Electronic Payment acceptance
Policy, terms and conditions
The Clinton Water District in conjunction with The Revised
Code of Washington (RCW) 36.29.190 and Resolution # 18-17 allows
the District to accept electronic payments from VISA, Discover and Master Card
and e-checks.
Credit Card or Debit Card customer information is not
subject to Public Records Disclosure. Credit Card or Debit Card customer
information will not be subject for use for commercial purposes
The Clinton Water District may accept electronic payments
for regular water usage charges (i.e. base rate, water usage charge, interest,
late fees, penalties) pursuant to Clinton Water District Resolution # 18-17 and
RCW 36.29.190
POLICY GUIDELINES
Electronic Payment Processing
Protocol and Privacy
The Clinton Water District Office
Manager shall establish and maintain the protocol for electronic payment
processing including but not limited to; contracts for electronic payments,
convenience fees, and standard business processes and procedures.
Convenience and Transaction Fee
The convenience
fee/transaction fee will be renegotiated by the Clinton Water District Office
Manager annually with the chosen payment processing company. The fee
will never exceed $2.95 or 3% of payment amount whichever is higher.
Dishonored or Returned Payments
Should a customer payment be
dishonored or returned for any reason, the Clinton Water District will deduct
an additional debit to the customer account for $25 or the maximum amount
allowed by state law, whichever is greater. Charges
will also be assessed pursuant to the Clinton Water
District's current rates and charges Resolution.
Refunds
The Clinton Water District does not
issue refunds. All payments are final.
Termination
The Clinton Water District reserves
the right, without notice and in our sole discretion, to modify the Services,
terminate your license to use the Services, and to block or prevent future
access to and use of the Services. Customers also have the right to stop using
the Services at any time.
Definitions
a. "Automated Clearing House" or "ACH" means an
association of depository institutions that process financial transactions
electronically through the Federal Reserve Bank.
b. "Convenience Fee" means a fee that is charged to a customer for the convenience of making an
electronic payment. A convenience fee
charged to a customer, typically covers all or a
portion of a payment vendor's transaction costs (see
"transaction fees" below), as well as any
other additional fees that are charged by an agency to
recover direct costs associated with an
electronic payment (e.g., agency costs for
expedited processing; or agency
costs for receiving a copy of
a particular form).
c. "Credit Card" means a card
indicating that the holder named on the card
has obtained a revolving line of credit from the
financial institution issuing the card up to a
certain dollar amount valid to a specified date shown on
the card. A credit card may be used to pay
for goods and services from merchants or organizations
participating in the corresponding credit card program.
d. "Debit Card" means a card indicating that
the holder named on the card has an open account in a
financial institution shown on the card that the holder named on the card is
authorized to pay for purchases of goods and services from participating
merchants so long as the account is valid and has adequate funds to cover the
cost of either goods or services, or both, at the time of the transaction.
e. "Customer" means a person who is purchasing District
services/paying rates or charges or fines with an electronic payment, such as a
credit card, debit card or electronic check.
f. "Electronic Check" or "e-check" means an
ACH debit that is initiated by the customer or agency on the Internet against
an open account in a financial institution that is authorized for use to pay
for services from participating merchants so long as the account is valid and
has adequate funds to cover the cost of services at the time of the
transaction. This is also
known as an Internet Check.
g. "Electronic Payments" means any financial transaction
by which funds are transferred to the District through any type of electronic
payment option or method. The electronic payment options include, but are not
limited to; Internet payment Processing, point-of-sale payment processing. The
methods of payment include, but are
not limited to: automated clearing house
(ACH), credit cards, debit cards, ACH debit processing.
h. "Electronic Payment Services"
means any service provided by a vendor
who acts as an intermediary in processing an electronic
payment, including, but not limited to: merchant banking
services, credit card payment processing, ACH debit
processing, and Internet payment gateway services. Depending on how contracts
with third party vendors are established by the Clinton Water District Office
Manager, electronic payment services may be coordinated by a
single vendor or multiple vendors.
i. "Electronic Payment Processing Protocol" means the
standard, District wide processes used by an agency when accepting electronic
payments from customers, including, but not limited to, contracts with
financial services providers and business procedures.
j. "Internet Payment Gateway Service" means a service
provided by a vendor that directs an Internet payment transaction to the
appropriate third party payment processor who facilitates the transfer of funds
from a specific financial institution.
k. "Merchant Banking Service" refers to the
designated bank or banking service that processes an electronic payment.
l. "Payment Vendor" means a service provider who is
involved with the electronic payment transaction, including, but not limited
to; merchant bank, credit card issuer, credit card association, Internet
payment gateway, ACH or credit card payment processor.
m. "Personal Financial Information" means the
information provided by the customer in the course of completing a payment
transaction with the District through an electronic transfer of funds,
including, but not limited to; credit card number, debit card number and bank
account number.
n. "Point-of-Sale" or POS is a payment option that
performs a real-time payment authorization of a customer's account when the
customer presents their credit card (or other payment method) in-person at the
time of sale.
o. "Transaction Fee" means the same as "transaction
cost" and refers to the cost incurred by a payment vendor for executing an
electronic payment. If an agency passes all or a portion of this transaction
cost on to the customer, then the resulting fee to the customer is typically called a "convenience fee"
(see definition above).
