Now I really am not happy

[helpless]

Trustee's office still does not have my payment. I mailed it 8 days ago. Was told that if it doesn't go through my bank tonight to cancel the check ($25) and then reissue them a check using overnight mail ($15) so that they have it by dispersement date which is 22nd. She says it like I have $40 laying around. Ugh!!! I will always mail in return receipt for now on. Does anyone know how billpay works and if it gets there any quicker? Trustee doesn't have the ability to debit my checking account every month, which, of course, would be the easiest, but I can pay them through billpay, but it will still take 5 days.

[anonymuse]

Are you talking a bill payment service through the bank you use? If so, check with your bank. Sometimes they can directly deposit into an account; other times, they still cut and mail a check. If they have to mail it, you won't have the ability to do the whole return receipt thing, and I doubt the bank takes responsibility for things being late.

Is the place you mail the check to within a short driving distance? (I can't remember from your other post.)

[SinkingFast]

My sister uses BillPay thru her Bank. For the longest time, she thought the Bank was doing electronic funds transfers. Then she found out that the Bank cuts a check and mails the payment just like she would. That's why the Bank was telling her to allow 3-5 business days for the payment to process.

Maybe that's how your BillPay is gonna work too.

[Minnymouth]

Lots of the "bill pay" services everyone uses is still where they cut check and mail it just like we do.............. especially the banks.....

Very few electronic transfers..... many not setup for that yet......

So yeah, you can send a check just as quick as bill pay or banking services........ which is 3-5 days.....

[anonymuse]

The big places--like DirecTV, major phone companies, and other things like that can go direct--but a lot of stuff is not set up that way yet.

[aa06a47]

Trustee's office still does not have my payment. I mailed it 8 days ago. Was told that if it doesn't go through my bank tonight to cancel the check ($25) and then reissue them a check using overnight mail ($15) so that they have it by dispersement date which is 22nd. She says it like I have $40 laying around. Ugh!!! I will always mail in return receipt for now on. Does anyone know how billpay works and if it gets there any quicker? Trustee doesn't have the ability to debit my checking account every month, which, of course, would be the easiest, but I can pay them through billpay, but it will still take 5 days.

The first payment I mailed to the trustee was mailed on a Wednesday. The following Friday (9 days later) the check cleared the bank. The trustee showed it posted to my account on 13 days after I mailed it. I was about to do the same thing as you.

I use bill pay at my bank and made 3 more payments using it (1 regular payment, and 2 smaller make up payments due to the increase in my plan). Just make sure your case no is on it. Bill Pay works great in my opinion, it is like having "proof" of payment. In other words, you have a 3rd party that says the payment was sent in. Don't have to go through the hassle of return receipt and all that cost.

[helpless]

Yes, it is just bill pay and would still take 5 business days. I can't take my check into the trustees office because they don't allow payments to be made in person. Too bad, my husband works near the office and it would save me at least $15. All I can do now is hope that it clears tonight, if not I will deal with it tomorrow. Tonight I am just dealing with my bottle of Captain Morgans. I just hate shelling out the $40 that is what half a tank of gas for my van.

[aa06a47]

helpless, I know your flustration. In fact, I was actually afraid I would go to my 341 meeting showing I had not made a payment. Truth of the matter is, the trustee probably does have the check in his possession, just hasn't processed it or cashed it either. I would call the trustee Monday and ask him / her if that is a possibility. Your right, cancelled check fees and certified mail is an expense most chapter 13 people don't need!!! I would probably spend the money, but at the 10 day after mailed date.

[lrprn]

Our trustee gave us four options to pay him - 1. a direct payroll transfer from one of our employers; 2. a personal check, certified check, or money order sent by snail mail; 3. a payment made through Bill Pay as long as the bank cuts a paper check (no electronic transfers); or 4. we can pay in person at the trustee's office (personal check, certified check, or money order - no cash). Since hubby's drive to work goes right by his office, we make our payments in person during regular business hours and get a receipt from the receptionist. The peace of mind knowing the check is right in his hands every month with no chance of being lost or mislaid in the mail is wonderful.

Sorry to hear your trustee isn't as generous with his/her options, Helpless. Hope your wandering check arrives in its proper home very soon.

[SinkingFast]

helpless, I know your flustration. In fact, I was actually afraid I would go to my 341 meeting showing I had not made a payment. Truth of the matter is, the trustee probably does have the check in his possession, just hasn't processed it or cashed it either. I would call the trustee Monday and ask him / her if that is a possibility. Your right, cancelled check fees and certified mail is an expense most chapter 13 people don't need!!! I would probably spend the money, but at the 10 day after mailed date.

That could be it right there. Your envelope could be laying in a basket with other Ch 13 payment checks, on someone's desk, in your Trustee's office, and that person just hasn't gotten to opening the envelopes and posting payments yet.

Fingers crossed for you that you don't wind up spending extra $$$'s.

[helpless]

My bad luck just continues. The check did not clear Friday night, so I had no choice but to cancel it yesterday and will have to overnight a check tomorrow. I couldn't wait any longer because the trustee wants it there by Wednesday. Now, the bank says that it will take 24 business hours before the stop payment will take effect, so you just wait that **** check will clear tomorrow night before the 24 hours goes into effect and then I will really be in a real heap of doggie poo. I just am not going to pay my electric, gas and cable until check goes through, just in case I have to have two checks clear by the trustee. Lordy, I hope not. I thought well I can really squeeze and if both clear, then I won't have to make one for July that I would be fine, not. If they both clear before dispersement date, then I will have to pay in July again. It will be like giving a whole extra payment. This madness never ends.

[helpless]

Oh, by the way, it is $31 and not $25 for that stop payment fee. So basically I have just p***ed away $46.00 that I don't have.

[aa06a47]

I am sorry to hear this helpless. Can you get it set up so that your employeer takes it out of your check each month. Then, you not only save the stamp, but also this type of thing happening again. The other thing, if you don't want to do that, do the bill pay option with your bank. This provides a 3rd party verification that the payment has been made. If the trustee don't get the check, the bill pay service investigates then sends another check and it don't cost a thing.

Since they wanted it by Wednesday, you could have overnited it on Tuesday. I really would have waited to see if it cleared Monday. Might have saved you $46.00. I know your anxioty though, you don't want the trustee dismissing your case for this.

[helpless]

Believe it or not I can't wait until Tuesday because Trustees office has the payment go to an independent verifier which takes them a day to scan in the check and another day for the trustee to post it to my account. Just can't take the risk. Can't have wage deduction because if my DH job found out, it could risk his position. We had to get a court order to allow us to pay trustee directly. It usually is mandatory wage order in Ohio. Just will cough up the $4.40 every month to send it with usps confirmation. Hey that is at least 10% of what it is costing me this month!!

[Anj]

I am floored that some of your trustees take personal checks...
so far no issues here - mail it on the 8th - due on the 9th... process on the 9th every time.
Now ya'll got me worried a tiny bit...