Three Fayette County departments recently began accepting online, credit and debit card payments.
The new payment methods are available through the clerk of courts, the tax claim bureau and the adult probation office.
Fayette County Commissioner Angela Zimmerlink Friday said she researched the idea with other counties and considered several providers.
Previously, payments had to be made in person or by mail, either using cash, a check or a money order.
A resolution to adopt the system was passed last year, Zimmerlink said.
"Fayette County recognized the need to become more efficient and the shift of the public to a greater use of debit and credit cards," she said in a news release. "We recognized the benefit to county operations, which include increasing cash flow, reducing the number of (returned checks) and reducing overall office costs."
The commissioners selected GovPay as the service provider.
Card users pay GovPay a convenience fee of 2.65 percent to use a credit card and 1.95 percent for a debit card, or a minimum of $3 for each transaction.
The clerk of courts and tax claim bureau first made the service available last fall, and the adult probation office began using the system last week.
"It's been good," said Sarah Thomas, tax claim bureau director. "We had a lot of people ask, 'How can I pay?' "
"This gives people another method of paying," Thomas said.
The service also allows those who wish to pay over the phone to use their credit cards to do so.
