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Streamline Civil Proceedings with Online Pleas Solution

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Contrary to what some may believe, there is greater demand than ever for online access to local courts. According to a study by the National Center for State Courts (NCSC), over 80% of citizen respondents said that having the ability to manage cases and connect with court staff online would improve their experience. Court staff are similarly known to want online tools that alleviate some of the stress of their work.

Those citizens and clerks are getting what they want, thanks to an emerging solution called online dispute resolution (ODR) that uses technology to reach agreements. ODR technology can streamline administrative and judicial workflows, as well as facilitate payment processing. But what makes ODR better than traditional methods of dispute resolution?

What is online dispute resolution?

The development of ODR technology pulls from existing methods of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and transposes them to a fully digital space. Through mediation, negotiation, and/or arbitration, citizens can settle disputes with each other or with the court in a way that serves all parties effectively and painlessly. ODR platforms frequently employ asynchronous communication tools and online portals that also enable citizens to pursue justice outside of business hours.

While ODR can be implemented differently from region to region, it is known to be most effective at resolving small-scale disputes and “inconvenient” infractions, such as traffic citations. However, ODR can also be used to resolve property, taxation, and domestic relations cases; much of its value comes from the fact that it can be applied to multiple judicial settings. By allowing citizens to serve themselves, ODR technology streamlines the court process and reduces the strain on court resources.

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nCourt’s Online Pleas Solution

nCourt brought ODR technology to the public in the form of its innovative Online Pleas Solution (OPS). The nCourt OPS enables citizens to work with the courts that serve them from anywhere at any time and helps them resolve their cases reliably and easily.

With nCourt’s OPS, courts and citizens alike enjoy a range of features, including:

  • Negotiation of domestic relations cases — Citizens can negotiate pre-decree cases (such as divorce or child support) as well as post-decree cases online with or without the help of the court or a third-party mediator.
  • Secure and private payments — Citizens can resolve outstanding fees with confidence that their data is protected.
  • Quick resolution of traffic and misdemeanor cases — Citizens can see their minor infractions resolved painlessly, from parking tickets to city ordinance violations.
  • Warrant and amnesty management — Citizens can track, prevent, and resolve failure-to-comply warrants; courts can also extend amnesties with the click of a mouse.
  • Civil claims resolution — Courts can use the solution to resolve small-claims, landlord-tenant, civil debt, and other cases; citizens can work with the court with or without the involvement of a mediator.

Benefits of OPS — “Virtual Court in a Box”

Virtual mediation has far-reaching benefits, one of which is streamlining administrative and judicial dispute workflows. OPS is a “Virtual Court in a Box” — it changes the paradigm between court representative and citizen, empowering citizens to take a more active role in their interactions with the court which promotes a willingness to pay and resolve matter quickly.

Today’s citizens are tech savvy and expect self-service options to engage with service providers. OPS supports this desire and satisfies the demand. In fact, by offering citizens a self-service option to resolve small-scale disputes (e.g., traffic citation), citizens can settle fines from anywhere, even outside of business hours, and communicate with court staff privately.

Additionally, OPS helps the court shorten lines and reduce the time needed to close cases. Robust functionality allows clerks to spend less time manually processing payments for minor infractions and decreases the need for law enforcement officers to track down late payments.

OPS presents a wide range of benefits for both court staff and citizens. ODR platforms such as nCourt’s OPS take advantage of the latest technology to expedite the processing and resolution of most minor infractions. By bearing the bulk of the administrative load, this solution relieves the pressure on administrative staff and equips them to do what they do best — bringing procedural justice to every citizen.

With nCourt, you can gain faster results, improve civic engagement, and boost your court’s bottom line. Learn more about our solutions, including nCourt OPS, by getting in touch today.

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Make Secure Online Tax Payments with Paylocalgov

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What makes a good tax payment solution? The answer may differ from person to person. Tax professionals may require a more comprehensive solution that offers robust functionality and security on the back end. Citizens, on the other hand, may ask for a streamlined end-user process that takes the headache out of paying taxes. The challenge for payment providers is to create a solution that will most effectively serve both parties. With the help of a secure, data-backed online payment platform, courts can make tax payment and processing easier and safer than ever.

What is an online tax payment solution?

