Post Date: 09/06/2016 3:46 PM

On Tuesday, September 6, 2016, the City of Wilmington Department of Finance announced that their new, online bill payment system, powered by Paymentus, is live and ready to be accessed by constituents and customers, via the City’s website (www.WilmingtonDE.gov). The first phase of the live system provides city customers with options to pay water/sewer and real estate tax bills online via any device that can access the internet, including smartphones and tablets. Mayor Dennis P. Williams, Finance Director Sheila Winfrey-Brown, and Paymentus Senior Vice President, Jerry Portocalis, were all on-hand at the Launch Event, which was held in the lobby of the Louis L. Redding City/County Building on French Street.

Under the direction of Mayor Williams, Finance Director Winfrey-Brown and Deputy Director Stephanie Collins have been project managers for the technical and operational processes that have led to significant upgrades in services to city customers. Winfrey-Brown explains, “The Paymentus platform provides city customers with an enhanced, easy-to-use solution for paying bills. In addition to an improved customer experience, our partnership with Paymentus is enabling us to automate and streamline many customer service, customer communication and finance processes.”

Customers are encouraged to establish a personalized “My Account.” This is not required to use any of the Paymentus services, but provides access to advanced customer self-service features, such as multi-account access, payment and consumption history, and auto-pay. Customers may now choose to pay their water/sewer fees and real estate taxes online by choosing one of the following channels:

Online One-Time Payment – Customers can pay quickly without registration.

Online Portal – Customers can establish “My Account” to access advanced self-service features including bill history, payment history, multi-account payment and more.

Mobile – Allows customers to quickly check balances and make payments from their mobile device.

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) / Automated Phone Payments – This easy-to-use, payment service lets customers hear their balance and make a payment by simply keying in required account information on their phone keypad.

Customer Service Representatives – Traditional services at the Customer Service Window of the City’s Finance Department, on the first floor of the Louis Redding City/County Building will still being offered. Customer Service Representatives will be available to assist customers and take payments.

In addition to these new conveniences, customers will also be offered the option to receive paperless bills. Those who choose this environmentally friendly option will not be subject to convenience fees. As an added benefit for city customers, the Finance Department has also added American Express as a credit payment option, along with Visa, Master Card and Discover. As always, payments may be made with a debit card, or customers may utilize e-checks as a new payment option. In coming months, other bills and fees will be payable through the City of Wilmington Paymentus system, as well.

“The administration has always been focused on enhancements in areas where we touch customers. This upgrade to online bill payment through Paymentus is but one way we are responding to customer’s expectation of service and convenience,” said Mayor Williams. “I am extremely pleased that we are working with a vendor with such a tremendous reputation in providing these services. I am also proud of the entire Finance team, who are trained and ready to assist our customers to register their accounts online to take advantage of all of the new conveniences.”

“The leadership at City of Wilmington is incredibly focused on delivering an exceptional billing and payment experience,” said Jerry Portocalis, Senior Vice President at Paymentus. “The solution we are launching today is indicative of their commitment to excellence and is certain to be appreciated by the City’s customers."

The City of Wilmington’s Paymentus payment portal is easy to access. Simply go to the City website at www.WilmingtonDE.gov and click the “Pay My Bill” tab.

For more information about this news release, contact:

Tonya R. Richardson

Public Relations & Communications Officer

Mayor's Office of Communications

Phone: (302) 576-2137

Email: trrichardson@WilmingtonDE.gov