Coming soon... Hixson Utility and the power of paymentus
Coming soon, Hixson Utility is partnering with Paymentus to bring our customers a whole new level of account management.
Once implemented, HUD customers will have access to a 24/7 self-service portal that will give customers a variety of features:
- View balances, statements, and transaction history
- Schedule or make a one-time payment
- Enroll in AutoPay, so that a payment is never missed
- Set up paperless billing
- Digital wallets such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Google Pay, etc.
- In-person payments at Walmart, CVS, Walgreens, and Dollar General
Not interested in online bill pay? Prefer to use a phone? Or just need to make a payment but don’t have access to the web? No problem, as Paymentus will also be available as a fully automated phone payment system:
- Make a payment any time of the day, any day of the week, even on holidays
- Communication will be available in multiple languages
What Do I Need to Do?
If you have used our existing web portal (Invoice Cloud) to schedule payments, save credit card information, or enroll in paperless billing, you will need to sign up for Paymentus. No settings and/or payment information will be carried over to the new system. Paperless customers who don’t immediately sign up for Paymentus will resume receiving paper bills. Customers who do not sign up for Paymentus will no longer receive email notifications for new invoices or past due balances.
Until the system is fully implemented, customers can continue to use the current Invoice Cloud system for AutoPay, Pay-By-Text, Scheduled, or One-Time payments. If you are enrolled in our in-house check draft, this will continue and your banking information will be transferred to Paymentus. If your next due date will fall after the date of implementation, Hixson Utility will make sure to alert you of the change. Please add Hixson Utility (423-877-3513) as a contact in your phone, so that our phone system will be able to reach you with important information.
Frequently Asked Questions
What will happen to Invoice Cloud accounts?
All customers accounts currently in Invoice Cloud will be de-activated and will no longer be accessible. No customer information will be transferred from Invoice Cloud to Paymentus.
What if I use Invoice Cloud AutoPay?
After Paymentus implementation, Invoice Cloud AutoPay will no longer be available. Customers enrolled in AutoPay will either need to set up a Paymentus account or make other arrangements. Late fees will still apply if payments are not received by the first due date printed on your invoice.
What if I have a scheduled payment through Invoice Cloud?
As with AutoPay, these payments will no longer be processed. You will need to either sign up for Paymentus and create a new payment schedule, or make other arrangements.
What if I use HUD's in-house (free) check draft?
If you are enrolled in HUD’s free check draft service, you will not be affected by this change. Paymentus will begin handling the payments at no charge to the customer. You will be welcome to still sign up for a Paymentus account to view invoices, sign up for paperless billing, etc.
What if I have (or want) paperless billing but don't want to make online payments?
If you are currently enrolled in paperless billing, you must sign up for Paymentus and re-enroll. You are not required to use any Paymentus payment features. Any customer previously receiving paper invoices is welcome to enroll in paperless.
At some point I made an online payment and began receiving email notifications of new invoices, past-due balances, etc. Will that continue?
Email notifications will only be sent if a customer signs up for a Paymentus account.
What if I want to pay by phone?
Paymentus provides a 24/7 automated phone system to accept payments. Customers will need to have their account number in order to use the system. Signing up for a Paymentus account is not required to use the phone system. A fee of $2.95 will be assessed for payments made by phone.
Will your Customer Service Representatives no longer take phone payments?
Once the Paymentus system is live, all phone payments will be directed through the automated system. Our Customer Service Representatives will be available for any questions, and will provide assistance if you need help in determining your account number.
Are there fees to use the Paymentus system?
You can avoid fees with Paymentus by enrolling in AutoPay with a checking or savings account. This option is free. AutoPay using a credit card will cost $2.95 per transaction, a savings of $0.50 from the previous system. As noted above, phone payments will also be charged $2.95 per transaction.
How can I avoid fees when paying my bill?
As mentioned above, you are welcome to sign up for the Paymentus AutoPay system with a checking or savings account, which will be free of charge. Our office drive-thru will continue to accept cash or check payments. We will also still accept cash or check payments through the mail. However, please be aware that mail received after a due date will still be subject to any late fees for the day it is processed.