An effective tax payment solution will feature a cohesive platform of services for local and state tax offices. These services may include those for billing, collections, and reporting, in addition to convenient tools for citizens. Because these features are based online and take advantage of new technologies, they offer greater flexibility and scalability than locally hosted systems.

Online payment technology also enables courts to accept multiple methods of payment, including direct pay through a dedicated account or via debit or credit card. In many cases, payments can be made on mobile devices, meaning citizens can verify what they owe and pay their taxes and other fees from anywhere, at any time.

Of course, these expanded capabilities mean tax offices have more to consider than convenience alone. Online tax payment platforms — particularly when accessed from mobile devices — are susceptible to security breaches. This has become a priority for many payment providers in the wake of several high-profile attacks, and any good online tax payment platform will feature strong protective measures for financial data.

What is the role of data integration?

The most important attribute of any online tax payment solution — perhaps more so than the payment itself — is how the platform handles financial data. Some features tax professionals should look for include:

  • Seamless integration with backend software — This helps ensure taxes are processed efficiently and privately.
  • Ability to process data-backed payments — This is crucial today, since a considerable portion of finances are digital.
  • Securely hosted data on the agency’s website — A good solution provider will develop and maintain this website on behalf of agency staff.
  • Payment files posted back into the agency’s software — Data remains up-to-date and in the hands of those who need it most.
  • Payment files logged and accounted in a client admin portal — Files are easily accessible from a central digital space.
  • Data backup and disaster recovery capability — This is critical to protect and/or restore data that may be compromised due to unforeseen circumstances such as ransomware or other cybersecurity attacks.

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What is Paylocalgov?

Paylocalgov is a component-driven platform that may be custom-tailored to local or state agencies for a range of tax payment needs. It offers access to real-time data reporting through its own dashboard, including time-saving analytics and filters for detailed account activity. Paylocalgov accepts multiple payment options, including digital and mobile payments, making tax payment a breeze for tech-savvy citizens. Most importantly, it features multiple layers of security at the highest level of PCI compliance, meaning citizens can rest easy knowing their data is safe.

A powerful online tax payment solution is about more than just the payment. Security, flexibility, and data integration all factor into making an effective payment platform. With Paylocalgov, local and state agencies can take advantage of the latest technology, and citizens — no matter where they are — can take comfort in knowing their payments will be filed easily, safely, and on time.

With features that can be customized to fit any agency’s needs, Paylocalgov makes it easier than ever for citizens to make tax payments and for governments to collect those payments. To learn more contact us at paylocalgov.com.

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Modular Court Technology: The Court Component Model

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There is an alarming trend among court managers — the tendency to acquire technology without fully understanding how it works, or if it will translate to success in their specific court. They may also fail to recognize that their newly adopted suite of court management services will likely no longer meet their needs in a few short years. With new technology hitting shelves every day, court managers may feel overwhelmed when deciding on a solution to meet their business requirements. Fortunately, courts can take a modular approach to technology adoption, called court component modeling, that will equip them to adapt to new challenges.

What is court component modeling?

One way to define court component modeling (CCM) is to compare it to the traditional approach to court technology. Most case management systems (CMSs) are applied as monolithic, one-size-fits-all suites; while comprehensive in some cases, this approach is known to be ineffective in a rapidly evolving market. In contrast, the component model is highly modular and allows courts to mix and match programs for their individual needs, even if the programs come from multiple vendors. With CCM, courts can adopt technology based on their business strategy — rather than the other way around — and meet emerging business requirements by adjusting or supplementing their components instead of replacing an entire suite.

Components are also designed to be platform-agnostic in their interactions with other programs, independently deployable, and highly scalable. When combined with guidance from a trusted technology provider such as nCourt, these components will be easier to adopt and use than full, restrictive suites.

How is a court component model implemented?

In order to begin the adoption process, court managers should assess their business needs by asking themselves and their team a range of questions, including:

  • What tools will allow us to meet our current needs without restricting us in the future?
  • What are the gaps in our technological environment, and what technologies exist to help us fill those gaps?
  • What are the needs of our citizens, and how will the tools we select improve their access to procedural justice?

It may also help for court leaders to view their computing environment as an array of technological building blocks, rather than a consolidated CMS. From there, they can decide which components to use.

