Mail Delivery Delays

08-29-20:  Mail Delivery Delays

If you’re like many Americans who still get/pay monthly bills using the traditional method, you are likely becoming more and more concerned about receiving and sending bills/payments on a timely basis.  The VCC & the VCP would like to offer suggestions that will actually accomplish several objectives.

First: Get/Pay your bills without worrying about the ability of the USPS to deliver them in a timely manner.

Second: Gain the ability to monitor your credit card and bank accounts on a frequent basis.

And there is a third option that can also facilitate this process, if you wish.
1. We recommend that you set up online accounts for all of your credit cards, utilities, bank, and investment accounts.  You can opt to receive electronic billing from those entities that you do business with.  Or, you can just visit the various websites, log into your accounts and check activity and remaining balances.  To use this method, the bank you use to pay your bills must offer online banking, and you must activate that option for your regular use.  Going forward you will pay your bills electronically.  No more need for writing checks or using stamps.  And, if you have a smart phone you can deposit checks without having to visit the bank or an ATM.

2. Online accounts provide the real time ability to check balances, look at specific transactions, and determine at once if something looks off.  And if it does, you will be able to report it immediately to the company involved.  In contrast, if you avoid this technology and have to wait to receive a statement once per month, it is quite possible that your statement will reveal a problem that requires immediate attention.  But unfortunately, the problem occurred weeks ago and you may have missed a window of opportunity to take effective action.

3. Another option, that some prefer and others abhor, is to allow your regular monthly accounts to have access to your checking account or to a credit card.  Deductions or charges of the monthly billing amounts will automatically be made with the cooperation of your bank/credit card company.  Every entity does this differently and you would have to research each of your accounts to see how it must be done.  Please consider the pros and cons of using this method.
Because of the vast array of credit card companies, banks, investment firms, etc. there is no effective way to advise you how to setup your online accounts.  You will need to contact each of them via a website visit or by phone to arrange the setup.  Utilities like cell phone service providers, Internet, home phone and TV service providers as well as the VCDD Utilities, electric & gas utility companies, etc. ALL do it differently.  The result is you have to do this one at a time, yourself.  Logins and unique passwords will be required for each account – please make the passwords very strong and write them down.  Then, store them in a safe place and be sure to remember where that safe place is.  If any of the accounts you set up offers two factor authentication, TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

More info about Passwords and Two Factor Authentication can be found on the VCC website in a presentation given in Nov. of 2019 by John Campbell & Peter Cronas.