Payment Options
ALL PAYMENT OPTIONS
Payments can be made via credit card online at either of our two third party vendors. The first of our third parties is Paymentus, the other is via our Bill View Portal. Both are one-time payment options with associated fees via the third party ($3.50 per transaction for Paymentus and $2.99 for Bill View Portal). Additionally, both have a limit of $450.00 per transaction. For more information on one-time credit card payments, click here or click on the quick link at the top of this page.
PHONE
Our third, party, Paymentus, also has a toll-free number you may call to pay your bill. The toll-free number for Paymentus is 877-778-3348. Mirroring the online option, our third party charges a $3.50 per transaction fee and limits payments to $450.00 per transaction. Please be aware, you will need your account number and balance to pay via the toll-free line.
AUTOMATIC PAYMENTS (AUTO PAY)
Auto Pay is a service that allows you to have your monthly utility bill paid automatically from your checking or savings account. Your bill is paid on the due date of your bill without any effort on your part. Auto Pay is provided at no cost to you. Should you like to sign up for Auto Pay, you may click here or on the quick link at the top of this page.
IN PERSON PAYMENTS
We accept payments via cash, check, money order, and credit card ($2.99 per transaction fee for card payments) at our physical office location. Our office is located in Ames City Hall (515 Clark Avenue). Parking is available on Clark Avenue, and our office is directly inside the main entrance.
DROP BOXES
We have two drop box payment locations. The first is located in downtown, on the 600 block of Burnett Avenue. This drop box is located behind the downtown Fareway, next to the USPS Postal Drop Boxes. The second is located on the 200 block of Welch Avenue in Campustown, next to the City's public parking Lot T, and near the Pizza Pit location.
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Above, you can see the downtown location, on Burnett Ave between 6th St and 7th St.
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Above, you can see the Campustown location, located on the 200 block of Welch Ave.
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MAIL
You may mail utility payments to our office as well. If you do so, please make sure to either include the mailed bill stub or indicate where you would like the payments to be applied (including account numbers and addresses).
Payments may be mailed to:
Utility Customer Service
PO Box 811
Ames, IA 50010
PAYMENT RETURN POLICY
The charge for a returned electric payment (ACH) or returned check is $25.00. Items can be returned for a number of reasons, including insufficient funds, incorrect account numbers, or closed accounts. Regardless of the reason, the return item charge is $25.00. Returned items must be redeemed via cash, a certified bank check, or a money order.
After three returned payments, City of Ames Utilities reserves the right to restrict payment methods. As a result, cash, certified bank checks, or money orders will be the only means of payment accepted.
This policy is pursuant to Iowa Code 554.3512(1) & (2).