I love electronic banking and using PayPal for payment of on-line purchases. Even with the small local payees, I pay through electronic banking.

Suggest that you contact AT&T about the problem with being able to pay electronically through your bank. They will probably be able to explain exactly what is needed.

Likewise, I would contact the payee that changed the mailing address and discuss the problem with them.

Recommendation is that you not do anything with the bank bill-pay until you talk to these companies.

Oh, yeah, contact them, like never talk to a human in voice-mail limbo? Sigh. Some things in the Electronic Age make life easier, and some make life harder....

Yes, you are right, I'll try to contact them. For now, I'll just buy some stamps.

I do pretty much all of mine online through my bank. I had a bill that had the same problem as you seem to have with At&T and I called them to find out what the problem was, in their version there was a dash or something and in the banks it did not translate the same but I could choose to pay it direct from their site, I did not want to do that so they told me how to change it so it would work through the bank and all was fine.
However I do my att through my bank and have never had any problem with it.
Make sure those payments are going through because you will end up getting a cut off notice like I did even though I had done what I thought was a correct payment, however it had bounced back and I was not aware of that, once I got it set up the way they recommended it was fine.

So if you want to consider paying the ones you have problems with directly from their site that is another option.

I have had a few change address but by manually entering the info there was not a problem, not every one will be automatically recognized by the bank especially a new address it probably is just not in their system yet.

If the businesses are part of the Check 21 system where accounts are credited and money transferred electronically, once you know your bank's protocol and the business's routine, i.e. real-time, batch-dump processing, etc., things should be fine.

If the business is not a Check 21 system which then requires a paper check to be published and mailed by your bank there could be a concern. Any delays causing late fees are solely the responsibility of the account holder. To avoid a worry a customer would have to anticipate enough lead time.

Sorry RC I do not agree with paying through sites with bank accounts. The more you spread the bank account information around the greater the chances of information interception and fraudulent use. It's bad enough when a credit card gets hijacked, twice here for me, but to have bank accounts hijacked could create a phenomenal headache. Personally, all I have my checking account attached to are my investment companies.

DA

I had somebody send me a paypal bill.. Figured it was some scammer... I have no idea what happened. But it sure locked my paypal account balance up for awhile thanks to some foreigner .. and right when I really needed to use it, to buy something I didnt need .

I agree with not linking my bank account to anything else, save my brokerage accounts. I do however, use a credit card for several automatic payments such as Netflix and Direct TV. I think that using a credit card gives you an extra layer of protection, easy to change or cancel, and you are protected by the issuer. Not so with my bank account, which could be wiped out.

Oh I don't either I only pay through my bank I was pointing out if it was not possible through the bank that tthere is the option of paying on the company Site.

Of course, if I pay the phone bill using my credit card, that's the company that the bank doesn't recognize the address change....

(can I crawl back under my rock now?)

I never promote using credit cards for regular payments. Not everyone's financial prowess, circumstances, and self-control are the same. Don't want to innocently contribute to someone's already existing problem.

I do know someone who uses their CC to keep business expenses isolated for tax purposes, and another for amassing "points".

DA

Love online bill pay. Been doing it for years and never had a problem. I do it through my bank, do not use the businesses own site nor do I set up automatic payments.
Have you gone in and talked with someone at your bank about the problems you are having? Sometimes a face to face with the papers in front of you are all it takes to get things straightened out.
Murphy

I have all accounts set up to be paid automatically each month from my checking account. Same for deposits from retirement accounts and investments. I always get a paper statement from the bank each month and check my account online frequently just to make sure all is well. It has been a big convenience for us retired folks, especially if we do any traveling.

About the only checks I write are for church and an occasional visit to the hairdresser and the like.

DA, I am one who uses my CCs to accumulate "points". I do nearly all my purchasing by CC (which are paid in full each month from my checking account), and now have several hundreds of dollars due me. I guess it's time to redeem some points, right?