MARTINS FERRY — Residents of Martins Ferry now can pay their utility bills online or by phone with a credit or debit card.

The city is using a third-party vendor, Invoice Cloud, to allow people to make their payments online via credit, debit or electronic check, said Utility Office Manager Judy Leonard.

Leonard said the city began offering the service about two weeks ago and it is catching on slowly with residents.

People can register and pay the bills at www.invoicecloud.com/martinsferryoh. They also can pay them by phone at 844-329-8477.

Invoice Cloud charges a $2.95 service fee for the online payment, and a 95-cent fee for the phone payments. The maximum amount that can be paid online via credit card is $250.

People can sign up to do one-time online payments or make recurring payments.

If making recurrent payments, people also can opt-out of receiving a paper bill in the mail if they choose to do so.

Amanda Yourkovich, billing specialist, said the city’s utility bill includes water and sanitation. She noted people have been asking the city for years to start taking online payments.

She said those who don’t want to pay online can still use the website to look at their bills and their water usage from month to month.

She also said it is convenient for people who go on vacation, but still need to pay their bill, or for landlords who live out of state.

The city still sends out bills and takes payment by check in the mail sent to the utility office. People still can make payments at the utility office window at the city building on Fifth Street. It is open 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays-Fridays.

“We still take checks, cash and money orders,” Yourkovich said.