TERMS AND CONDITIONS
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY. BY USING
OUR WEBSITE YOU AGREE TO THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.
These terms and conditions (these "Terms") apply
exclusively to your access to, and use of, the website (collectively, the "Services")
provided by Clinton Water District and (collectively, the "District" or
"we") as well as any other websites or mobile applications that link to
these Terms. These Terms do not alter in any way any other
agreement you may have with the District for products, other services or
otherwise, nor do they alter rights and obligations of you or the District with
respect to matters within the jurisdiction of the Clinton Water District Board
of Commissioners, including rates, utility services, facilities, and practices
of Clinton Water District.
In addition, we may supply different or additional terms in
relation to some of the Services, and those different or additional terms
become part of your agreement with us if you use those Services. If there is a
conflict between these Terms and the additional terms, the additional terms
will control for that conflict.
The District reserves the right to amend these Terms at any
time. We will provide you notice of such changes, such as by revising the date
at the top of these Terms, providing a notice through the Services, or sending
you a notification. The amended Terms shall be effective immediately after they
are initially posted. If you do not accept the amended
Terms, you must cease accessing and using the Services.
If you have any question regarding the Services, please
direct such questions to: cwd@whidbey.com.
Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years of age to use the Services. If you use the Services on behalf of another person or entity, (a)
all references to "you" throughout these Terms will include that person or
entity, (b) you represent that you are authorized to accept these Terms on that
person's or entity's behalf, and (c) in the event you or the person or entity
violates these Terms, the person or entity agrees to be responsible to the
District.
User Accounts and Account Security
You may need to register for an account to access certain
features or areas of the Services. If you register for an account, you must
provide accurate account information and promptly update this information if it
changes. You also must maintain the security of your account and promptly notify
us if you discover or suspect that someone has accessed your account without
your permission. If you permit others to use your account credentials, you are
responsible for the activities of such users that occur in connection with your
account. We reserve the right to reclaim usernames, including on behalf of
businesses or individuals that hold legal claim, including trademark rights, in
those usernames.
Prohibited Conduct
You are responsible for your own conduct when using the
Services. You will not violate any applicable law or contract, nor will you
take any action that violates our rights or the rights of any other user. For
example, you will not:
Indemnification
You agree to defend, indemnify and
hold harmless the District, our independent contractors, service providers and
consultants, and each of their respective directors, employees and agents, from
and against any third-party claims, damages, costs and expenses (including, but
not limited to, reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or related to your
use of the Services, including without limitation any actual or threatened
suit, demand, or claim made against the District and/or our independent
contractors, service providers, or consultants, arising out of or relating to
your conduct, your violation of these Terms, or your violation of the rights of
any third party.
Submissions
You agree that any materials, including but not limited to
questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, plans, notes, drawings, original or creative
materials or other information, provided by you in the form of e-mail or
submissions to the District, are not confidential and shall become the sole
property of the District. The District shall own exclusive rights, including
all intellectual property rights, and shall be entitled to the unrestricted use
of these materials for any purpose, commercial or otherwise, without
acknowledgment or compensation to you. The submission of any materials to the
District, including the posting of materials to any forum or interactive area,
irrevocably waives any and all "moral
rights" in such materials, including the rights of paternity and
integrity.
Third-Party Content & Services
The District may provide links to WebPages
and content of third parties ("third-party content") as a service to
those interested in this information. The District does not monitor or have any
control over any third-party content or third-party
websites. The District does not endorse or adopt any third-party content and
can make no guarantee as to its accuracy or completeness. The District does not
represent or warrant the accuracy of any information contained therein, and
undertakes no responsibility to update or review any third-party content. Your
use of these links and third-party content contained therein is at your own
risk. Your dealings or correspondence with any third parties
are solely between you and any such third parties.
Disclaimer
The District reserves the right to change any
and all content contained on the Services at any time without notice.
Reference to any products, services, processes, or other information, by trade
name, trademark, manufacturer, supplier, or otherwise does not constitute or
imply endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation thereof by the District.
Applicable Law
These Terms shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Washington, without
regard to its conflict-of-law provisions. You agree that any action at
law or in equity arising out of or relating to these Terms shall be filed only
in the state and federal courts located in Island County, Wash.
Termination
The District reserves the right, without notice and in our
sole discretion, to modify the Services, terminate your license to use the
Services, and to block or prevent future access to and use of the Services. You
also have the right to stop using the Services at any time.
Severability
If any provision of these Terms shall be
deemed unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that
provision shall be deemed severable from these Terms and shall not affect the
validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions.
Miscellaneous
The failure of the Clinton Water District to exercise or
enforce any right or provision of these Terms will not operate as a waiver of such
right or provision. The section titles in these Terms are for convenience only
and have no legal or contractual effect. Except as otherwise provided herein,
these Terms are intended solely for the benefit of the
parties and are not intended to confer third-party beneficiary rights upon any
other person or entity. You agree that communications and transactions between
us may be conducted electronically.
Questions & Contact Information
Questions or comments about the services may
be directed to Clinton Water District at cwd@whidbey.com, or you may telephone us at 360-341-5487. You
may also write to us at Clinton Water District, P.O. Box 544, Clinton, Wa, 98236
