Post Office drops e-payments

The U.S. Postal Service has dropped an online bill payment service that it had offered through CheckFree Corp. until last week. Without explanation, USPS officials said they would end the service May 1.

Customers were told they could continue paying their bills online through CheckFree's secure WebPay service for the same fee and level of service.

USPS officials were unavailable for comment.

Lawmakers will soon consider questions such as whether online bill payment is a bona fide postal service or whether USPS should stay out of the business. The House Government Reform Committee plans to introduce legislation later this month that Rep. Tom Davis (R-Va.), the committee's chairman, has said will define postal services and revise USPS' authority to regulate its competitors.