What do payees actually receive? Are payments made electronically or by check?
Electronic payees receive payment information in an electronic format that credits their account. Non-electronic merchants or individual payees receive a laser-printed paper check sent through the U.S. Postal Service. The method employed on any single payment depends on whether the bill payment processor has established an electronic payment relationship with the payee and if they are found on the electronic payee database. Under the process date model, payments are initiated on the process date you designate. Special rules govern when payments are processed for particular days, so please refer to the Schedule Payments section for details.
