Historically, people had to write checks to pay utility bills, such as electricity, piped gas, and telephone bills. Alternatively, they had to wait in long queues to make cash payments for these services. Moreover, people needed to ensure the payments were made before the due date to avoid service disruption.
In our information age, mobile devices are used by almost every individual. From their initial use, simply as a medium of communication, these devices now allow users to do much more. You can now use your mobile device to transfer funds, book tickets, get information, and pay utility bills.
Online Payment Methods
By choosing to pay utility bills online, you can eliminate the effort of having to go to the offices of each service provider, before the due date, to make the payment. It is an easier and more convenient way to ensure all the bills are paid in a timely manner. Some of the available options include:
- Net Banking: In addition to paying various utility bills, such as gas, electricity, or phone bills, net banking facilities can be used to recharge your Direct-to-home (DTH) service. Users must log in to their net banking account and register the biller to whom the utility bill payment needs to be made. You will need the account number and bill cycle details to successfully register the biller. Users will receive intimation about the bill payment that is due, when a service provider uploads a bill. Alternatively, you can provide standard instructions for an auto-debit facility. The bill amount can then be automatically debited from your bank account 4 days before the due date
- Mobile Banking: Users who are constantly on-the-go can opt for the mobile banking utility bill payment service. Customers can add or delete billers to make payments using this feature. Using their mobile devices, the bill can then be paid before the due date, once the service provider uploads the bill. The bill amount can also be debited automatically on the due date, thanks to features like AutoPay.
- Phone Banking: Customers who have registered for the phone banking facility can pay their various utility bills through this medium. Users can make quick and easy payments to the registered billers using their registered phone numbers. Every major bank provides 24 x 7 customer care numbers. Customers can use the easy interactive voice response system (IVRS) to register the biller and pay outstanding bills from the convenience of their homes or offices.
Bills You Can Pay Online
- Telephone bills from Mahanagar Nigam, Tata, Reliance, and others
- Postpaid mobile phone bills of all operators in the country
- Piped Gas bills
- Electricity bills
- DTH recharge
Benefits of Mobile Payment
- Convenient: Traditional payment methods were extremely inconvenient, as one needed to travel and wait in queues to complete transactions. Moreover, each payment had to be made at a different location, which was inefficient and inconvenient. With the option to make a utility bill payment online, all of this hassle is eliminated instantly. Bills of every service provider can be paid from the comfort of your home or office.
- Quicker: Users needed to wait for long hours to make payments using the older methods. With the online payment option, the entire transaction can be completed within minutes.
- Secure: Physical bill payment of the past had some inherent risks, as there is always a risk of loss or theft when handling cash. This risk is eliminated with online payments, while cyber security has also been greatly strengthened. The payment gateways provided by different banks are completely safe and secure. Users don’t need to worry about their personal or banking information falling into the wrong hands.
Most public and private sector banks like SBI, HSBC, and Kotak Bank offer such services. Among the pioneers in the use of technology for financial services, Kotak provides its customers with a variety of options for making utility bill payments.
Rachita Kotian is an independent blogger and writing has been her passion for a long time. A literature major, she loves exploring the world of health, lifestyle, travel and finance. When she’s not writing, she’s most likely listening to music, cooking, surfing the web, or catching up on the latest flick.
