills conveniently at the post office.

Online Bill Pay

The easiest way to pay bills at the post office is online through USPS Pay. With USPS Pay you can pay bills from thousands of participating companies. All you need to do is log into your USPS account and click on “Pay Bills.”

You’ll be taken to the USPS Pay site, where you can look up the business you need to pay. Big names like AT&T, Bank of America, and Verizon are available. You can pay your cell phone bill, credit card bill, and utility bill all in one place.

The setup process is simple. You only need to enter your account number from the company that is taking part. USPS Pay uses bank-level security to keep your info safe. You can use a credit or debit card to pay right away, or you can link your checking account to pay from your bank.

Paying bills through USPS Pay is fast, secure, and convenient. You don’t have to worry about bills or checks getting lost in the mail. Your payment will be delivered promptly so you can avoid any late fees.

In-Person Bill Pay

If you prefer paying bills in person, you still have options at the post office. Thousands of post office locations allow you to pay bills at the counter. All you need is the company’s bill payment form and your payment.

Many companies have teamed up with USPS to offer point-of-sale bill payments. When you go to the post office counter, look for the following logos:

• Direct Express – Pay federal benefits and assistance cards
• CashCard – Pay CashCard branded debit cards
• Western Union – Make Western Union money transfers
• MoneyGram – Make MoneyGram money transfers
• Invoice Cloud – Pay local municipality bills

The clerk will process your payment right there. You’ll get a receipt as proof of payment. It’s perfect if you’ve missed the mail pickup for that day or need to pay immediately to avoid late fees.

Bill pay kiosks are also popping up at post office locations. You can pay your bills on the self-service kiosk with your credit/debit card or checking account. There’s no need to wait in line. Just follow the on-screen prompts.

Use Your PO Box for Bill Delivery

Here’s an insider tip to make bill pay even easier – get a PO Box at the post office! When you rent a Post Office Box, you get a street address along with the box number. Many companies allow you to use the street address for deliveries.

So you can send all your bills directly to your PO Box. Then just swing by and pick them up along with the rest of your mail. No more worrying about bills getting lost or stolen from your home mailbox.

PO Box sizes vary to accommodate small envelopes to large packages. You can request to hold packages at the counter if they don’t fit in your box. Pick them up when you go to pay your bills in person. It’s the ultimate bill paying convenience.

Pay Bills with Money Orders

Money orders are an easy way to pay bills at the post office if the company accepts them. You can buy money orders right at the counter. Just let the clerk know the amount, pay with cash or debit card, and the money order is printed right there.

Make sure to fill out the “Pay to” line with the correct company name. You can even get money orders made out to yourself. Mail or drop off the money order along with your billing stub. The company will apply the money order amount to your account.

Money order fees are reasonable at just $1.30 for amounts up to $500. The clerk will let you know the exact fee. It’s a small price to pay for the convenience and security of paying with a money order versus mailing cash.

Use Postal Money Orders for Large Amounts

If you need to pay a bill over $1,000, a postal money order is a safer option than a regular money order. Postal money orders can be purchased for amounts up to $1,000. You’ll just pay a slightly higher fee based on the dollar amount.

The USPS stands behind postal money orders in case of loss or theft. You can request a refund by filing a claim. This adds an extra layer of security for large bill payments.

To get a postal money order, just ask the post office clerk for one when you go to pay your bill. As long as you have valid ID and funds to cover the amount, you can walk out with a secure postal money order to pay your bill.

Track Your Money Order Payment

Wondering if the company received your money order payment? You can easily track USPS money orders online or by phone.

Start by logging into your USPS account. Go to “Track a Money Order” and enter the money order serial number from your receipt. You can see updates when the money order was cashed.

You can also call USPS customer service at 1-877-276-5597. Provide the automated system with your money order serial number to check the status. Knowing your payment was received gives you peace of mind.

Set Up Informed Delivery for Bill Status

Informed Delivery is a free USPS service that gives you digital previews of your incoming mail. You’ll get emailed images of letter-sized envelopes that are arriving soon. Many billing envelopes fit this criteria.

So you’ll get a heads up on what bills to expect each day. You’ll know when it’s time to head to the post office to pay them. Informed Delivery also shows you the status of packages coming your way.

To sign up, just create or log into your USPS account. Click on “Informed Delivery Profile” to enroll and verify your identity. Then you can access mail previews from the USPS mobile app or your account dashboard.

Auto-Pay through USPS E-Services

USPS E-Services offer advanced online tools to make bill pay even more convenient. You can enroll billers in the auto-pay program called Permit Reply Mail. This allows companies to mail you return payment envelopes with permits printed right on them.

To start, you’ll need a permit account through USPS. There’s no charge to enroll. Just verify your identity and provide bank account information. Then when you receive a return envelope from a participating biller, just pop in your payment and drop it in any mailbox. The postage is deducted from your permit account.

You save money on postage costs since you don’t need to add stamps. And you skip the trip to the post office. Permit Reply Mail auto-pay works for monthly bills like utilities, insurance, subscriptions, and more.

Schedule USPS Pickup When You Pay Bills

Don’t feel like dragging your bill payments to the post office? Take advantage of USPS package pickup when you’re ready to pay your bills. Just schedule a pickup online or through the USPS app.

A mail carrier will swing by your home or office to grab your letters and packages with prepaid postage. Payments you schedule by the pickup cutoff time that day will go out with the rest of your mail.

Pickup is free if you’re already getting mail delivery at that location. If not, there’s a reasonable fee based on the pickup location. Pay bills without leaving home when you request USPS pickup.

Drop Off Prepaid Envelopes at USPS Locations

Many companies enclose prepaid return envelopes with your monthly bills. All you have to do is stick the payment inside and drop it in any mailbox, right? Well, sometimes these envelopes are too thick to send from your own mailbox.

No need to fret if your mailbox won’t accommodate that prepaid envelope. Just look up the nearest USPS location on the website. Head to a local post office or blue collection box and slip that envelope inside.

The prepaid envelope can weigh up to 2 ounces to qualify for this. Any unused postage value stays with the biller. So you don’t have to worry about wasting postage. Just make sure to meet that payment deadline by dropping at USPS.

Schedule Bill Deliveries to Your PO Box

Tired of bills getting soggy or lost in your home mailbox? Consider getting a PO Box at your local post office. PO Boxes keep your mail safe until you pick it up. No more worrying about mail theft or bad weather ruining your bills.

You’ll want to choose a PO Box size that fits most of your bills and letters without folding. The clerk can advise you on the best size option. Mail will stay secure until you pick it up. You can even request packages be held at the counter if they don’t fit in your PO Box.

Don’t forget to put in forwarding orders with each of your billers when you get a PO Box. Change the address to your new PO Box number. Then swing by whenever you please to pay your bills in person during post office hours.