Fiserv doubled the number of walk-in bill payment services

Fiserv, a leading global provider of financial services technology solutions, has announced today that the company has doubled the number of bills that consumers can pay using the CheckFreePay NextDay walk-in bill payment service, which ensures next business day payment delivery. During a year Fiserv increased the number of bills available for NextDay payment for a second time, so the total number of bills available for this payment option reached more than 600. According to a March 2009 report from industry analyst firm Javelin Strategy & Research, credit card spending continues to decline, with 20 % fewer consumers indicating recent credit card usage in 2008 compared to 2007. In fact, only 64 % of consumers indicated they used a credit card in the month preceding the survey, compared to 87 % of consumers in 2007. These findings indicate that many consumers are seeking to curtail credit card usage in favor of other payment types, including cash. The CheckFreePay bill payment service from Fiserv enables consumers to walk in and pay common household expenses such as utility, mobile phone, insurance, auto and credit card bills via a nationwide retail agent network. Consumers typically pay using cash, and receive a receipt as proof of payment. Power, phone and cable bills are those most frequently paid using the CheckFreePay NextDay service. CheckFreePay also offers a same day payment option for select bills. Paul Harrison, senior vice president and general manager, Walk-In Solutions, Fiserv, said: "In-person financial services provide a way for consumers to actively manage their financial lives, which is particularly important in the current economic climate. The CheckFreePay NextDay bill payment service allows consumers to hold onto their money longer, and is much less expensive than typical 'emergency' payment products."