Should the Township Accept Credit Cards?
Some Upper Moreland commissioners are in favor of allowing residents to pay local fees through a credit card while others are not.
Upper Moreland's Finance and Administrative Committee met last night and wondered if it was a good idea or not to allow residents to pay for permits and fees with credit cards, either in person or online.
"Some of the challenges would be installing software, training, staffing, there may be a need for more clerical support, resolving credit card problems," Committee chair R. Samuel Valenza said.
Would you like to be able to pay the township by credit card? Leave a comment.
Townships like Norristown have installed a credit card payment system so residents can pay parking tickets online.
"It is the 21st century," commissioner Donald Warner said. "We need to give people other options." Other options than having to pay by check or with cash.
But commissioner Donna Parsell said it will cause changes in the township's accounting system and "cause a lot of paperwork ... I am not in favor at this time ... I don't see an advantage to it as far as a financial perspective and a resource perspective."
The committee members decided to consult with the township treasurer and decide what action to take next. It will be brought up again at the next meeting on April 15 at 7 p.m. in the municipal building.
Censorship Sucks
4:01 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
great send my township into debt.. its not like a major property on the storm water lost can ever be given a npdes permit or anything like that..... hmm you can't hide whats not hidden.. upper moreland township tried and actively tries to make me a criminal despite the truth http://public-corruption.com
Cinderabi
8:30 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
ABSOLUTELY! I actuallyLOSE money whenever I use cash because my credit cards give me cash back or points to use like cash but paying with cash gives me nothing backbut the sorrow I feel seeing it go. And sinceI pay my credit cards in full every month I do not incur fees, but at the same time, when paying a hefty bill like the UM tax gouges twice a year, using my plastic gives me an extra 20 days or so to cough up the funding for them.
Frank Greene
8:47 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
In my opinion, I concur with Sam Valenza. It's a nice to have, but not a need to have, since it requires additional staffing, software and IT support.
pat polichetti
11:29 am on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Yes, I agree with Cinderabi. Move into the 21st century, already.
Thomas Mauer
4:38 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
I'm not about the incuring the cost of extra staffing, but serioulsy why would there need to be more staffing? This is the 21st century. Whoever is processing payments now should be able to accept and process credit card payments as well. Since it would be computerized I expect it wouldn't take any longer than working with paper, AND it would leave a clear trail for audit purposes. Frankly I find it kind of amazing that electronic and/or credit card payments can't be accepted. Why is it that these things can be done by businesses with very small staffs but goverment agencies of any size balk change and modernization?