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Technology Stocks : CheckFree (CKFR) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Brooks Jackson who wrote (3528)	4/25/1998 6:27:00 PM
From: AugustWest	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 8545

Thanks Brooks. I didn't haqve the answers and was hoping some one like yourself would come through. And you did. Maybe one of these days soon I'll pay online. Right now I'm in the process of buying my mom's Mother's Day present through an e-tailer. The first tangible thing I've bought the e way. I hope it goes well.

To: Brooks Jackson who wrote (3528)	4/26/1998 12:43:00 AM
From: Eric Jacobson	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 8545

Brooks: Thanks for the answer. So, let's see: 1. Automatic transfers between my bank and a service provide do not involve CKFR. I was hoping they were involved somehow because this is a service I absolutely LOVE. So, if they're not involved, what's to stop others from handling it in a similar fashion without CKFR? For example, my credit card - I wouldn't mind having this paid automatically each month up to a limit. Why would my credit card company (or someone else, like my cable company) go through CKFR or my bank when they can do it directly without CKFR? 2. On-line banking - you didn't answer this question. I can now do all of my banking needs via touch-tone phone or on-line for free. Is CKFR involved in providing this service? According to their website, they provide this service. How do I find out if they do provide it to me and how much they are paid for it? 3. On-line bill paying - OK, this makes the most sense - my bank charges me $6/mo., and about $4/mo. goes to CKFR. I agree it sounds handy. I figure it's worth about $0.50/check to me, and I currently write around 10 checks/mo. to pay bills. So, I figure it's a possibility. BUT, if more and more of my monthly bills go to automatic payment, then the number of checks goes down, and paying $6/mo. for this service makes less and less sense. I agree with you on the potential for increasing margins as more and more payments go automatic. Combined with increasing usage, this could be a real cash cow. But, the thing that's worrying me is the potential to circumvent CKFR altogether. I understand why banks have lined up with CKFR, but why will billers use CKFR and my bank rather than handle it directly through automatic payment or their own website? Thanks for helping me figure this out.