By Chris Derby, Senior Customer Service Representative
The traditional method of mailing payments has long been referred to as “snail mail”. A frequent question our Customer Service team hears is, “Did you receive my payment?”
COVID-19 has brought about many challenges for everyone over the last year and our US Postal Service is no exception. USPS has been down workers due to illness and stretched to capacity with increasing delivery demands. Add to that extreme weather, the holidays and now tax season and it’s no wonder delivery has been affected.
Customers have expressed concern with mail delays, so we would like to offer some premium payment options of which you may not be aware.
First, PLM offers Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). This safe and convenient form of payment is handled electronically between our bank and yours. With this electronic option, the pay plan has no down payment, just nine equal installments, and because this is all handled between banks electronically, there is no monthly billing fee applied.
Second is our ePayment option. Again, this is an electronic option but is managed by you, our customer, and is accessible through our website at www.plmins.com. On the home page, you will see a tab for ePayment, and with your routing and checking account numbers you will be able to set up a one-time payment or a recurring option on a date convenient to you. A benefit of this option is that while you will still be assessed a down payment, if you pay on or before the due date, the billing fee will be credited to your next invoice.
Finally, a payment can be called in to our Customer Service Team at 1-800-752-1895. With your routing and checking account number we can take your payment over the phone. You will still be assessed a down payment and a monthly bill fee. However, if you pay on or before the due date, the billing fee will be credited to your next invoice.
In each of these options your payment would be posted within 24 hours, avoiding the anxiety of waiting for your payment to arrive, or additional correspondence from us. Taking advantage of these payment options allows you to manage your account and have the confidence your payment will be applied in a timely manner. Our Customer Service Team would be happy to review any of these options or assist you in setting them up.
This safe and convenient form of payment is handled electronically between our bank and yours.