County clerk offers option of paying with card, on Web

Dyer County Clerk Diane Moore and her 10-month-old grandson Grant West watch as Deputy Clerk Rebecca Moore swipes a debit card. The county clerk's office now has the capability to accept credit and debit card payments. [Click to enlarge]

The clerk's office began accepting credit and debit cards on Sept. 15.

County Clerk Diane Moore said she has seen a significant increase in the number of people who want to pay for services with debit cards. The county hadn't been able to accept debit or credit cards until now.

Plastic payments were made possible when the clerk's office began providing new services on its Web site: www.tncountyclerk.com. People may renew their motor vehicle registrations online (but new car registrations must still be done in the clerk's office). Within the next two weeks, persons may complete the preliminary paperwork to obtain a marriage license. The paperwork and necessary identification documents must be taken to the clerk's office, where the license will be issued. Online, persons also may access information on a number of services available through the clerk's office, including business taxes, hunting and fishing licenses and organ-donor awareness donations.

While the services will benefit everyone, Moore said the main reason she decided to expand Internet services was because so many county residents are currently stationed out of state with the military. The clerk's office does not accept out-of-state checks.

"This is a convenience for them," Moore said. "So many people are using the computer now for so many things."

The new services will cost a little extra. Anyone using debit or credit cards will pay a 2 percent fee plus 25 cents for each transaction. The additional fees cover the credit and debit card processing costs and a usage fee charged by the software company.

On an average vehicle registration renewal, the additional fees will amount to $1.93, said Nita Twilla, bookkeeper in the clerk's office.

Persons renewing vehicle registration online will pay the 2 percent fee, the 25-cent fee and a $2 postage fee to mail the registration sticker by mail, Twilla said.

Electronic checks also are now accepted for a flat fee of $2. Registration stickers will be mailed after the checks have cleared.

The plastic option has already proven popular. "It's amazing so many people have already taken advantage of it," Moore said.

Rebecca Moore, a deputy clerk who is not related to the county clerk, agreed with her boss. She said debit cards are definitely more popular today. "I think a lot of people live by debit cards these days," she said.

For those who still plan to do their business face-to-face, the county clerk's office is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 8:30 a.m.-noon on the last Saturday of the month.