Components often are categorized as either case management or supplemental components. Case management components may include the central case manager many courts are accustomed to, as well as a financial manager and a document manager. Supplemental components may include e-filing tools, evidence management, and ePayment services. There are many more, depending on the provider, but the beauty of the component model is that it allows courts to exclusively pick and choose the tools they need to manage cases.

What are the benefits of court component modeling?

By creating a modular technological environment that can evolve with the market, CCM positions court professionals to be ready for the future. It also enables them to fill the gaps in service that may have existed under the traditional approach to technology. Courts that adopt CCM-based systems will be free to create a best-in-class solution composed of components from diverse vendors.

Inflexible courtroom technology can create challenges for clerks and professionals alike. With the help of the court component model, however, court leaders can make real change in this area. When court leaders do the proper research and choose the components that will have the greatest impact in their court environment, they will be better equipped to face coming changes in the industry.

The market for court technology is evolving faster than ever. Fortunately, nCourt is here to help local and state courts adapt to these changes and serve their citizens. Contact us today to learn more.

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Digital Payment Solutions for Child Support

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For parents and children in the child support system, nothing is quite as important as ensuring payments are delivered on time and with regularity. A missed payment may create an undue financial burden on custodial parents and their children. Delays can similarly cause unwanted strain on court professionals; the time and energy they spend tracking down payments could be better used serving citizens. What are parents, children, and clerks to do?

What are the drawbacks of the traditional system?

The traditional methods of collecting court-ordered child support payments rely on factors that are too often unreliable. These include payments delivered in-person or by mail in the form of cash, check, money order, or bank draft. The risk of a late or even missed payment increases when courts and citizens are restricted to these methods, which may, in turn, cause challenges for all parties involved.

The traditional system also requires extensive resources from the court; the cost of paper checks, supporting documents, and postage can add up quickly. In addition, the court’s reliance on human clerks to manually process each payment increases the risk of data entry errors, which cause even more delays. The issue is that regular child support payments are expected within a system that cannot guarantee regularity. The question we are left with is, “How can providers ensure that regularity?”

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How can a digital payment solution help?

Modern technology means modern solutions in the form of digital child support payments. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the precedent for digital payment options has been in place for some years. The challenge for courts lies in implementing this digital technology.

In many cases, digital payment options include direct deposits to a custodial parent’s bank account or payments deposited into a stored value card account. Some payment providers even allow citizens to use online services such as PayPal. With tools designed to make the process as efficient as possible, digital payment solutions offer benefits across the board at little to no extra cost to state governments.

  • Recurring payments — This helps reduce the financial strain on families that may not be able to deliver cash payments on a timely basis. Thanks to options such as automatic recurring payments and guaranteed funds options, citizens can follow plans that suit their circumstances.
  • Fewer delays — When citizens can pay from anywhere, at any time, and in minutes, they have a greater incentive than ever to be on time. Similarly, digital payments help court professionals cut down on processing time, and custodial parents are guaranteed to receive their payments much faster.
  • Lower burden on clerks — Court professionals can track payments more easily and face shorter lines. Likewise, they can spend less time manually logging payments, allowing them to focus their efforts on helping citizens face-to-face.
  • Reduced financial impact — Although some citizens will prefer to pay in person or by mail, courts will pay less overall for paper checks, documents, postage, and processing.

Courts that offer a spread of digital payment options, including one-time, recurring, and partial payments help citizens make payments on time and without undue hardship. Having these options in place increases the likelihood that payments will be made on time and in full.

It pays to go digital

With the help of digital payment options for child support, citizens will have greater confidence in their court and can take comfort in knowing that their access to justice extends to child support services. Digital payments help reduce the financial strain on custodial parents and children, helping all parties achieve a new peace of mind.

nCourt offers digital payment solutions for child support at the local and state levels. To learn more, contact an nCourt expert today.

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nCourt Makes CIOReview’s List of the ‘20 Most Promising Payment and Card Solution Providers’

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Digital payments may be the norm for many businesses, but for many counties and municipalities across the United States, online payment systems are rare. For people who need to pay taxes or court fines, doing their civic duty may be a highly inconvenient and frustrating experience.

That frustration is exactly what nCourt wants to solve through easy payment processing solutions. It’s also why CIOReview recently highlighted nCourt as one of the top 20 most promising payment and card solution providers.

