Paying bills is something everyone hates to do, but have to. If you think lining up at the bank or a bills payment center is such a hassle, imagine how more difficult it was to our parents many years ago. They had to go to each utility company’s office like Meralco and PLDT just to pay their bills.
So consider yourself lucky to be in this digital age when practically everything can be done online, including bills payment. You can pay bills online anywhere and anytime using your mobile device with an internet connection. No more missed due dates and penalty fees!
You can pay bills online—including utilities, credit card bills, government fees, tuition, loans, and insurance premiums—using a mobile wallet, mobile app, or a website of an established bills payment center in the Philippines.
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Advantages of Paying Bills Online
Online banking allows you to do banking and other financial transactions through secured websites or mobile apps. Being able to pay bills online means that you eliminate the hassle of having to leave a comfortable spot just to get something done. Here are some of the benefits to paying your bills online.
No commute
Because your bank is within reach via your smartphone or desktop, you save time, energy, and transportation money. Even if payment centers are a few blocks away, paying bills online means you won’t have to leave your home for a task that simple.
No tellers
Long lines at banks or payment centers tend to take forever and as a result, you spend most of your day just settling your bills. Taking the process online eliminates the middle man by paying directly to your service providers.
Global access
You can access your bills anywhere. With a stable connection, paying your bills and accessing your account can be hassle-free. You can also pay your bills from anywhere in the world, as long as you connection and system is secure.
Read more:
- Guide to Paying Electricity Bills with Meralco Online
- Steps to Check and Pay for Your Maynilad Water Bill Online
Bills Payment Websites
Online Banking Services
Bills you can pay: A wide range of utilities, credit cards, loans, and government contributions
Payment methods: Credit card and direct debit from savings/checking account
Do you have a savings account, checking account, or credit card? If you pay different types of bills, using your bank’s electronic banking facility is the most convenient option. Bills payment services of online banking channels in the Philippines enable customers not only to pay bills online but also schedule their payments, so they won’t miss a due date.
Before you can pay bills online through your bank, sign up for an online banking account first. Once you’ve set up and activated your account, enroll each biller within the online banking system. After successful enrollment, you can start paying bills immediately.
Bancnet Online
Bills you can pay: A wide range of utilities, credit cards, telecommunications, internet and cable services, insurance companies, PSA Helpline, and more
Payment method: ATM card/Direct debit from savings/checking account
Bills payment via Bancnet Online (1) is quite similar to that of online banking services, except that you don’t have to enroll the billers. You can pay bills online via Bancnet if you have a savings or checking account with one of its member banks (2). Payments are posted on the same day.
When paying your bills through Bancnet Online, you’ll be asked to enter sensitive information such as your ATM card number and PIN. Avoid making such a transaction using public Wi-Fi or a computer in an internet cafe to avoid getting scammed online.
Bayad Center Online
Bills you can pay:
- Electricity: Meralco, APEC, Batelec, BENECO, Davao Light, VECO, etc.
- Water: Manila Water, Maynilad, Laguna Water, PrimeWater, San Jose Water District, Sta. Lucia Waterworks, etc.
- Landline: BayanTel, Globe, PLDT, etc.
- Mobile postpaid: Globe, Smart, Sun, and Digitel
- Government: DFA, NBI, Pag-IBIG, PSA Helpline, POEA, etc.
- Internet: Smart, Sky Cable, Sun Broadband Wireless, etc.
- Financial services: Global Dominion Financing, Home Credit, etc.
- Real estate: Camella Homes, Carissa Homes, Bria Homes, etc.
- Cable TV: Cignal TV, Sky Affiliates, CableLink, etc.
- Tuition: Adamson University, APEC Schools, and Asian College
- Memorial plans: Eternal Gardens Memorial Park, Eternal Plans, and Manila Memorial Park
Payment methods: All major credit cards
Bayad Center, a subsidiary of Meralco, has an online payment service (3) that lets you pay bills whether you’re in the Philippines or abroad. Even OFWs can make overseas bills payments themselves through Bayad Center Online instead of sending remittances back home just for settling their family’s bills.
Bayad Center Online accepts only payments made on or before the due date. Overdue payments are not accepted.
