Town of Dyer, Indiana to expand accepted methods of payment!

PR Log (Press Release) – Oct 29, 2009 – DYER, IN - PayGOV LLC (www.paygov.us) announced today that the Town of Dyer, Indiana has signed an agreement with the company. Contracted with the majority of Indiana municipalities, the Town of Dyer joins several other Indiana Cities and Towns already working with PayGOV.US.

The agreement enables Dyer citizens to pay utility payments by credit or debit card at the Utility office, over the Internet (www.dyeronline.com) or via PayGOV.US’s 24/7 LIVE operators (866-480-8552). The new service expands the ability of the Utility Office to serve their constituents by accepting payments 24/7/365. Additional agencies, including the Dyer Police Department, will soon be moving forward with the acceptance of electronic payments.

Special recognition must be paid to forward thinking Clerk-Treasurer, Pat Hawrot, who after an extensive search of prospective vendors was able to locate a local company with an excellent reputation for customer service.  “In today’s troubling economic times, it is imperative that each municipality engage in every effort to increase revenue collection.  Simply put, each agency must accept payments from as many sources as possible.” Explained Jonathan Stoops, Chief Operations Officer for PayGOV.US.

“Our program benefits all parties involved.  Constituents are provided new, convenient methods of payment that otherwise could not be afforded nor offered, and the government will enjoy a decrease in outstanding receivables along with an increase in collection of revenue.  All of this is done without government expenditures, keeping the burden off of the taxpayers as a group.”

Mrs. Hawrot has long realized the need to provide this service to her constituents. A constant stumbling block to her success was the ever growing cost of card acceptance and the inability of local banks to offer an acceptable service. Many consumers have never been informed that there is a fee, known as a discount fee, paid by any merchant who enlists to accept any of the major card brands for payment.  With increasing profit their singular goal, credit card companies charge both the consumer and the merchant for the “privilege” of accepting or using their card brand.  These fees, often lamented as the “cost of doing business”, are significantly affecting both rising consumer prices and the ability for small businesses to succeed. In a normal business setting, the merchant can simply raise the prices of their goods or services to cover the cost of accepting electronic payments. In the government sector, however, State Law demands the receipt of 100% of what is owed.  In compliance with the Indiana State Board of Accounts, the PayGOV.US solution is designed to address these complicated issues.

PayGOV.US assesses a nominal convenience fee for processing these transactions. American Express®, MasterCard ®, Discover ® and VISA ® along with debit cards carrying a MasterCard ® or Visa ® are accepted by the program. Citizens using credit cards with bonus rewards programs can, depending on their card's program, earn rewards, points, and cash-back on airline frequent flyer miles.