Service Authority goes into debit

Amherst County residents can now pay public utility bills with credit or debit cards.

The Service Authority recently approved a system that now gives people the option of paying bills for water and sewer service online.

Director Dan French said it could take two to six weeks to have a system up and running.

“We have had requests over the past few years,“ said French. “We’re doing this strictly as a convenience to customers.“

The option comes with a $1.50 fee to cover service expenses.

French said the county has a “cost-effective” approach to the system’s installation through partnering with a commercial credit card broker.

“We were able to bring it in at a much more attractive price,“ said French.

The county paid less than $500 to have this system, he said, but the county faces expenses each time a transaction occurs.

As little as five years ago, French said there were not any authorities in Central Virginia using this collection method.

Amherst joins Lynchburg, the city of Bedford and Bedford and Campbell counties in offering it.

Brian Key, director of Bedford County’s service authority, said it has accepted credit and debit cards for the past three years due largely to younger customers’ use of the Internet.

The payment percentage of those using it is less than 20 percent, he said, but he thinks it’s due to a $4.95 transaction fee.

“We’d have a higher percentage if we could reduce the fee,“ said Key.

The Amherst authority, on Phelps Road near Old Town Madison Heights, still takes cash, money orders or checks by mail or in person and has a night slot for drop off payment.

In 72 years existence, it now serves 6,500 accounts.