For once, Clark is going to say something nice about AOL. Despite all of its faults, the company has come up with a very sophisticated, yet easy-to-use electronic bill paying system. This is the nation’s most advanced electronic bill pay system, and it could cause you to jump on board if you haven’t already. With AOL’s system, computers speak directly to each other and bills are paid immediately from computer to computer. You will no longer have to pay a week or a few days ahead of time. Instead, you can pay the day it’s due and the company receives the money that second. It’s possible because AOL has set up an online relationship with hundreds of companies, and the money is sent via computer once you enter that company as one of your payees. Clark gives AOL credit because this kind of system will convince customers to stay onboard with the overpriced ISP. AOL customers get the service for free. If you are not an AOL customer, but you use a credit card or debit card to set up the service, you also get the service for free. But if you choose to pay by any other method, you will pay $5 a month, or $60 a year. Clark still recommends that people fire AOL as an ISP. What they charge is simply too much. But if you’re thinking of using electronic bill pay, you will be much better off. Paying electronically is so much more convenient and secure because you have a documented trail of your payment history.