UTILITY BILL PAYMENTS: Questions about Cd’A process

We were recently on a trip for three weeks and the utility bills that come in for payment on the first of the month had not arrived by the time we left. I called the various agencies and had them put the current charges on a credit card.

When I called the city offices of Coeur d’Alene, I was told that they could not take an electronic check nor could they charge the amount due to a credit card. I was told to call Certified Payments, the codes I need so the city of Coeur d’Alene got their money and our account got credited. On top of that there was a $2.66 convenience fee. It is not the amount but the principle.

I am now wondering who processes the checks they receive each month. Do they get sent to some other company for processing? Why does the city not have employees do this work? How much does the city pay on an annual basis to farm out this work? If the city is going to farm out this work, why are they not using a local business?

Just wondering.

DICK and JUDY GARDNER

Coeur d’Alene