Maine Municipal Tax Collectors' & Treasurers' Association
Home	Training	Executive Board		Newsletters	Links	Forms
MMTCTA List Serve					Back to List Serve Index

Posted by Dawna Myrick, Hallowell, April 20, 2007:We are entertaining the idea of accepting debit/credit cards as a means of payment of over-the-counter transactions.  Are any of you doing this at this time?  If so, how (if it can be done) do you get around the fees that the banks charge for this service?  Do you pass it on to the customer? Any feedback (positive OR negative will be appreciated.

Responses:

We here at the Manchester Town Office do not accept debit/credit cards over the counter.  We do accept credit cards when they go online with Rapid Renewal for reregistrations only. The fee for that transaction is deducted from our excise tax. (Darlene Beaulieu, Manchester)

We had debated this issue for a long time.  We except debit/credit cards for tax payments but the taxpayer needs to either phone in to Official Payments Corporation or use the web to do so. They charge the customer a convenience fee to use there card.  If you accept cards at the counter it is illegal to pass the fees to the customer.  (Wanda Ouellette, Caribou)

Phil Pitula of Winterport ( ppitula@adelphia.net ) reported back in January that they use Official Payments Corporation and stated they had an arrangement that made it lawful for these fees to be passed on to the cardholder. He didn't mention the taxpayer needing to call ahead. You may wish to contact him or call OPC rep Jim Hayes at 859-523-1180. Or perhaps Phil will respond to this !!!     www.officialpayments.com We have not tried this yet but intend to investigate further and are leaning towards implementing this system. (Tom Goulette, Guilford)

We have been using Official Payments since 2005 and it has worked out great for us.  Yes, they can legally pass the fee on to the customer.  Feel free to contact me and I can give you some more detailed information.  (Wanda Ouellette)

We are working this potential with our bank. Oddly enough the same bank is working with the Town of Kittery on a pilot program to accept credit card payments with ethe fees paid by the customer. I am waiting until Kittery works out all the "bugs". (Leo Ouellette, Wells)

Great question - been wondering the same myself.  Anxious to hear from others.  (Eve Wilkinson, Gouldsboro)

In the Town of Woodland we do not have any credit card or debt card payment system.  At this time I don't see us doing it. Maybe down the road.  I know our selectmen have suggested that we look into it. (Marilee Johnson, Woodland)

No Waterboro does not.  (Julie Giles, Waterboro)