Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Which of my ECU accounts may be used for Bill Payment?
A: You will have to have an ECU Classic Checking or our ECU DDA-VISA Check Card account to participate in Bill Payment.

Q: What is the cost for using Bill Payment?
A: There is a no charge for Bill Payment.

Q: Is there a limit on the number of payments I can make during the month.
A: No, our service provides for an unlimited number of payments.

Q: Whom can I pay?
A: ECU's Bill Payment service is "pay anyone".  You can set up a payment to a company or an individual.  There are no preset lists.

Q: Can I set this service up myself or does the ECU have to enroll me?
A: Unlike Home Banking, which is self-enrolling, you will have to complete an enrollment form to apply for Bill Payment.  Once the enrollment process is complete you will be given a "Login" and "Password".  Once you have initialized the Bill Payment service you will not have to input these again.  The next time you log onto Home Banking all the Bill Payment services will be available for your use.

Q: How secure are my online payments and information?
A: Your account information is extremely secure.  The credit union uses a dedicated line and secure server with multiple firewalls.  When you log into Home Banking and Bill Payment you are not on the Internet, but on an offsite, secured server.  As long as you protect your password, the ability for anyone to access your information is virtually impossible.

Q: How far into the future can I set a payment due date?
A: Payments can range from three (3) to six (6) business days, dependant if the payment will be electronic or check, from the date you input a payment, out to two (2) years in the future.

Q: Can I set up reoccurring payments?
A: Yes.  Payments can be set up for weekly, bi-weekly, semi-monthly, monthly, semi-annually, and yearly.  You can also set the time period these payments should continue.  Example:  If you wanted to make a credit card payment, each month, for a period of a year.

Q: Will money be deducted from my account when I set the payment up?
A: No.  If the payment is going to be sent electronically the funds will be withdrawn from your account two (3) business days prior to the payment due date.  If a check is going to be issued, the check will process six (6) business days prior to the due date.  The 6 days for a check payment ensures that the payment will arrive on time and allows for weekends and federal holidays.  The funds will not be withdrawn from your account until the payee deposits the check and it is presented to ECU for payment.  This is exactly what occurs when you write a check and mail it for payment.

Q: What date should I use when scheduling a payment?
A: It is extremely important that you set the payment up according to the due date shown on your billing notice, unless that due date is on a weekend or Federal holiday.  In that case you would need to schedule your payment to arrive on the last business day prior to the due date.   If you include grace days your payment may arrive late and incur finance charges or late fees.

Q: Can I stop payment on an item once it has been processed?
A: If a check was issued and it has not been presented for payment, and ECU has enough time to act on the stop payment order, then a stop payment may be placed.  This may be done 24/7 through the "Check Services" located within Home Banking.
 
If the payment is electronic and the funds settlement process has already begun, then a stop payment cannot be placed.  Electronic payments begin processing two (2) business days prior to the due date you schedule. To recover funds you will have to contact the payee directly.

Q: What happens if I have insufficient funds to cover the payment?
A: If the payment is being made electronically it will be rejected as "no pay".  The payment will be represented for payment again the next business day.  If the funds are available, the payment will be honored and the payment transmitted to the payee.  If ECU cannot honor the payment on either presentment, it will not be recreated until you either reschedule the payment or the next payment due date becomes effective.  There is a $30.00 non-sufficient funds fee assessed on both presentment occurrences.

If the payment was made by check and there are insufficient funds in your account to honor the check upon presentment, the check will be returned to the payee "non-sufficient" funds and your account will be charged a $30.00 non-sufficient funds fee.

You will receive notice of a dishonored check.

The payee's Return Check Policy will determine if the check will be presented for payment again.

Q: How can I ensure that a payment is honored if I do not have enough funds in my account to cover the check or electronic debit?
A: To avoid a payment being dishonored, we recommend that you establish an "Overdraft Line of Credit" with ECU.  You may do this by completing a loan application and designating the credit line to cover any "non-sufficient" checks or electronic debits that are transacted against your sharedraft checking account.  Visit the "Lending Services" page on our website, where you can complete an application online or print the application and fax to our Loan Department.

Q: Are there regularly scheduled system times when the Bill Payment service will not be available?
A: Yes.  These will be infrequent and will occur at non-peak usage periods.  We will make every attempt to notify you in advance.

Q: If I have a problem and send a message to ECU, when can I expect an answer?
A: You will be contacted by ECU no later than the next business day.  If we cannot fix your problem immediately, we will keep you updated until the problem is resolved.

For additional information please contact ecufinancial@ecudallas.org.