Enhancing Court Payments by Simplifying Them

County and municipal court systems across the United States are increasingly adopting digital payment solutions to streamline processes and improve revenue collection. Traditionally, the process of paying fines, court fees and tickets has been cumbersome, often involving long lines, complex web portals and inefficient communication methods. This is often due to resource constraints and shrinking budgets, which impede payment modernization efforts. These payment obstacles can lead to missed payments, which, in turn, contribute to additional costs and administrative burdens. By adopting user-friendly solutions such as text-to-pay systems, court systems can simplify the payment process, ensuring timely payments and better service for all residents.

But how can implementing text-to-pay systems transform payment collection processes for municipalities? Read on to learn how by enhancing accessibility and improving financial efficiency, your department can also save employees time and save taxpayers money.
 

The Challenge: Inefficiencies in Traditional Payment Systems

Many municipalities and counties rely heavily on fines and fees from court systems as a significant revenue stream. However, a substantial portion of these revenues remain uncollected due to outdated or inefficient payment methods, leading to a significant loss of funds each year. For example, in Ohio, the state’s court systems spend more than 41 cents of every dollar collected on enforcement costs, including in-court hearings, issuing warrants, and even jail costs. These enforcement efforts are costly and resource-draining, and the administrative costs to process fines, fees and tickets often exceed the expected revenue.

A 2021 report from the Fines and Fees Justice Center found that national court debt in the U.S. totals $276 billion. In fact, in some cities, it has been reported that up to 50% of court-ordered fines remain unpaid, contributing to a significant gap in local government revenue.

These inefficiencies can be attributed to several factors:

1. Outdated payment portals: Many court systems still rely on outdated, difficult-to-use websites or in-person payment methods that cause friction for residents.
2. Long delays: The manual processing of payments and payment reminders leads to slow collection cycles.
3. Lack of flexibility: Traditional payment methods often do not accommodate the diverse needs of residents, especially those with limited access to the internet or those who are non-English speakers.

 

The Solution: Implementing Text-to-Pay Systems

A proven solution to these challenges is the integration of text-to-pay systems into the payment process. Text-to-pay allows residents to receive a simple, secure payment link via SMS (text message), providing them with a straightforward way to pay their court fines, tickets or other fees directly from their mobile devices. This solution eliminates the need for complicated web addresses, reduces administrative burden and increases the likelihood of timely payments.

One of the most compelling benefits of text-to-pay solutions is their ability to engage people through mobile devices, which have become a central communication tool for many Americans. According to a 2022 report from Statista, 97% of Americans own a mobile phone, and 85% own a smartphone. This makes text-to-pay a particularly effective way to reach residents who may not have access to reliable internet or who find it difficult to navigate complicated online portals.

Studies have shown that using SMS-based reminders and payment options can have a dramatic impact on payment collection. For example, research by the Behavioural Insights Team in the UK found that personalized text messages sent to individuals with overdue court fines increased payment rates by 189%, from an average payment of £4.46 to £12.87 (Behavioural Insights Team). While this study was conducted in the UK, it suggests that similar results could be achieved in U.S. jurisdictions, leading to higher collection rates and improved revenue for local governments.
 

Benefits of Simplified Payment Methods

The adoption of text-to-pay systems brings a multitude of benefits, both for residents and municipalities.

• Increased Revenue Collection: Simplified payment methods directly contribute to higher collection rates. Text-to-pay systems reduce friction in the payment process, ensuring that residents can pay their fines and fees quickly and easily. This results in fewer missed payments and reduced collection costs. A study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City estimated that for every $1 spent on improving payment collection systems, governments could expect a $6 return in increased revenue. This ROI highlights the efficiency of adopting digital solutions for payment processing.
• Improved Accessibility: Text-to-pay systems are inherently accessible because they reach residents directly through their mobile phones. By sending a secure payment link via text, courts can ensure that individuals—regardless of whether they have a computer, reliable internet or proficiency in English—can complete their payments with minimal effort. Additionally, text messages can send to customized checkout pages in multiple languages to ensure that non-English-speaking residents can understand and act on the payment instructions.
• Reduced Administrative Burden: One of the most significant advantages of text-to-pay is the automation of payment reminders and follow-ups. Rather than relying on court staff to manually send payment reminders or field phone calls from residents, the text-to-pay system can automatically send timely reminders to those with outstanding balances. This reduces the workload for court staff and frees up their time to focus on other critical tasks, such as handling cases and assisting residents with more complex issues.
• Enhanced Efficiency: Text-to-pay systems improve the overall efficiency of payment processing. With automated payment systems in place, court staff no longer need to deal with long lines or manual data entry, which can lead to costly delays. Moreover, residents can make payments from the comfort of their homes, eliminating the need to take time off work or wait in line at a courthouse.
• Long-Term Benefits: In the long run, a text-to-pay system can lead to sustained improvements in payment collection, which in turn helps municipalities avoid budget shortfalls. Government agencies that implemented digital payment solutions consistently report an increase in overall payment collection rates within the first year of adoption.

 

The Future of Court Payments with CSG Forte

As municipalities continue to explore ways to streamline operations and improve financial efficiency, the need for a reliable, secure and experienced payments platform has never been greater. Implementing simplified payment methods like text-to-pay is an essential step toward modernizing the court payment process, but choosing the right partner to deliver those solutions is equally important.

CSG Forte is a long-trusted payments provider for government agencies and businesses alike, offering a suite of features designed to ensure seamless and compliant payment processing. Our platform is built with the unique needs of government entities in mind, offering high levels of security, scalability and adherence to regulatory standards. With Forte, government agencies can confidently handle sensitive financial transactions while remaining in full compliance with state and federal regulations.

Among our many features, Forte provides:

• Text-to-pay: Allowing residents to pay their court fees or fines quickly and easily via SMS, improving payment collection rates.
• Omnichannel payment solutions: Supporting payments across mobile, web and in-person channels, ensuring flexibility for residents and ease of access.
• Robust security and compliance: Ensuring all transactions meet the strictest security standards, including PCI-DSS compliance, while adhering to government regulations.
• Seamless integration: Our platform integrates effortlessly with existing court management systems, ensuring a smooth transition and minimal disruption.

Choosing the right payments partner is essential to ensuring a smooth, reliable and efficient payment experience. With Forte, local governments can not only modernize their payment systems but also provide residents with an intuitive, secure and accessible way to settle their dues.

Ready to explore how Forte can help your office streamline payment processing? Download our ebook to learn more about the advantages of partnering with a trusted payments provider like Forte. Then contact our experts to find out how our solutions can transform your payment systems.