E-Bill Pay- FAQ

What is E-Bill Pay?

E-Bill Pay is a service that allows you to pay your bills online through our secure Internet server. You may schedule a payment; schedule recurring payments to be issued automatically; track past payments and view check images; or, through our Express Pay feature, make payments to several payees at once.

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Is there a charge?

If you sign up for all 3 of Sentry Credit Union's electronic services - Internet Banking, E-Statements, and E-Bill Pay - the cost for E-Bill Pay is FREE!  If you choose not to sign up for all 3 services, you will be given the first 3 months of E-Bill Pay free, and then a $3.95 monthly charge will be accessed.

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Is E-Bill Pay secure?

Yes.  Internet browsers equipped with the proper SSL (secured socket layer) encryption will communicate transactional information in a secure and encrypted session.  Your browser must support 128 bit SSL encryption.  Simply check the "Help" section on your browser's tool bar and look under "About Microsoft Explorer" or "About Netscape Navigator" to see the browser version and encryption level.  When logged-on to E-Bill Pay, you should see an icon resembling a "yellow lock" at the bottom of your browser signifying a secure connection.  If it does not appear, either you do not have an encryption-enabled browser, or the browser is able to encrypt, but you do not have the encryption feature activated.  Check to ensure that SSL is enabled on your browser.

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Can I use E-Bill Pay if I live outside the U.S.?

Your Internet bill pay service is available to all members provided their Internet browsers support 128 bit SSL (secured socket layer) encryption.

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What type of account do I need to set up payments?

You will need either an SCU Premium Checking or Premium Plus Checking Account to use E-Bill Pay.

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Whom can I pay?

Payments can be made only to Payees with a United States address.  You may not make a payment of alimony, child-support, taxes or other governmental fees, or court-directed payments with the Service.  We reserve the right to refuse to pay any merchant or other person to whom you may direct a payment.  We are obligated to notify you promptly if we decide to refuse to pay a Payee. This notification is not required if you attempt one or more of the prohibited payments set forth above.

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What do payees actually receive?

If the payment is made by check, the payee will receive a paper check bearing the following:

     ˚Payee Name
     ˚Payment Amount
     ˚Your account number and name with the payee
     ˚Check number

If the payment is electronic, then the payment will be sent via the Automated Clearing House to the payee's bank with all the pertinent information to credit your account with the payee.

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How far in advance should I set up payments?

A safe rule of thumb is to select a scheduled account debit date of at least five (5) or more business days in advance of the payment due date. Business days mean Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.  Any payments scheduled for Saturday, Sunday or any recognized national holiday will be processed on the previous business day. 

For all initial payments, please schedule 10 business days before they are due.  When scheduling payments, please note that the cutoff time for a payment to be processed on any given business day is 4 a.m., Central Standard Time.

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What date do I put in the debit date field?

The schedule debit date field indicates the date on which your payment should be processed, not the date it is due.  When scheduling payments, a safe rule of thumb is to select a debit date of at least five (5) or more business days in advance of the payment due date.  When scheduling payments, please note that the cutoff time for a payment to be processed on any given business day is 4 a.m., Central Standard Time.

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What happens if the Credit Union doesn't properly complete a bill payment on time or in the correct amount?

We will use our best efforts to make all your payments properly.  We will reimburse you for any late payment fees or penalties you are charged, up to a maximum of $50.00 per scheduled payment, as a result of our failure to deliver a payment made to a business by the scheduled Due Date if you meet each of the following obligations: 

     (a) You must properly schedule the payment to be processed at least five Business Days prior
          to the Due Date.  For Same Day Payments, this means that you must schedule your payments
          to be processed before 4 a.m. Central Standard Time, USA, on a Business Day at least five Business
          Days prior to the Due Date. Mortgage Payments differ from other Recurring Payments in the
          following manner: if your mortgage payment is due on the first of each month with a fifteen day
          grace period, then you must schedule your mortgage payment to be processed on or before the
          third calendar day of each month, or the payment guarantee will not apply. 

    (b) You must provide us with the correct payee name, address, Debit Date, account information and
          the correct payment amount. 

    (c) Your Designated Bill Paying Account, including any overdraft protection, must contain sufficient
          funds to complete the payment or transfer on the Account Debit Date. 

    (d) The late payment fee or penalty or the method of calculation must be published by the payee prior
          to the Due Date. 

    (e) Your PC hardware, software, telephone line, and Internet service provider, if applicable, must be
          functioning properly.

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What If I forget my Password?

Contact us for assistance. Remember, you are responsible for maintaining the secrecy of your E-Bill Pay user name and password. Please keep this information in a safe place.

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How do I sign-up?

For your protection, Sentry Credit Union requires an E-Bill Pay Enrollment form to be submitted either by mail or fax.  Once your request is received, it will take between 1 and 3 days to add you as an user.  You will receive a confirmation letter by mail which includes your username and password. 

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