City of La Feria Now Taking Online Utility, Court Payments

This QR code will take you to the new online payment site for La Feria. Photo: LFN

Payments now being accepted online at  www.municipalonlinepayments.com/laferiatx

On Thursday of last week the City of La Feria announced via their Facebook page that the city would now accept online payments for utility bills or municipal court fees.

They posted several photos, including a QR code that would allow your smart phone or other electronic device to access the website www.municipalonlinepayments.com/laferiatx where residents can now make payments online.

“The city wants to make it convenient and secure for the customers that choose to pay bills online,” said Sunny K. Philip, La Feria City Manager.

The city is working directly with the software company to ensure any information provided on the site is secure.

The site allows customers to pay by credit card or debit card as well as view updated billing and their usage history with account balances automatically updated.
“I hope the customers find it convenient,” said Philip.

The Cost of Convenience

Our story in this past week’s issue of La Feria News about the new City of La Feria online payments website found at www.municipalonlinepayments.com/laferiatx failed to include information about fees associated with the service.

Reader Donald S. called La Feria News this week to make us aware of this regrettable omission.

The city’s promotion of the new service failed to mention the administrative fees which are part of the transaction, however the $3 administration fee is the same as with credit card payments over the phone or in person. These fees more often than not barely cover the cost to the city for card transactions.

Users of the new online service will also be paying an additional $1.25 transaction fee for utility payments or an additional $2.50 transaction fee for court payments. The transaction fees go directly to the third party service providing the site software and security for online payments as well as the automatic posting of said payments to the customer’s online account information.

Payments made online post quickly and automatically, however the convenience does indeed come at a premium.

Payments can still be made in person at the City of La Feria offices at 115 E. Commercial Ave.

Payment options that do not include extra fees – paying in person by check or cash or signing up for the City’s ACH automatic withdrawl system (forms available at the city office). The city will also accept payments after hours through their dropbox, however those payments must be check or money order only.

La Feria News would like to apologize if our coverage of the new payment system misled readers in any way.