# People still pay bills in person? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 27, 2013, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845 "2013-04-27T16:08:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![tenacious\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/439d5e/32.png) [@tenacious\_j](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tenacious_j)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/41 "2013-04-28T20:32:18Z")
We don’t auto pay many bills because we never know for sure whether our paydays and the billing dates will line up, but we pay online. The lady I saw yesterday appeared to have the means to pay for internet, based on her and her daughter’s clothes, shoes, etc. and their conversation, if that means anything. I know plenty of people who can’t afford a home computer setup but I didn’t get that feeling from them. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/42 "2013-04-28T20:46:10Z")
My parents paid everything in person up until a few years ago. They have now upgraded to paying by mail - as in, they put an envelope with a signed check in their unsecured mailbox. I can’t convince them that paying online is at least as safe as paying by mail, and yet more convenient. I also have an older aunt who pays for everything with cash. She cashes her social security check, and keeps the cash in an envelope in her purse. She recently forgot her purse in a shopping cart at Walmart. The purse was recovered, but the envelope with all of her money was gone. She still believes that paying online, or even having a debit card is somehow more unsafe. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/43 "2013-04-28T20:51:10Z")
I used to pay my Sears bill in person. They made it very easy. I could go to any of the cash registers and make a payment on my Sears card. Or even purchase something and then tell the cashier you needed to make a Sears card payment. I canceled my card about 10 years ago. Just don’t shop at Sears much anymore. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/44 "2013-04-28T21:22:25Z")
[quote=“tenacious\_j, post:41, topic:656845”] We don’t auto pay many bills because we never know for sure whether our paydays and the billing dates will line up, but we pay online./QUOTE] Same for me- auto pay can be very inconvenient when bills are due on a particular date ( the 1st, 22nd whatever) each month, and I get paid every other Wednesday ---
**Author:** ![Red\_Wiggler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/red_wiggler/32/13190_2.png) [@Red\_Wiggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Red_Wiggler)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/45 "2013-04-28T23:29:00Z")
My elderly parents still pay whatever local bills they can in person. (1) They refuse to engage in all but the most basic of technology, (2) they genuinely like the human interaction; every transaction is an opportunity for a conversation and (3) it makes them feel _sure_ that said payment has been received. Of course, (4) they’re completely nuts. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/46 "2013-04-28T23:33:15Z")
Local water & power still can be paid at the front desk. ---
**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/47 "2013-04-28T23:53:54Z")
I pay my quarterly H2O bill at the City Office. It is more or less on the way home from work. I don’t know if you can pay online. Brian ---
**Author:** ![Lightlystarched](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/eb8c5e/32.png) [@Lightlystarched](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightlystarched)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/48 "2013-04-29T00:20:49Z")
Every single recurring bill is on autopay. I keep a little paper spreadsheet at the computer desk. The bills are listed by ‘date paid’ order. Every few days I’ll log into the bank’s website and check mark the bills that have been paid. Then its just a quick glance to see what’s coming up due and will be debited in the next week or two weeks. I can’t imagine having to write out checks, or remember to pay stuff on time. ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/49 "2013-04-29T04:10:30Z")
> [@Red\_Wiggler](#): > > My elderly parents still pay whatever local bills they can in person. (1) They refuse to engage in all but the most basic of technology, (2) they genuinely like the human interaction; every transaction is an opportunity for a conversation and (3) it makes them feel _sure_ that said payment has been received. > > Of course, (4) they’re completely nuts. You just described my in-laws 😃 ---
**Author:** ![kiz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/7feea3/32.png) [@kiz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kiz)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2013, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/50 "2013-04-29T04:15:38Z")
The last bill I paid in person was either for water or property tax, and that was…what, maybe 2 or 3 years ago? My town’s online payment system was quite messed up for awhile, especially when two or more residents having the same first/last name. I pay all monthly bills online and use check card or cash for everything else. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/51 "2013-04-30T20:17:21Z")
I pay my insurance bill in person. It’s only a quarterly payment, not out of my way, and I deal with a small local insurance agency so I stop in and say hi. ---
**Author:** ![Running\_with\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a183cd/32.png) [@Running\_with\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Running_with_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2013, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845/52 "2013-04-30T20:29:48Z")
> [@OldGuy](#): > > I still have one account I pay in person some times. My charge at the local hardware store is a personal charge. I go in pick up stuff. The owner or his son asks if they should put it on account and I usually have them do so. I don’t even sign for it. Once a month I get a bill. If I happen to be going there, and I have a bill, I’ll write a check and give it to them. What’s a “hardware store”? 😃 Seriously, though, I didn’t think **anyone** did business like this any more. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-still-pay-bills-in-person/656845.md?page=2)