Customer Service Open Until 6pm Wednesdays

Experience has shown that residents who tend to their town business in person would much rather do it after work than in the early morning hours before work, so beginning March 1, the Customer Service Department at Town Hall will go back to its regular 8 am opening time on Wednesdays.

The Department will continue staying open until 6 pm Wednesday afternoons.

"We have much more traffic for that 5 pm to 6 pm hour than we have for the 7 am to 8 am hour," said Customer Service Director Ann Game. "We just haven't seen the demand for that early morning hour."

For the last couple of years, the Department--whose regular hours are from 8 am to 5 pm during the week--has opened an hour earlier and stayed an hour later on Wednesdays to be more accessible to residents. The afternoon hour has been popular, but the early morning hour---not so much.

"More and more are doing their town business on-line instead of in person anyway," Game said. "I've been so pleased with the response to our on-line services. It's been operating very smoothly."

The use of online payments--either by credit card, debit card or check--has increased steadily since the town added the new service last year. But, it's increased even more this winter, with residents wanting to avoid the spread of germs, especially the dreaded H1N1 virus.

"People have called us to say their bill is due, but they're sick, and we remind them that they can pay online any day and any time of day without leaving their home," said Game. "This has been a great convenience for those who need to stay in or for those who like paying on-line."

Game said most online payments come in during the evening hours and on weekends.

Online payments can be made easily and quickly by going to the Town of Clayton website at www.townofclaytonnc.org and linking to the Payment Processing Center.

Payments can also be made over the telephone by calling toll free 866-907-4186 or through the automated attendant function at the standard customer service phone number 919-553-5002.

A service convenience fee of $3.95 is added to each on-line or phone transaction. Of course, customers still have the option of paying by standard mail or drop box prior to their due date.