The City of Beaumont has a new water payment provider. If you pay your water bill online via credit or debit card, you must register for an account on our new provider's website before 3/15/23 to avoid payment disruptions. This does not apply to customers paying by automatic bank draft through their checking account, by mail or at City Hall.
We’ve gotten a lot of questions and feedback about the new water payment provider – who needs to register, how to register, etc. We’ve tried to answer everything we’ve seen come up but contact us if you have additional questions and we’ll find out for you.
Why are you switching? The old system worked just fine.
The old system was outdated and no longer being supported by the vendor. In our evaluation of new providers, First Billing was selected because it offered new options for our customers to be able pay by text or phone and will eventually integrate with other departments to be able to offer additional online bill payment options. We are always looking to provide the best possible service to our customers.
Do I need to sign up for the new portal?
If you had a Click2Gov Account and want to continue paying your bills online or are a water customer who wants to start paying their bills online, yes.
Do I have to register for an account to pay online?
No, you can log on as a guest.
How do I register?
To sign up, you’ll need your service zip code and water billing account number, which you’ll find at the top of your current paper bill or online in your current online Click2Gov account. It is important to note the account numbers are case sensitive and do not require any preceding zeros but do require the dash. Once you have this number, go to https://beaumont.firstbilling.com/ and select “don’t have an account yet.” You set your own username (anything you’ll remember 6-50 characters) and password.
The new system isn’t recognizing my account number! Help?
Account numbers are case sensitive. Please try again using no preceding zeros but use the dash. We’ve included a photo to help. If you still have trouble, please call Paya’s support number at 877-589-9210 (Monday-Friday 8 am – 5 pm CST).
Is this the only way to pay my water bills now? Which have fees?
The City of Beaumont has a variety of payment options and the terminology can be confusing. Here are the various payment options and which have associated fees:
AUTO-PAY – this new portal (First Billing Services, which is replacing Click2Gov on 3/15) - With auto-pay, you pay with your credit/debit card or e-check online, both have a small convenience charge.
The customer fees are as follows:
- Online Credit/Debit = $1.99 for payments between $1-$200
- Online Credit/Debit = 2.5% of the payment for amounts between $200.01- $25,000
- E-Check* = $1.95 for payments up to $25,000
- Payment via Phone = $1.99 for payments up to $200
AUTO-DRAFT – Setup through a Form at City Hall
Auto-draft (ACH) can be setup through a form at City Hall, which is automatically deducted from your checking account and has no fee. You can always pay at Central Collections at City Hall with no fee through the window.
You can pay by mail with no fees.
You can also initiate a bill pay through your bank’s online bill pay service. There would be no charge from the City or First Billing for this, but there may be a fee from your bank. You’d need to contact them for more information.
I’m on autopay! Will I be affected?
If it was through Click2Gov, yes you will need to setup a new account. If it was through your personal bank – you’ll want to check with them.
Can I continue paying at City Hall?
Yes, you can always pay at Central Collections at City Hall with no fee through the window or fill out a form to setup auto-draft (ACH), which is automatically deducted from your checking account and has no fee.
Can I continue paying through my financial institution?
Yes, there would be no charge from the City or First Billing for this, but there may be a fee from your bank. You’d need to contact them for more information.
How are you notifying people of the change?
We are notifying people through multiple avenues online and offline for a month+ so everyone has time to transition. There have been posts on social media (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Next Door), inserts in the water bills, text on the water bills, press releases and notices on the website, announcements in the newspapers, and on TV on Channel 4. We use every channel we have at our disposal to let people know so they’re not caught off guard.
That said, please help us spread the word – tag and share this important information with your friends and neighbors.
