As you may know, more and more businesses are offering Direct Payment as a method of collecting monthly payments. Direct Payment is a smart way to make payments. It is reliable, accurate, on time and confidential. Direct Payment is a valuable financial management tool that saves you money and helps simplify your life.

Hicksville Water District Chairman Karl M. Schweitzer said that "after listening to our residents asking for this service, the district has made a decision to offer Direct Payment to our consumers."

The district will be offering their consumers this service in January of 2006 and, according to Schweitzer, "the district is not requiring anyone to use direct payment, we are just reaching out to our consumers to make their lives less stressful."

There are several benefits of using Direct Payment, including:

Timesaving - Most people spend the equivalent of three days a year writing checks to pay bills

Easier than writing a check - Paying bills with checks can be a big hassle. For each bill, you have to write a check, address an envelope, find a stamp or make a trip to purchase stamps.

Convenient - Since Direct Payments are made automatically, you don't have to be in town to pay your bills. This is perfect if you travel on business or go on a vacation.

Saves you money - According to the Electronic Payments Association, an average family receives 20 bills each month. At this rate, postage alone costs each family over $85 a year. Checks can easily cost another $30 a year.

Eliminates late fees - Mailing a payment just a few days late, or if the payment is lost in the mail, may result in late fees of as much as $30 per payment.

Protects your credit rating - Late payments affect your credit score. About 35 percent of the Fair, credit risk score - that is used by banks and other lenders - is based on payment history that includes details on both timely payments and late or missed payments.

Reliable - Each Direct Payment is deducted from your account on the due date each month so it is easy to track. In contrast, you never know when checks are going to be deducted from your account.

Confidential - Your financial institution protects your personal account information. You actually gain financial privacy with Direct Payment because checks pass through so many more hands. Your checks also contain a great deal of information about you. With Direct Payment, the transaction passes electronically from one institution to another.

Schweitzer added that sometime in December the district will be sending out mailings with pertinent details for those interested or visit www.hicksvillewater.org for additional information.