Everything You Need to Know About Auto-pay Programs
Sign up for one of these auto-pay programs to hit your due date every time!
Since the beginning of the pandemic, the post office has been overloaded trying to deliver mail, and many of our members have reported that their bills were delivered late, or not at all. Choptank Electric Cooperative has multiple auto-pay programs, which are a great way for members to ensure that their payments are made on time every month.
Auto-pay programs are convenient, easy to use, and once set up, automatically schedule, and make your payments on your behalf. How do they work?
Auto Bank Draft
Automatic bank draft is an electronic way to pay your bill fast, efficiently, and safely directly from your personal bank account of choice — just complete the Credit Card and Bank Draft Authorization form. When you fill out the form, you are giving Choptank Electric Cooperative permission to directly withdraw funds from your checking, savings and loan, or credit union account.
Recurring Credit Card
Recurring credit card is another electronic payment program that is just as efficient as automatic bank draft if you are interested in building up your cash back or miles.
Members can pay with their Visa, MasterCard, or American Express credit cards and signing up is extremely easy — just complete the Credit Card and Bank Draft Authorization form. When you fill out the form, you are giving Choptank Electric Cooperative permission to directly charge your credit card.
OR
If you would like to sign up for the recurring credit card online, you can do so directly on SmartHub. Once you are logged into SmartHub, choose Billing & Payments, Auto-pay Program, then Add.
Tips, Tricks, and Reminders
When does Choptank Electric withdraw the funds?
Once you are signed up successfully, your next bill will reflect the draft date on your payment stub, which is approximately five days before your bill’s due date.
Where do I find the form to sign up for either of these programs?
The Credit Card and Bank Draft Authorization form can be found on our website at www.choptankelectric.coop under Your Service, Payment Options and Your Bill.
OR
There is a link to the form in your SmartHub web portal. The form is located on the left-hand side, in the box labeled Quick Links. Don’t forget to enclose a voided check for the bank draft option when you return the paperwork! Mail the form and the voided check to:
Choptank Electric Cooperative
Auto-pay Program
P.O. Box 430
Denton, MD 21629
Don’t forget to update your credit card when the expiration date changes!
An honest mistake that happens often is forgetting to update credit card information, especially the expiration date. Unfortunately, members don’t realize until they have missed a payment. It’s super easy to update your credit card information, and you can do it all through SmartHub!
Log into your SmartHub account and add a credit card by going to Billing and Payments, Auto-pay Program, and Edit from there.
With these automatic payment plans, are there other ways to pay?
Yes! SmartHub is our online account management and payment system that is safe, secure, and fast for your desktop or your phone. To download the app, it’s available in the App Store and Google Play. You can pay your bill, look at your energy usage, set usage markers, and so much more!
The best part is no matter how you pay your bill with Choptank Electric, all the ways you pay are free of fees. If you need to stop an automatic bank draft payment, call the Member Service Center at 1-877-892-0001, or to stop your credit card payment, visit your SmartHub account. You can also go to www.choptankelectric.coop/payment-options-your-bill for more ways to pay your bill.