Bills payments made using Bayad Center’s online platform are posted to billers within 24 hours or one business day. There’s a cut-off time of 8 p.m., which means your payment will be posted on the next day if it doesn’t make it to the cut-off.
Meralco Online
Bills you can pay: Meralco
Payment methods:
- Credit and debit cards (Mastercard, Visa, and JCB)
- Prepaid cards (GCash, PayMaya, and Smart Money)
This payment service is a great option if you’re paying only your Meralco bill every month. To pay bills online, you can either create a Meralco Online account or pay as a guest.
Meralco Online (4) accepts partial payments (as long as the full amount is paid by the due date), advance payments, and overpayments (if the account has no outstanding balance). For more convenience, those with a Meralco Online account may enroll in the auto-payment arrangement that automatically deducts the bill amount from their bank account for payment to Meralco or charges the bill to their credit card every month.
Online payments are posted immediately to Meralco’s system, as long as they’re made between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. Payments made from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. and during holidays are posted in the morning of the next day.
Read more: No More Bill Shock: How to Compute Your Meralco Bill and Electricity Consumption
Pag-IBIG Online Payment Facility
Bills you can pay: Pag-IBIG contributions and loans, including the following:
- Pag-IBIG regular savings
- MP2 savings
- Housing loan
- Multi-purpose loan
- Calamity loan
Payment methods: Credit cards (Mastercard, Visa, and JCB) and PayMaya
Instead of spending hours waiting in line at a Pag-IBIG branch or an accredited payment center, you can complete your Pag-IBIG Fund transactions online using your credit card or PayMaya card.
Simply go to the Pag-IBIG Online Payment Facility (5) and fill out the payment slip with your Pag-IBIG membership information and credit card payment details. You may choose to receive the payment confirmation via SMS or email.
Note that the system accepts only on-time and advance payments. Late, overdue, or retroactive payments should be settled at any Pag-IBIG branch.
Globe Paybill
Bills you can pay: Globe products and services, including Globe Postpaid and Platinum, At Home, Landline, and myBusiness and Globe Business.
Payment methods: Credit card (Mastercard and Visa) and GCash
Globe Telecom has its own online payment service (6) that allows its mobile postpaid and broadband subscribers to easily pay their or someone else’s bills without having to log in to the Globe website.
Payments made through Globe Paybill are posted to the subscriber’s account on the same day. Even if you pay on the exact due date, your bill will be considered paid on time.
PayPilipinas
Bills you can pay:
- SSS: Contributions, Flexi Fund, short-term loan, and real estate loan
- Pag-IBIG: Regular contribution, MP2, housing loan, and short-term loan
Payment method: Directly from the PayPilipinas Wallet
A common challenge that OFWs face is making timely and consistent payments to government agencies like the SSS and Pag-IBIG, as their overseas branches are few and can be very far from where they’re based.
Good thing, there are web-based services like PayPilipinas (7) that let Filipinos pay bills online from anywhere in the world. To start making bills payments via PayPilipinas, you have to create an account and top it up through your credit card (Mastercard or Visa) or the company’s partner remittance agents and banks in the Philippines.
Once you’ve funded your PayPilipinas account, you can already pay bills online in just a few clicks. Your government contribution or loan is considered paid on the day and time you transacted on the website, but it takes five days for SSS and Pag-IBIG to post payments.
Bills Payment Apps
Mobile Banking Apps
Bills you can pay: A wide range of utilities, credit cards, loans, and government contributions
Payment methods: Credit card and direct debit from savings/checking account
All banks in the Philippines have their respective mobile banking apps with a bills payment feature, allowing customers to pay their bills in just a few smartphone taps.
So if you have a bank account, check the bank’s official website for download links of its mobile app on Google Play Store or App Store. This way, you avoid downloading a fake app and falling for a mobile banking scam.
Meralco Mobile
Bills you can pay: Meralco
Payment methods: Credit, debit, and prepaid card (Mastercard, Visa, and JCB)
Meralco has its own online payment facility via a mobile app (8) that provides customers with 24/7 access to their Meralco account.
