Paying bills can be a tedious task. Tracking due dates, mailing payments, waiting for checks to clear – it takes time and effort each month But for residents of Wooster, Ohio, paying utility bills just got a whole lot easier thanks to Wooster City Services online bill pay. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at how Wooster City Services is making bill pay quick, easy and stress-free
Overview of Wooster City Services
Wooster City Services handles billing and payment processing for water, sewer, electric and trash services within the city of Wooster. They serve over 27,000 residents across roughly 12,000 households and businesses.
Previously, customers had to pay their utility bills via check, with payments sent by mail or dropped off at the Wooster City Services office. But recognizing the need for more modern and convenient payment options, Wooster City Services launched an online bill pay system in recent years.
This online portal and accompanying mobile app lets customers view their account, see current and past bills, make one-time payments and even set up automatic payments. By transitioning utility payments to an online system, Wooster City Services has made the process far more user-friendly.
Benefits of Paying Bills Online
Switching to online payments with Wooster City Services provides a number of advantages compared to the old mail-in payment system. Some of the biggest benefits include:
Convenience
Customers can now pay their utility bills from anywhere at any time through the online portal or mobile app. No more having to mail in checks or drive downtown to drop off payments. Online payments can be made 24/7.
Payment Tracking
The online portal gives customers better visibility into their payment history. All bills and payments are visible in the portal, allowing customers to easily track payment status.
Automatic Payments
Customers can set up recurring automatic payments through the online system. This ensures bills are paid on time without any additional effort each month.
Time Savings
Online payments are faster than mailing in checks and waiting for them to clear Payments made online are typically processed within 1-2 business days
Paperless Billing
Along with online payments, customers can opt into paperless billing to receive bills electronically rather than through the mail. This cuts down on clutter and is better for the environment.
Mobile Accessibility
In addition to the online portal, Wooster City Services offers a mobile app for payments. This makes bill pay possible on-the-go from any smartphone.
How to Pay Your Bill Online
Paying your utility bill through the Wooster City Services online portal is simple and straightforward, Here are the steps
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Set up your online account – Visit the Wooster City Services online account portal and click on “Register Your Account”. You’ll need your account number and billing zip code to set up your username and password.
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View your bill – Once logged into your account, you can view your current utility bill as well as previous bills and payment history. Make sure to check for any account notices.
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Enter payment info – The first time you make an online payment, you’ll need to enter your credit/debit card information or bank account details for ACH payments. For future payments, this info will be stored.
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Schedule payment – With the billing info visible, you can now select “Pay Bill” and schedule your payment. You can pay the full or partial balance owed.
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Confirm payment – Review all payment details before confirming the transaction. You should receive an email confirmation shortly after.
And just like that, your utility payment is complete! The whole process takes just a few minutes compared to the old mail payment method.
Setting Up Auto Pay
For maximum convenience, Wooster City Services customers can enroll in auto pay. This automatically deducts the amount owed for your monthly utility bill from the payment method on file, ensuring your bill is paid on time without you having to do anything.
To set up auto pay:
- Log into your online account
- Click on “My Profile”
- Select the “AutoPay” tab
- Check the box to enable auto pay
- Choose the account you want payments drawn from
- Review and submit the auto pay agreement
Once enrolled, your bills will be paid automatically each month on the due date. You’ll receive an email confirmation when payments are processed. If you ever need to cancel or change your auto pay settings, just log back into your profile.
Security of Online Payments
Whenever money is involved, security is a top concern. Rest assured Wooster City Services utilizes industry best practices to keep your data and payments safe.
Payment information is encrypted both in transit and at rest in the system. The online portal and mobile app use 2048-bit SSL encryption, the same technology used by major banks and retailers.
Customer passwords are hashed and salted in the database, meaning they are scrambled and unreadable. Employees do not have access to plaintext passwords. Proper access controls are in place, with customer data only accessible on a need-to-know basis.
The online system is monitored around the clock and regularly tested for any potential vulnerabilities. Wooster takes data security extremely seriously to protect customer information.
Getting Help with Online Bill Pay
Transitioning to online payments involves some learning curves. Wooster City Services has resources available for customers who need help or have questions:
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FAQ Page – Answers to frequently asked questions about account registration, payments, auto pay and more.
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Tutorial Videos – Short videos walking through how to sign up, log in, view bills, pay bills and other basic tasks.
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Live Chat – Chat live with a customer service rep during business hours if you get stuck.
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Phone Support – Call into the Wooster City Services billing office at 330-263-5228 for personal assistance.
Don’t hesitate to use these resources if you ever hit roadblocks with the online bill pay system. The customer service team is happy to help get you up and running.
Paying utility bills is a necessary evil – but Wooster City Services has transformed the payment process from a chore into a simple, streamlined task. By implementing a user-friendly online portal and mobile app for payments, they’ve given customers flexibility and convenience.
Online bill pay saves Wooster residents time and hassle each month. Automatic payments provide additional ease, taking the effort out of bill pay entirely. And with strong security measures in place, customers can feel at ease conducting transactions online. For a smoother, simpler bill pay experience, the future is online with Wooster City Services.
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