Our specialty is seamless integration

Most local government services have a variety of different legacy systems that make it difficult to integrate payment processing. nCourt’s team works to seamlessly integrate our system with current case management software (CMS) and back-office systems in our client’s current technology stack.

This provides citizens with streamlined alternatives to a visit to the courthouse to pay a ticket or renew their registration. nCourt manages web, mobile, counter, bilingual agent-assisted call centers, and retail locations. nCourt offers unprecedented convenience to citizens when it comes to civic duty.

We also help the courts and government agencies we serve by streamlining data from multiple workflows, departments, and jurisdictions. Automation and optimization through nCourt remove some of the work burden on court and local government employees while driving operational and cash flow efficiencies.

For example, a recent integration of nCourt’s platform saw one customer reduce on-site foot-traffic for payments by 95% while increasing annual revenue to $9 million — versus $4 million from the previous year. Alternative payment opportunities make it easier for citizens to pay fines and fees while reducing staff workload. It also allows court and government staff to focus on top priorities, rather than the extreme amount of manual labor required for billing and collections.

Our system also brings the power of data to our clients, with highly configurable, cloud-based reporting and reconciliation tools. The reporting module offers detailed transaction information which reduces the time spent on accounting and auditing. Users can easily pull key facts for easy export based on specific criteria.

[cta]With more than 50-plus integration partners for major CMS or ERP solutions, nCourt is thoroughly equipped to accommodate the unique payment requirements within the public sector. Most important to the company is the driving vision to empower government entities of all sizes to engage more efficiently and effectively with the public through integrated, secure and easy payment solutions. You can read more about nCourt’s feature at CIOReview. If you’d like to learn more about our platform and our services, get in touch here.[/cta]
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Securing Payment Data

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Recent data breaches such as Equifax, Kmart, and Verizon, among others have captured global headlines, putting data security concerns at the forefront of people’s minds. These massive breaches spotlight the need for greater security across all business sectors — private and public. The digital information age provides consumers with many conveniences, especially when it comes to electronic payment processing. But regardless of whether individuals are paying in person or online, securing payment data is of the utmost importance.

What are some of the baseline security measures for payments?

Flexible payment options benefit both courts, governments, and the public, enabling quick and timely fee and fine payment processing through multiple convenient methods. However, most people feel more comfortable taking advantage of online and in-person payments, especially when knowing that security measures are in place to protect sensitive payment data.

So what measures are necessary and what are the benefits of choosing secure payment methods? A payment processing solution that keeps security top of mind helps to ensure compliance with necessary regulations, gives confidence and peace of mind for users, and prevents costly and damaging data breaches. To understand these benefits, courts and government agencies should become familiar with some of the common security measures for payment processing solutions — used in both private and public sectors. Below are common security measures that include Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliance, encryption, tokenization, point-to-point encryption (P2PE), and EMV (Europay, MasterCard®, Visa®) technology:

  • PCI compliance — Payment card companies maintain and enforce the security standards that determine PCI compliance for any company that stores, transmits, or processes cardholder data. These standards are in place to ensure consumer information remains secure. There are four levels of compliance, and as our previous blog “What is PCI-DSS Compliance?” mentions, the greater the number of credit and debit card transactions an organization conducts, the higher level of compliance they have to achieve. The highest level is Level 1 PCI compliant, which enforces the strictest standards and includes a yearly onsite review by an international auditor and a network scan by an approved vendor.
  • Encryption — A secure payment solution will employ encryption for better protection of payment data. This technology obscures all payment data, so it is unreadable to any person or device without the associated decryption keys.
  • Tokenization — As explained on our website, when card information needs to be retained for future transactions, tokens are used instead of cardholder data. Since each transaction is unique, encrypted card data stored from a previous transaction is unusable. So, when a transaction is performed, the bank or payment processor may return a token, which can be stored and used at a later date for subsequent transactions, and tokenization technology is also available with EMV card reader devices. Most importantly, the token cannot be reversed to retrieve any cardholder data.
  • P2PE — Point-to-point encryption (P2PE) is a standard established by the PCI Security Standards Council. Certified P2PE devices use algorithmic calculations to encrypt the sensitive cardholder data at the point of interaction (POI) and the encrypted, indecipherable codes are sent only to the payment processor for decryption. Also, to maximize the security of the payment data, the management of encryption keys is completely invisible and never made available to businesses accepting payments.
  • EMV — EMV created a global standard to ensure that point-of-sale (POS) terminals were compatible with chip-based payment cards. By utilizing a layered approach that includes both encryption and tokenization, EMV delivers solid protection for cardholder data using the dual technology. More businesses are implementing EMV-enabled terminals for acceptance of chip-based credit and debit card transactions because of its security protection at consumer- and business-level exchanges. The chip cards create a new and unique code for each transaction at the POS, which is used for that specific transaction only. If a hacker breaches the POS and steals the data, it will be rendered useless. EMV will continue to play a significant role in decreasing the amount of card-present fraud in the U.S.