Aside from viewing and paying Meralco bills, the app also enables users to report a power outage or concern and check the power consumption of appliances. Those who prefer to make over-the-counter bills payments can find the nearest Meralco Business Center or Bayad Center branch.
If you’re having trouble using the Meralco app, you can contact its 24/7 hotline at 16211.
Bayad Center App
Bills you can pay:
- Electricity: Meralco, Aboitiz Power, Davao Light, BENECO, VECO, ILECO I, etc.
- Water: Maynilad, Manila Water, Prime Water, San Jose Water, Laguna Water, etc.
- Telco: Globe, PLDT, Smart, ABS-CBN Mobile, etc.
- Cable: Sky Cable, Cignal, Destiny Cable, etc.
- Government: NBI and POEA
Payment methods: Credit card, debit card, and PayPal
Bayad Center’s new and improved mobile app allows users to pay over 1,000 types of bills online. To deter fraud and unauthorized payments, the Bayad Center App (9) comes with security features, including one-time PIN (OTP) verification, four-digit mobile PIN, face recognition, and fingerprint scan. Its bill reminder feature is helpful for people who always forget their monthly due date.
The Bayad Center App can be used not only to pay bills online but also to perform other financial transactions, such as sending and receiving money as well as paying loans, traffic violation tickets, online transaction fees, and more.
CLiQQ App
Bills you can pay:
- Electricity: BENECO, Davao Light, VECO, etc.
- Water: Manila Water, Maynilad, Laguna Water, Prime Water, Subic Water, etc.
- Cable: Cablelink, Cignal, Sky Cable, etc.
- Credit cards: AUB, BPI, Metrobank, and Robinsons Bank
- Government: BIR, DFA, DTI, NBI, NSO Helpline, POEA, SSS, etc.
- Insurance: AXA Life, Cocolife, Medicard, PAMI Insurance, Paramount, etc.
- Telco: Converge, Globe, PLDT, Smart, Sun, etc.
- Airlines: Cebu Pacific, PAL, etc.
- Tuition: AMA OEd, Dragon Schools, and PhilSmile
Payment method: Cash
7-Eleven’s app for paying bills (10) works differently from other bills payment apps in the Philippines. After entering your bill’s account number, subscriber name, and payment amount in the CLiQQ app, it generates a barcode that you present at any 7-Eleven branch. The cashier scans the barcode, and you pay your bill in cash.
This bills payment app is convenient for anyone who doesn’t have a credit card, debit card, or mobile wallet and has easy access to a 7-Eleven store.
Moneygment App
Bills you can pay:
- Government: Pag-IBIG, PhilHealth, and SSS contributions and loans
- Electricity
- Water (including Maynilad, Manila Water)
- Cable TV (including Sky Cable)
- Communication and internet (including Globe, Smart, and PLDT)
- Credit cards
- Collection services
- Memorial plans
Payment Methods:
- Moneygment wallet
- Deposit to Bank/Online transfer (BDO, BPI, Metrobank, PNB, RCBC, BOC, Chinabank)
- ECPay
- 7-Eleven
- Dragonpay
- PayPal
Moneygment serves as a financial solution for unbanked Filipinos, freelancers, small to medium business owners, and OFWs. It aims to address financial inclusion through the provision of effective access to services that make one financially secure and resilient. You can use the Moneygment app to conveniently comply for your government dues & taxes, pay your bills & other utilities, and send money here in the Philippines.
Mobile Wallets
GCash
Bills you can pay:
- Electricity: Meralco, Davao Light, BATELEC 1, BATELEC 2, BENECO, VECO, etc.
- Water: Manila Water, Maynilad, Laguna Water, Subic Water, etc.
- Cable: Sky Cable, Destiny Cable, etc.
- Credit cards: BDO, Metrobank, PNB, EastWest Bank, Security Bank, UnionBank, etc.
- Telco: Globe, PLDT, Smart Bro, etc.
- Airline: Cebu Pacific and Jetstar
- Government: Pag-IBIG, SSS, BIR, PSA Helpline, MMDA, etc.
- Insurance: AXA Life, Ayala Life, Cocolife, Manulife, Philamlife, Prudential Life, etc.
