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Online Services >> Bill Pay FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Regarding Alcoa Tenn Bill Pay

Q: How do I sign up for Bill pay?
A: You will register online from ATFCU OnlineACCESS by selecting the "Pay Bills" button from the OnlineACCESS main menu. When the welcome to Bill Pay screen appears click the "Start" button. The disclosure screen will appear which must be read before continuing the process to sign up for Bill Pay. From the drop down list, select a default account from which you want your bills to be paid. Make sure you read and understand these disclosures before you begin. (We also suggest reading this entire FAQ's document.) Click the "Register for Bill Payment" button to complete the registration process.

Q: How will Bill Pay work and when is the money withdrawn from my account?
A: Bill Pay is an Internet-based system that allows members to set-up single or recurring payments. Depending on the bill payee, the payment may be made either by paper check or electronic payment. The money will be deducted from your account on the day you designate the bill to be paid. ATFCU recommends you allow 7-10 business days when you setup your bill payment for the first time. Once the new information is verified and the first payment is made, the subsequent payments should take 2 to 5 days.

Q: What is the "Default Account" required during the registration process?
A: The 'default account' is the account that you choose for Bill Pay to debit bills from the first time you sign on to Bill Pay. The 'default account' can be changed for each individual payee or payment. Due to limits of transfers (Reg D), we suggest using your share draft (checking) account.

Q: Is there a limit on the amount of bills I can pay with Bill Pay?
A: There are no limits to the number of payments you can send to each payee. There is a dollar limit of $10,000.00 for each payment. Please remember limits of transfers or Reg D, will apply to share (savings) accounts or money markets.

Q: What does 'Reg D' mean?
A: Federal Regulations permit six (6) Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) transactions per month on Share (savings) and/or Money Market accounts. We suggest using a Share Draft (checking) account when using Bill Pay, due to these regulations. (Share Draft accounts do not have a limit on the number of transactions.)

Q: What bills can I pay through "OnlineACCESS" using Bill Pay?
A: You can pay anyone you owe with a United States address; regardless of whether it is a company or an individual. For example, you can pay anyone from AT&T to the baby-sitter or the local dog kennel. However, you may not use the service to pay taxes or any court ordered payments.

Q: Can I pay my ATFCU loan, mortgage, or home equity line of credit using Bill Pay?
A: We do not recommend that you use Bill Pay to post ATFCU payments of any sort. The most efficient way to make these payments is to use the transfer function within OnlineACCESS.

Q: Can I pay my ATFCU VISA Credit Card using Bill Pay?
A: Yes. We recommend doing a company search with the company name of "Alcoa Tenn Credit Union". From the list you receive, match up your ATFCU VISA Credit Card number, select the one that matches, and then click "Select Company".

Q: What things can I do as a member to make sure my bills are paid successfully?
A: You are responsible for making sure that the information you input regarding yours bills, address, and account information, are complete and accurate. Allow at least 7-10 business days for the first payment to reach its destination.

Q: Can I write a check to pay my bills and use Bill Pay as well?
A: Yes. You can write checks anytime, or use Bill Pay in conjunction with writing checks.

Q: Does overdraft protection work for bills I pay through Bill Pay?
A: Yes. overdraft protection you have on your Share Draft (checking) account will also protect the bills you pay with Bill Pay from your Share Draft (checking) account provided the funds are available.

Q: Will I be charged a non-sufficient fund (NSF) fee if I don't have enough money available in my account when my bill attempts to pay?
A: Yes. If funds are not available in your default account or an overdraft account on the DUE DATE, an NSF fee of $22.00 will be charged to your account and the bill will not be paid. You will then need to make alternate arrangements for payment or reschedule the payment.

Q: When setting up Bill Pay, how long does it take for my bills to be paid?
A: When setting up your payees for the first time, allow 7-10 business days for the information to be verified and the payment made. Subsequent payments should take 2 to 5 days.

Q: Is there a fee for using Bill Pay?
A: A monthly fee of $4.95 with unlimited transactions will be debited from your account once you request Bill Payment Services. That is less than the cost of a book of 20 postage stamps.

Q: When will the fee be charged to my account?
A: The fee will be debited from your default account on the last business day of each month.

Q: If I register for Bill Pay and never pay a bill will I be charged?
A: Yes. You will be charged the monthly Bill Pay fee until you go online and choose "Stop Bill Pay Service" under 'Pay Bills' in OnlineACCESS.

Q: If I register for Bill Pay and later decide not to use the service, will I be charged a fee even if I delete all my bills?
A: Yes. If you wish to cancel the Bill Pay Service after you have registered for Bill Pay and not be charged a fee of $4.95 a month, you must click the 'Stop Bill Pay Service' button to complete the cancellation of Bill Pay Service.

Q: Why do I have a problem when using the back button while in Bill Pay?
A: The back button is used to return to the previous screen. Some programs will not allow the back button to be used since the data is gathered from a temporary file.

Q: How do I add a bill?
A: You can build your own company list by:

Q: Should I use the list of companies in the company search list?
A: Yes. We recommend that you look for your company in the search list first and use it if the information displayed matches your printed invoice, statement, or payment book exactly. If not, add your company as a new bill. Always enter complete and accurate information when completing the add a bill screens to ensure timely processing. Your bill will be sent with the information you provide. If you provide incorrect or inaccurate information, posting of your payment could be delayed or your payment could be rejected. We CANNOT take responsibility for inaccurate information you provide.

Q: When I add a bill in Bill Pay I am required to enter the company's phone number; however, when I view the payment history the phone number no longer appears. Why?
A: The phone number(s) are only needed for the initial set up of your company(s) to decide on a payment method (either by check or by electronic deposit).

Q: What will happen if I add a new bill incorrectly?
A: The payment will not be processed, and your bill will not be paid. Please take care to ensure all information is correct.

Q: I entered a payment with a due date of today, why wasn't the payment processed immediately?
A: Payments are transmitted each morning for the previous business day. Any payment entered today with a due date of today will be transmitted on the next business day (Monday-Friday). Payments entered on non-business days will be considered entered in the system on the next business day and processing will begin the following business day.

Q: Up to what point can I alter a scheduled payment?
A: Payments may be altered or canceled until funds have been debited from your account. Once your account has been debited, payments CAN NOT be stopped. Any alteration or cancellation will apply to the next payment.

Q: I am entering my account number exactly as it appears on my bill, why doesn't Bill Payment accept it?
A: Because some merchants accept electronic payments (ACH), the account number format requirement may be different from the account number you are accustomed to using. You do not need to use any spaces or dashes. Whenever Bill Pay does not accept an account number format you enter, it will display the proper or expected format with a series of characters. For example: N****** ('N' stands for a number and '*' stands for a number or a letter.)

Q: Can I contact the Credit Union with a question regarding Bill Pay?
A: Yes. You may contact us by:
phone: (865) 977-3118,
or write to us:
P.O. Box 9001
Alcoa, TN 37701

For additional information or questions regarding Online Services, please read our OnlineACCESS FAQ's.