Keep data security a priority

Providing businesses with flexible payment options comes with the responsibilities and challenges of securing their payment data. This undertaking can be overwhelming and complex. To ensure your processing environment is as secure as possible, seek out payment services providers who keep security top of mind, and have the reputation, experience, and knowledge to implement secure and compliant-driven processes.

Offering peace of mind to courts and government agencies, nCourt maintains PCI-DSS Level 1 certification as well as other security compliances and best practices. To learn more, visit us online or contact us today.

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Payment Processing 101: It’s an Ecosystem

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Not so many years ago, payment options simply included cash, checks, and credit cards. Today, the options seem limitless as individuals are making online payments around-the-clock and employing technologies such as mobile point-of-sale (mPOS) and mobile wallet, among others. The evolution and adoption of financial technology (fintech) and payment processing continues at a rapid pace. As one Entrepreneur article states, “The reality is, new breakthrough technologies and digitization initiatives are reinventing the ‘art of the possible’ in payments and ushering in a new world of multiple wallets, ‘devices,’ and supporting infrastructure. More specifically, they are simplifying the payment process and rendering it invisible.”

As payment options continue to evolve, many people today simply swipe, tap, or flash their mobile wallets without a thought to the complex ecosystem involved in the transfer of funds. What really happens to these processed payments and what does this mean for the future of court and government payments?

smartphone paymentSmartphones have allowed for an extensive ecosystem of digital payments. Enabling payment options such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay allow smartphone users to experience mobile wallets easily. In a world where individuals are becoming not only accustomed to but also expectant of instant gratification, payment processing is becoming increasingly simplified. These instant payment options are widespread in both formal and informal payment scenarios, ranging from shopping, utilities, citations, bail, tuition, taxes, and more.

Thousands of companies are developing transaction options and updates for users to stay ahead of trends. Because so many companies are competing and collaborating to facilitate transactions both within and outside the fintech market, product competency and customer support are imperative for success. And with so many options, user education is critical. Finding and working with the right company can help ensure streamlined payment transactions.

The payment processing landscape

From the user(s) perspective, processing payments seems quite simple — you either make a purchase or accept electronic payments — but behind the scenes is a makeup of sophisticated and complex interdependencies and players — all interfacing, communicating, and exchanging data within their respective technology to facilitate the complete cycle of the payment transaction.

Below is a simplified overview of nCourt’s processing activities within the payment ecosystem:

  1. User — Makes a payment utilizing processing solutions offered by the court or government agency
  2. Court or government agency — Receives the user’s payment via the payment facilitator’s processing solutions
  3. Payment facilitator — Provides technology, payment platform, and value-added services – securely captures electronic transaction data for court or government agency and transfers appropriate data
  4. Gateway or processor — Receives data transfer file from payment facilitator for submission to card association such as Visa, MasterCard, AMEX, and Discover
  5. Card association — Routes the transaction data to the respective issuing bank for settlement
  6. Issuing bank — Approves or declines transaction data and submits response back to payment facilitator, sends credit card statement to user
  7. User — Is billed amount via the ticket or citation statement issued by the court or government agency, pays back the issuing bank
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Keeping up with a changing payment landscape

The speed of change in the payment ecosystem makes it difficult to stay up-to-date, which is why many courts and government agencies rely on third-party payment providers to help pave the way for innovative payment solutions. An experienced and knowledgeable partner not only helps to reduce costs and ensure seamless funds transfers but also stays abreast of next-generation payment options so courts and government agencies can focus on what they do best — serving the public.

