Export Secretary Tonia Writt hears one question consistently from borough sewage customers: Why can’t you guys process credit card payments?
That could change if council decides to implement an online billing system through Muni-Link, a Blair County company that also handles online billing for the Franklin Township Municipal Sanitary Authority.
“Billing is a necessity, and we want to make that part of Tonia’s job a lot easier, and give your sewage customers more options,” said Scott Baker of Link Computer Corporation, which owns Muni-Link. “We can create a system that allows for payments from credit cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and customers can still pay the way they always have if they want. For customers, things don’t have to change at all.”
FTMSA billing clerk Carol Martin said the authority has been using Muni-Link for a little more than four years with excellent results.
“I definitely like it compared with what we were doing,” Martin said. “The great thing is, it’s not even really software on the user side, it’s really just a website, so you can use it from anywhere. That’s a big plus.”
Martin said Muni-Link staff spent a week at the authority installing the system and helping staff acclimate to it.
“It’s great to have someone right there as you’re getting used to it,” she said.
FTMSA Operations Manager Bob Swarmer III said visits to the authority’s Murrysville office have fallen sharply since they switched to Muni-Link.
Baker said the new system — which comes with a $17,000 installation price tag and $470 per month after that — will also give customers access to more of their own information.
“You’ll be able to view your billing history, past bills, things like that,” he said. “If the monthly bill card doesn’t arrive in the mail for some reason, you can go online and check your bill. If customers want a full page of information with their monthly bill, we can do that. Or, nothing has to change at all.”
Export Council President Barry Delissio said the borough is hoping to cut down on delinquent payments.
“I don’t know that it will cut down your delinquencies,” Baker said. “But it will make collections much easier.”
Council will take a vote next month on whether to purchase and install the Muni-Link system.