ABA Family Legal Guide

Computer Law

Online Purchases

Are there other online payment methods?

Yes. Many websites accept payment by check. There is no need for you to write a real check; all you need to do is fill out your account details, and payment is automatically deducted from your checking account and will show up on your next bank statement.

The PayPal system used by eBay and other services works in a similar way. The payer and payee must both be registered with PayPal. If the payer wants to send money to the payee, the payer simply enters the payee's e-mail address and specifies the amount he wants to send. The transaction goes through the PayPal database, and money is electronically transferred from the payer's account to the payee's account. The lucky payee receives an e-mail telling him that cash has been deposited in his bank account.

It is also possible to make some kinds of payments directly from your bank account if you use online banking. More and more of us are paying bills online, often at the urging of service companies, such as utilities. You simply need to give your bank the relevant information--the number of your utility account, the amount you wish to pay, and that date on which you would like to pay.