With payment methodologies being driven more by end-users than ever before, it’s becoming equally important for the public sector to make payments as conveniently and seamlessly as possible. Consumers will continue to be the pivoting factor changing the payment landscape, so it’s important to partner with a provider who understands payments and the technology relevant to your market and organization.

[cta]With nCourt, payment processing becomes seamless, enabling you to provide online, mobile, counter, phone, and retail store payment options to make payments effortless and convenient. Learn more.[/cta]
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Cash Payments at Retail Locations Enable Convenient Access to Justice

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In this third part of our series in the “Justice for All” forum — an exploration of the ways to ensure justice is accessible to all individuals regardless of income level — we delve into the principle that “convenient payment options and reasonable time payment plans should be provided and based on a defendant’s ability to pay.” Of particular concern is how to provide payment solutions for unbanked and underbanked defendants who need access to cash-only options. These individuals deserve the same convenient access as their “banked” counterparts to pay for court-related fees and fines.

What is unbanked/underbanked and why does it remain an issue?

According to a recent FDIC National Survey, 20% of all consumers are considered underbanked. This equates to 1 in 5 American consumers that are dependent on cash transactions and totals more than 51 million adults. The term unbanked refers to a household in which no one is served by a bank or similar financial institution. Underbanked is when households do not have sufficient bank services to meet the market demands.

The reasons individuals remain unbanked and underbanked vary:

  • Negative background check results
  • Not enough credit history
  • Don’t trust financial institutions
  • Undocumented resident
  • Avoid collections
  • Avoid bank fees
  • Dependent on government assistance
  • Jobless or low income

Let’s look at how courts can provide flexible payment options to this mixed group, without additional burden for courts and the defendants.

Unbanked defendants gain immediate benefits with cash-only payments

As we explored in “5 Ways to Create Visible Public Access to Justice,” the ability to conveniently make payments is a crucial factor in ensuring justice is available for all, including unbanked individuals. Courts offering cash payment options create an effective means for the unbanked defendants to pay; regardless of why they’re unbanked.

A cash payment platform enables millions of people without access to traditional banking tools to utilize a physical cash transaction with a mobile phone, SMS text messaging, email or the web, with retailers that act as the “transaction facilitator” between the consumer and biller. Individuals can simply walk in with cash on hand to pay court citations, without the higher-cost compared to check-cashing services.

This approach offers many benefits to cash-paying individuals as well as to the courts where their fees and fines are owed. This convenient payment method allows individuals to “SCAN-PAY-GO” to quickly and easily pay their citations, ensuring fast payment to courts.

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The solutions generate receipts either by smartphone or email, and everything is tracked electronically via a unique quick reader code (QRC) or barcode, and allow defendants to set reminders, guaranteeing them that their payment has reached the court and helping eliminate late payment fee.

Justice for all through payment flexibility

Through payment flexibility, defendants can also reduce the inconvenience of driving to a courthouse to pay their fees. In some cases, unbanked or underbanked defendants lack their own mode of transportation, forcing them to work around public transit schedules.

Flexible options allow defendants to pay with cash in the communities where they live, as well as take advantage of the longer-extended hours that are typical with retail stores – including the weekends. The retail payment locations will not only help reduce foot traffic at the courthouse, this additional convenience can increase the chances that the fees will be paid — on time — which has a positive impact on all parties.

It’s also important that these payment options are available through recognizable, easily accessible, trusted retailers. When defendants feel comfortable using services at these types of retail locations, the likeliness they will actually use them greatly increases.

These flexible payment options work like — and are as simple as — credit and debit payment transactions, and offer like services such as real-time processing, payment confirmation and receipt (both paper and electronic). Traditional money gram methods are time-consuming and can be harder to trace a cash payment if the record is mishandled or lost. Traceable payment history is very important to the public sector, including but not limited to the courthouse or agency records.

As the 2015 Diary of Consumer Payment Choice reveals, cash remains the most frequently used payment method regardless of age group or income level. Thus, cash payment processing solutions are a win-win for courts and court users, unbanked and underbanked, or otherwise. Flexible payment options that include cash-pay solutions improve relationships between courts and the individuals they serve and facilitates efforts to bring justice to all.

To learn more about flexible cash-only payment solutions for your court, contact a nCourt expert today.

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