CheckFree and Cox Communications Inc. signed an agreement to
provide nearly 3.8 million Cox customers access to online Electronic Billing
and Payment (EBP) through a central Web site of their choice.
Calling the arrangement “the first of its kind in the cable industry,” Cox
Communications customers will be able to receive their monthly cable, local
and long-distance telephone statements electronically on their computers and
pay with the click of a mouse.
Financial arrangements between the companies were not disclosed.
Starting Sept. 1, consumers will be able to send their Cox Communications
payments electronically by visiting the CheckFree E-Bill Web site or other
financial services provider Web sites that offer EBP.
“As we continue to advance our long-standing strategy to be a full-service telecommunications provider to businesses and
residences, we want to ensure that we offer customers the highest level of
service and convenience,” said Scott Hatfield, vice president and chief information officer for Cox
Communications.
Cox will install the automated customer care component offered by CheckFree
E-Bill’s
third-generation version, launched last December.
With the Cox Communications signing, CheckFree said it now has contracts with
49 of the nation’s top 100 billers.
Cox Communications Inc. offers cable television under the Cox Cable brand;
local and long distance telephone services under the Cox Digital Telephone
brand; high speed Internet access via Cox@Home; digital video programming
services under the Cox Digital TV brand; and commercial voice and data
services via Cox Business Services.
CheckFree markets services that enable customers to make electronic payments
and collections, automate paper-based recurring financial transactions and
conduct secure transactions on the Internet.
