Online Bill Payment FAQ
-
How do I sign up for Online Bill Payment?
Online Bill Payment is a convenient and less expensive way to pay your bills. JHFCU’s Online Bill Payment is free, and since most payments are sent electronically, you save on stamps. To enroll, you first must be signed up for Online Banking. Then within Online Banking, click on the Bill Payment tab and follow the steps. You will need to accept the Online Bill Payment Disclosures and set up a profile. Once the account is set up, you can add payees. You can search for various payees in the Bill Payment list, or manually add one. You will need the payee name, address, and account number (if applicable). Once set up, you can add payees online or via our mobile app.
You must maintain a Savings and Checking Account with Johns Hopkins Federal Credit Union. If for any reason Your Checking Account is closed, We will terminate the Bill Payment feature. -
How Long Does it Take for a Payment to Reach My Payee/Vendor?
Credits for payments are dependent on when you make the payment (day and time), the type of payment the vendor can receive/process (either electronic or mail), and the version of electronic processing they use. Payment processing takes place on business days only. If the payee is NOT set up for electronic payments, or in cases where a first payment may be sent by check, the typical time to receive payment is approximately 10 business days. Payments are processed on the date requested, and sent through US Mail the next day, so the mail is the biggest factor. Electronic payments are typically received in 1 or 2 business days. The default is 2 business days, but some payees are set up to receive next day. JHFCU and its online bill payment vendor have no say in the processing speed. Within online bill payment there is an indication of when you can expect the vendor to receive a payment when you schedule it, but please realize the timing is not guaranteed. Be aware if you set up a payment on a Friday that an electronic payment will be received on the following Tuesday in most cases, and sometimes on Monday.
-
If My Payment Clears My JHFCU Account, Does That Mean the Vendor Received It?
When you schedule a payment, the funds are debited from your account the next business day. This is independent of when the vendor receives the payment—they may receive it the day the payment was taken from your account, but in other cases it may not be credited for another day or more depending on how it was processed.
-
How do I cancel my Bill Payment service?
You must complete a Bill Payment Cancellation form to cancel your service. You can cancel your Bill Payment account online by logging into your account, going to the Online Services tab, and selecting Bill Payment Cancellation.
-
How do I add the joint owner on my account to a bill payment so both names appear on a payment?
Please contact the credit union to have the joint owner on the account added to Bill Pay. Unfortunately the way the system is set up, a joint owner’s information is suppressed unless we add it through our Administration site. But if you contact our Member Service Center at 410-534-4500 or send a secure message, we can add the joint owner information so that both names appear on a payment for a vendor. Note that the person must be a joint owner on your JHFCU account.
-
I paid this bill by with my JHFCU online bill payment. It was processed as a check payment and my account has been debited. However, the image is illegible and the company has not given me credit. What do I do?
If you have a situation where it’s reasonable to assume the payment was received, e.g. the check shows it was processed by the markings on the back, but your account was not credited, please contact JHFCU. We in turn will open a “Proof of Payment service request” with our Bill Pay provider to obtain a copy of the payment; if the check image cleared by the bank is illegible, they can provide a letter of credit stating the payment was made to whom, by whom, what payee and what account number it is to be posted to. Note that this process may take several days or more, so you should communicate the situation with the vendor.
-
I paid this bill by with my JHFCU online bill payment. It was processed as an electronic payment and my account has been debited. However, the company has not given me credit. What do I do?
If you have a situation where it’s reasonable to assume the payment was received, the electronic payment was not returned, please contact JHFCU. We in turn will open a “Proof of Payment service request” with our Bill Pay provider to obtain a copy of the payment; they can provide a letter of credit stating the payment was made to whom, by whom, what payee and what account number it is to be posted to. Note that this process may take several days or more, so you should communicate the situation with the vendor.
-
What do if I do if my check was not received by my payee via Online Bill Payment?
Payments processed as checks can take longer than electronic payments. While the processing time by the Bill Payment service is typically the same (processed the day the request is submitted, as long as it’s before the cutoff for processing), they can take longer to be received by the payee. The checks are mailed via the US Postal Service, so you have the possible delays you have with anything sent through the mail (i.e. holidays, weekends, traffic, etc.) Please allow for a longer period for receipt with payees that are paid by check. Also, alert the payee, if possible, that the check will arrive in a plain envelope and may not be easy to recognize as your payment.
If your check was not received within 15 business days of being issued, please contact us. We will be able to tell you if the check cleared, or place a stop payment if needed (stop payment fee may apply).
-
What are the Bill Pay transaction limits?
Single payment limit - $9,999.99
Daily limit - $20,000.00