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in Editorials
![]() Orting: Small Town With A Small ViewBy: Lyle Evansiano
December 08, 2014
If you're 45 or under, you too were probably excited to find out that the City of Orting 'recently' gave us all the luxury of paying our water bills online. Wait, 'Gave' is not the right word... So after sauntering into the City Building to hand Jane my water bill, business-card-sized notices were strung throughout the office proclaiming our CIty's leap into the 21st Century and provide online payments for all of us who:
Dang! Wrong phrase above. I said, "21st Century" above like that was something good. The 21st Century happened almost 14 years ago! The 21st century is the current century of the Anno Domini era or the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. It began on January 1, 2001, and will end on December 31, 2100. It is the first century of the 3rd millennium. It is distinct from the century known as the 2000s, which began on January 1, 2000 and will end on December 31, 2099. No, the City of Orting rolled out their online payment program and tacks on a HEFTY $2.95 convenience charge to your bill for credit card transactions. For the average water bill, that's an additional 7% to 11% increase! Convenient! I understand a percentage or two. I use Amazon everyday, I get it. But ATM Fees for paying your water from your mobile? What is this? We funding another $10,000 sidewalk painting for our downtown shoppers? You know, the ones that frequent the bars, the medical building, the real estate company, whatever is down that creepy hallway by the liquor store? Or, maybe...JUST MAYBE...we'll see enough money to stock the food bank for a year thrown into a Golf Cart feasability study! That was eco-friendly too! In all their forward fashion, the City used a 3rd party vendor 'Invoice Cloud' to build their payment platform on and then advertise it as 'eco-friendly'. That must make that $25 Late Fee powerful enough to cure Global Warming! We're safe from Lahars! PS: Next time you're in the City Building, give Jane a smile :-) She's nice and has more patience than Job (this is not pronounced 'jawb').
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![]() ![]() christyinorting wrote...
There is two different late fees. If your bill is paid AFTER the 25th of each month you are charged a $20 fee. If you wait til shut off day there is an additional fee of $25. I'm familiar with both wich is eu the online process is a great thing. What I don't understand is how people like yourself turn a good thing into something to complain about and under most likely a false name. Poor management on this websites behalf.
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![]() ![]() christyinorting wrote...
This is a bit rude ta think? 1st of all this has been in effect sense January 1st of 2014. It's a convience offered to all who choose to make an online payment. The fee is charged by the online service if you use a credit/debit card. However, if you use your bank routing number with account number there is no fee. Also, the "$25" late fee you mentioned is one of two different fees you can be be charged with if you do not pay your bill on time. It's a $20 fee
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