Online billing is supposed to be a convenience and a cheaper alternative to paper billing. However, certain online bills are apparently MORE expensive to process online.
In January, the city of Atlanta instituted a $4.50 fee to pay water bills online. Other Georgia government entities like the Department of Revenue have charged an online “convenience fee” for several years for paying bills online.
The AJC reports that Atlanta’s Watershed Management Department was charged $700,000 by banks and credit card companies to process these payments. Banks do NOT charge this fee when using online/electronic bill pay systems directly from a bank account.