Paying Filing Fees in ECF with Pay.gov
  Users will be automatically directed through the Department of the Treasury's Internet payment process when filing any pleading which requires a fee. Once the payment has been successfully completed, users will automatically return to the filing process.

Users will be presented with a payment information screen that includes the cardholder name, address and payment type (Figure 1).

The cardholder name, first address line and zip code default to the values shown in the CM/ECF utilities: Maintain Your ECF Account.

The payment amount field will be populated with the current fee.

 
 


Figure 1 - Payment Information

  
     
  Special Notes:
  • Fields marked with an asterisk are required fields.
     
  • The Billing Address field is marked as required; however, this address does not have to be the credit card billing address. It only matters that an address be in that field. The Billing Address field will be pre-populated with the user's address from CM/ECF but may be changed. Changing the billing address does not make an address change in ECF.
  • When filling in the payment information, do not use hyphens or spaces in the Card Number.

Clicking the “Continue with Plastic Card Payment button presents the user with a summary screen shown in Figure 2, below.

 

  
 


Figure 2 - Summary Screen

  
 

 
**WARNING**
Pressing the “Submit Payment” button more than once may result in multiple transactions being processed.

In order to receive a transaction receipt for reconciliation with credit card statements, users must enter a valid email address on this screen. This email has a tracking ID number which is the only means the Helpdesk has to identify your particular transaction should a problem arise.

Carefully review the payment information and be sure to check the authorization box. Then click on the “Submit Payment” button. The user will be automatically returned to complete the ECF filing session.

If the email address you entered is correct you will receive a receipt via email (Figure 3)

 


Figure 3 - E-mail Receipt


Figure 4 - Notice of Electronic Filing [NEF]
Review of Payments:

Internet fees and payments may be reviewed by using the Internet Payment History option on the CM/ECF Utilities menu.

The list includes all payments of charges incurred via Pay.gov and may be viewed for a specified date range.

 


Figure 5 - Internet Payment History
Payment Errors:
  • If processing of a payment is unsuccessful, an error screen will appear. PRINT THIS ERROR SCREEN or write down the complete message and call 803-253-3137 for assistance.

    •  
  • Go to the Utilities menu and select the hyperlink for Internet Payment History to review completed payments if you are not sure your payment was successfully completed.
Filing Errors:
  • If you realize you have made a filing error after the payment process is complete, i.e. you have pressed "Submit Payment," abort the filing transaction and call the ECF Help Line at the divisional office nearest to you during business hours to arrange a refund.

 
Technical Failures:
  • If there is a technical failure with the payment module the filing session will be aborted. Please refer to the ECF User Manual Chapter and the ECF Policies and Procedures.
  • Planned Pay.gov maintenance/upgrade outages will be posted on the court's internet site. Usual maintenance takes place on Sunday between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. EST.
 
  To see a video demonstration of how Pay.gov will work in ECF, click here [Requires Macromedia Flash Player 7 or higher].  
 

For toll-free ECF telephone support, you may call the divisional
office nearest to you during regular business hours:

Scranton: 866-263-8479
Harrisburg: 866-333-3261
Williamsport: 866-736-3914