Chapter 13 ePay Enrollment
We receive many calls each day requesting help with online enrollment, specifically with issues on validating your case number during initial enrollment. Before calling our office for assistance with enrollment issues, please print or view the detailed step-by-step instructions offered below. You may need a PDF reader to view this online document.
Free readers like Fox-it Reader or Adobe Reader are available for download online.
Click here to view “Enrolling in ePay:” Enroll your case number as shown in this example. Use only the last seven digits of the number, use a dash before the final five numbers and ignore all letters.
For Example if your case number is 4:16-bk-12345 J, your case number would be entered for validation as: 16-12345.
Click Here to Set Up an ePay Account
Frequently Asked ePay Questions
Other questions? Send an email to mccarty.epay@ch13ark.com
- What is ePay
- I have forgotten my password. How do I get a new one?
- Can I change my password?
- Will I receive a confirmation email upon making my payment?
- How soon will the payment be taken from my account and be posted to my bankruptcy case?
- Why is my account locked?
- Once I have enrolled do I have to use ePay every month?
- Where do I find my Checking/Savings routing and account numbers?
- Do I need to input my checking/savings account number each time I use ePay?
- What happens if my payment is returned as non-sufficient funds (NSF)?
- Can I schedule payments in advance?
- Can I set up recurring payments?
- Why does my monthly plan payment still show as being due online?
- Is there a minimum or maximum to how much I can pay at one time?
- Why are my payments held for 7 days?
- What is the $1.50 processing fee?
- Can I make partial payments?
- Why are not all my payments listed in Payment History?
1. What is ePay
ePay is an approved alternative to making your chapter 13 plan payment by using your checking or savings account to make direct payments to the Trustee. In order to use this service you must have either an internet connection or touch tone phone, know your case number, last four digits of your social security number, your checking or savings account number and routing number, and have a valid email address.
2. I have forgotten my password. How do I get a new one?
On the ePay login page there is a link called “Password Help?” You will be asked for your Login ID and email address and the system will send you a temporary password to the email address associated with your online account. Once you receive that new password, enter it into the login page. You will then be prompted to change your password to one of your choice. When prompted to enter you old password, enter the temporary password that you received via email to access your account.
3. Can I change my password?
Yes, once you are logged in, click on “Change Password” using the drop down menu under you login id (located in the upper right corner of the web page). You will have to answer two of your security questions first and then enter you old password followed by the new password.
4. Will I receive a confirmation email upon making my payment?
Yes, you will receive an email after scheduling a payment and an email once the payment has processed. You will also receive an email if your payment is returned due to insufficient funds or if you entered an incorrect bank account number when scheduling the payment.
5. How soon will the payment be taken from my account and be posted to my bankruptcy case?
Payments made prior to 5:00 PM Central Standard Time, Monday through Friday, (except Federal bank holidays), will be debited from your account the same day and will be posted to your bankruptcy case the next business day. It may take 2 - 4 business days for your payment to reflect on your online bank account statement.
6. Why is my account locked?
There are several reasons why your account may become locked.
a. Your account may become locked because of three failed login attempts. You can email us at mccarty.epay@ch13ark.com to request your account be reset. Accounts are only reset Monday - Friday between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM.
b. The Trustee reserves the right to lock your account and prevent a debtor from making payments through this service. The main reasons why the Trustee would lock an account include: a non-sufficient funds payment (NSF), a debtor placing a Stop Payment on submitted funds, or the conversion or dismissal of your case. If you account has been locked and you are still required to make payments, please send payments to our lockbox address.
7. Once I have enrolled do I have to use ePay every month?
No, you may send your payment to our lockbox address.
8. Where do I find my Checking/Savings routing and account numbers?
The routing and account numbers are located on the bottom of your check. The routing number is always a 9 digit number and appears to the left of your account number. DO NOT look for these on a deposit slip, as the routing number may be different on that document. If you are unable to find your routing number and account numbers, please contact your banking institution for assistance.
9. Do I need to input my checking/savings account number each time I use ePay?
No, the ePay system can store multiple account numbers and you will be able to choose an account from those you have previously entered when using the online web portal to make your payment. If you are using the pay by phone option, then yes, you will need to enter your account number and routing number each time, if you have never enrolled online.
10. What happens if my payment is returned as non-sufficient funds (NSF)?
It is very important that before you start this payment process that you verify your bank account has sufficient funds to cover the transaction. If you submit a payment without having enough funds in your bank account to cover the transaction, the result will most likely be a non-sufficient funds transaction. If this occurs, your bank account will be overdrawn and you may suffer consequences from your bank. In addition, the Trustee may lock your account preventing you from using the ePay system for the duration of your bankruptcy case.
11. Can I schedule payments in advance?
You may login in and schedule a payment or multiple payments 365 days in advance. These are one time payments that you can manually schedule for future dates. You may also set up an automatic recurring monthly payment using the Auto Pay feature.
12. Can I set up recurring payments?
Yes. Use the Auto Pay feature to setup your payment to be made each month on a specific date. You have several options to determine when payments should stop being made, otherwise payments will automatically stop when your case is no longer active with the court.
13. Why does my monthly plan payment still show as being due online?
The case information on the account summary page is static information, meaning that it does not change based on your having made a payment. It is presented for information purposed only. The only change that will occur is on the 1st of each month the due date will change to the next monthly date. If you return to this page after having made a payment, the payment amount and payment due date will still show due. Check the Payment History selection on this page to see that your payment has been made.
14. Is there a minimum or maximum to how much I can pay at one time?
Yes, the minimum and maximum are $2.00 and $10,0000.00 per transaction, respectively. This is subject to change.
15. Why are my payments held for 7 days?
This is done to prevent funds from being disbursed to the creditors in your case during the time when a payment could be returned as non-sufficient funds (NSF). All funds received by this office, via ePay, ACH or personal check are held for 7 days for this reason. After that period, the funds are available for disbursement to your creditors.
16. What is the $1.50 processing fee?
This fee covers the cost for providing this service to debtors and the Trustee. The Trustee does not receive this money. You do not need to add the $1.50 fee to your payment when entering your payment amount; it will be added automatically and deducted from your bank account as part of your payment.
17. Can I make partial payments?
Yes. You may make several smaller payments through the month. However, please keep in mind that a $1.50 processing fee is charged each time you use the ePay service.
18. Why are not all my payments listed in Payment History?
The ePay Payment History only displays payments made through ePay. It will not display payments made to the lockbox. Debtors have immediate access to their entire case information online.