Hassle-Free Ways to Pay Bills and Recurring Expenses

5 Hassle-Free Ways to Pay Bills and Recurring Expenses
 

1. Mobile banking apps
   
   These days, banks are making their services available to customers via mobile apps. You can draw from your funds to settle your bills, loans, and other payables using your bank’s mobile app as long as you have it installed on your phone.
   
   To date, there are approximately 600 merchants listed on the BPI Mobile Banking App, which means most billers will accept the payments that you make via the app. Once you enroll a biller to your account, you can immediately start making payments directly with the app.
   
   Don’t worry; your transactions will only go through if there’s a one-time PIN provided, which you can receive on the mobile number you used to sign up for mobile banking.
   
   You can download the BPI Mobile Banking app from the App Store (for iOS devices) or Google Play (for Android devices).
   
   
2. Online banking services
   
   Sometimes, mobile banking apps are not available due to technical reasons or when it’s undergoing an upgrade. It’s also possible that you don’t want to install mobile banking apps on your phone for security.
   
   In such cases, the other way for you to access your bank account online is through your bank’s website. Typically, the web version has the same bills payment features and process as the mobile app, but the difference is you don’t need to download and install anything on your device.
   
   Pro tip: Drag this link to your browser’s bookmarks bar so that you can access BPI’s online banking services with just one click.
   
   
3. Meralco Online/Meralco Mobile App
   
   The country’s biggest electric power distribution company has online payment facilities, too—Meralco Online and Meralco Mobile App.
   
   Meralco Online lets you pay your monthly bill using your registered account or a guest account, while the Meralco Mobile App is linked to your mobile number.
   
   Here’s everything else you need to know when paying your Meralco bill online:
   
   
   • Use the funds from your debit card, credit card, or prepaid card to pay off your bill.
   • You can make partial payments, advance payments, or overpayments as long as your account is updated with no outstanding balance.
   • Payments made between 7 AM and 11 PM are posted in real-time on Meralco’s system, while those made outside of these hours or during holidays are credited the following day.
   • Meralco charges a fixed convenience fee of P47 for every transaction, regardless of the amount due or the number of bills you plan to settle.
     
     
   For web users, you can access Meralco Online here. For mobile users, you can download the Meralco Mobile app from the App Store (for IOS devices) and Google Play (for Android devices).
   
   
4. Mobile wallets
   
   Mobile wallets are another form of payment option in which a virtual wallet on your mobile stores your credit or debit card information.
   
   Your telecom service provider may have a dedicated mobile wallet app that you can use to pay bills for your utilities, cable subscription, online loans, and many other services as part of your monthly payables. You may or may not be charged with transaction fees, depending on your service provider or your biller.
   
   You can also send or transfer funds from your mobile wallet to those of your family or friends if you need to pay them for something.
   
   Topping up your virtual wallet isn’t also a problem as it can also be linked to your bank account. However, you also have the option to load it up at select establishments or local convenience stores. If you do freelance work, you can request your clients to send your salary or payout on your mobile wallet.
   
   
5. Auto-debit from credit card
   
   Auto-debit arrangements on your credit card are another method that you can add to your bills payment options. This alternative is ideal for recurring expenses with fixed amounts since you may forget to pay them off every now and then.
   
   If you have a BPI credit card, you can choose this method so that you never have to miss any payment for your bancassurance plans. Every month, BPI will automatically deduct from your credit card the amount that you specify, so you can keep your insurance premium up-to-date and enjoy continuous coverage.

The Best Payment Options Are Here

Paying bills need not be a hassle that you dread month after month. There’s a wide variety of channels and tools that you can use to schedule and complete your bills payment in a more convenient manner for you, as well as your billers.

Want more tips to manage your financial resources better? Check out our blog for more articles on personal finance and insurance.