- Tuition: Ateneo, Miriam College, APEC Schools, University of San Juan – Recoletos, etc.
Payment method: Directly from the GCash wallet
With the GCash app, you can pay 82 billers in the Philippines. Because GCash is a virtual wallet, it doesn’t require a credit or debit card. Instead, you top up your GCash wallet so that you have funds for paying your utility bills via the app. You can load GCash via PayPal, 7-Eleven, Globe Stores, Bayad Center, and more.
Read more: GCash App Guide: Everything You Need to Know
PayMaya
Bills you can pay:
- Electricity: Meralco
- Water: Maynilad, Manila Water, and Laguna Water
- Telco: PLDT, Smart, Globe, BayanTel, Sun Cellular, and ABS-CBN Mobile
- Cable: Cignal, Sky Cable, and Destiny Cable
- Government: Pag-IBIG, NSO, and NBI
Payment method: Directly from the PayMaya account
For its Pay Bills service, PayMaya partners with Bayad Center to enable its customers to conveniently pay for utility bills using their mobile phone.
Like GCash, the PayMaya app is a mobile wallet, so you have to top it up before you can use it for bills payment. Check this article for options to reload your PayMaya account.
If you encounter a payment issue using the app, you can contact PayMaya or Bayad Center through the following channels:
For wallet debiting issues:
- support@paymaya.com
- 845-7788
- 1-800-1084-57788
For non-posting of payment:
- support@bayadcenter.com
- 226-3000
- 0917-8363000 / 0920-9663000
- facebook.com/bayadcenterofficial
- twitter.com/bayad_center
Read more: [Battle of the Brands] PayMaya vs GCash: Which Mobile Wallet App is Right for You?
Coins.ph
Bills you can pay:
- Electricity: Meralco, Davao Light, ILECO 1, VECO, and CLPC
- Water: Manila Water, Maynilad, Laguna Water, and Subic Water
- Credit cards: BDO, BPI, Metrobank, Citibank, AUB, HSBC, Security Bank, etc.
- Telco: Globe, PLDT, Converge, Smart, Sun, Sky Broadband, ABS-CBN Mobile, etc.
- Cable: Cignal, Sky Cable, Cablelink, etc.
- Government: SSS, Pag-IBIG, NBI, DFA (passport fees), and NSO Helpline
- Tuition: Miriam College, La Salle Green Hills, and University of San Juan – Recoletos
Payment method: Directly from the Coins.ph Wallet
Coins.ph is primarily known as a digital currency exchange for buying and selling bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in the Philippines. It’s also an easy way to pay more than 80 billers in a wide range of categories.
Like other mobile wallets in the Philippines, Coins.ph requires adding funds before the user can perform financial transactions like paying bills. You can top up your Coins.ph account at 7-Eleven, Palawan Pawnshop, Cebuana Lhuiller, and over 33,000 locations nationwide.
Aside from saving time, you can also save money each time you pay your utility bills. Coins.ph offers a five-peso cashback for each unique bill payment that’s credited to the user’s mobile wallet.
Read more: Mobile Wallets in the Philippines for a Cashless Transaction
Final Thoughts
Convenient as it may be, paying your utility bills using an app may become a hassle if you fail to pay earlier than the due date. It takes two to three working days for a payment to be posted on the biller’s system. So paying on the due date is considered late payment, which some billers don’t accept. This is why some payments made using an app don’t reflect on the user’s utility account.
To avoid problems with your utility accounts, pay your bills three to five days in advance if you’re using a bills payment app. Also keep this in mind when you pay bills online.
Sources:
- (1) Bancnet Online
- (2) Bancnet Participating Banks
- (3) Bayad Center Online (Domestic/International)
- (4) Meralco Online
- (5) Pag-IBIG Online Payment Facility
- (6) Globe Paybill
- (7) PayPilipinas
- (8) Meralco Mobile (App Store/Google Play)
- (9) Bayad Center App (App Store/Google Play)
- (10) CLiQQ App
- (11) Moneygment App
With a goal to help Filipinos lead healthier financial lives, Moneymax regularly publishes tips and tricks on personal finance and lifestyle, among many other topics. For more finance-related news and articles, follow Moneymax on Linkedin.
