Customer Reviews

PAYTRUST-BILL CENTER-HOME WIN 95/98/ME/NT/2000 GENERAL

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Paytrust.com is one of the most useful online services in existence. While most Internet savvy users will have online bill payment capabilities through their banking institution, Paytrust allows for RECEIPT of detailed bills at a designated mailbox in Sioux Falls, SD (sorry, there is only one location at this time). These bills are either scanned in or, if the merchant has electronic billing, sent electronically to Paytrust. They are then viewed by the user on the web site. With the separate and distinct mailing address, the service provides address privacy.

If you argue that your credit card or cell phone provider has electronic billing, Paytrust also eliminates marketing materials from these entities because they will STILL send solicitations and sell your information even after you request omission from their marketing list or use their electronic billing. Not only can you view incoming bills, which banks (as far as I am aware) do not offer, but Paytrust also helps eliminate junk mail. In other words, any junk mail that Paytrust receives in your mail box will be destroyed. "Important" documents such as convenience checks and cards are mailed to an alternate postal address.

The functionality and usability of Patrust are great. The web site is very easy to use and offers both a basic layout for dial-up users and a richer interface for broadband users. After receiving a bill, the users is sent an email notification telling you the payment amount and balance if applicable. You can chose to pay the bill via Paytrust or use means of your choice.

If you travel or move frequently or just hate junk mail, Paytrust can't be beat. Basically, it gives you address privacy with high level of convenience. Say good bye to the direct marketing association.

I have been with the service since 1999 or thereabouts and would not imagine quitting it.
For some time, I had two accounts with them - one for myself and one for my mother who could no longer write her own checks.
I was her POA and lived half a continent from her. I was also working a stressful job which gave me little time to write out checks for myself, much less somebody else.
When she finally passed, the service also provided reports which were extremely helpful to her probate attorney, as I made sure that all expenses I paid went through Paytrust.
During the time I have been with the service, only two checks have gone astray. We are talking twelve years here.
As far as checks taking time to get to their destination, now at least half the bills are sent by EFT, and on those which are paid that way, the companies post the amount faster than I even expect. (Very often next day). On non-EFT checks, Paytrust gives a reliable estimate about when they will arrive at their destination. Yes, they may take a few days longer than it would if I wrote a local check and sent it locally, but that's not a problem with upfront planning, and, again, there is a paper trail.
There have been many changes over the last 12 years, and I have to say that the only change in Paytrust is that it has gotten better.

I have been with them since they were PayMyBills, but the software (actually, it's their website) has become so filled with bugs that I am beginning to find it unusable.

And the new owner (Intuit) doesn't seem very interested in fixing them, although each "enhancement" introduces new ones.

So I am now searching for a replacement. I would hate to go back to paper, but I just might do that.

I disagree with the post from October 2002. I own MS Money (a fine product), but Paytrust is a completely different animal. And the differences are striking. Paytrust is completely portable. No matter what machine you use, you will ALWAYS have access to your current bills. They're ONLINE. Sure, many vendors will allow you to pay their bills at their websites, but if you have 20 bills, that's twenty websites. Quicken has a bill service, but they ONLY work with companies that are online. What about the bills that aren't? Well Paytrust doesn't care. It can take bills from your gas company, or your loan shark.

Maybe you decide to go in with someone half way on some purchase. It doesn't matter where you are; just find a computer, log on, plug in their information and mail them a check.

And another cool thing that your vendors online won't do for you, is consolidate all of your payments onto one CD and mail it to you (nominal fee). All of your bills, scanned and stored onto one CD for retrieval whenever you want.

I've been a paytrust customer for a few years now and I'll never look back. It's cheap compared to the convenience it brings me.

Oh and did I forget to mention that you can download your Paytrust information into Quicken or MSMoney? All the tools you need to manage your personal finances at home and on the road.

Paytrust makes my life much easier. It is great if you travel a lot and are not home to get your bills. All of my bills get sent directly to the Paytrust billcenter. They scan them, send me an email notification, and then I just logon to the site and tell them when and how much to pay. It's worth it to me not to have a ton of bills laying around on the kitchen table. I never have to buy stamps. I also never balance my checkbook. Using the smart balance feature Paytrust can check my current bank balance and tell me what bills I have pending etc. I have used Paytrust for over a year with no problems. Get it now and simplify your life.

Why do you need software to pay bills? Most major banks, and 3rd parties, like MSN and Yahoo offer web-based bill pay services. I did buy this when it first came out, and quickly dumped it due to finding out later I could do more by hooking MS Money directly to a bill pay service.