Where to pay utility bills for an apartment without commission? Payment acceptance points

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Payment for housing and communal services is one of the obligatory lines in the expenses of citizens. In timely fulfilling the obligations to deposit funds into the account of suppliers, it is important to choose the right place to pay for utilities. Some companies charge a fee of 5% or more of the payment amount, others transfer funds to the account after a few days, which causes inconvenience to payers.

Why choose payment methods for utility bills?

Utilities must be paid on time, otherwise users face fines or disconnection for non-payment. Wanting to make payments quickly and with minimal interest to an intermediary, residents periodically look for new companies where it will be most convenient for them to pay utility bills.

Utility payment options

But before choosing a supplier, it is recommended that you readwith all methods of transferring funds to the account of housing and communal services:

• Cash contribution at the cash desk of the organization.
• Transfer via bank transfer.
• Payment in "single windows" of housing and communal services.
• Transfer funds at terminals of financial institutions.
• Mobile transfer.
• Using electronic payment methods: online cash registers and wallets.
• Online banking.

Cash payment at the supplier's checkout

The easiest way to save money on intermediary commissions is to deposit them at the cash desk of a service representative. To do this, you need to find out the address of the supplier and come with a document for payment, observing the operating hours of the enterprise.

For example, where you can pay for utilities in Almaty of the KSK "Dom" company, the client can find out on the front side of the receipt. The document also contains contact details (phone, email).

The advantage of this payment method is the absence of commission for transferring funds. When depositing money at the cash desk, there are no intermediary services, so the entire amount transferred by the client goes to the supplier's account.

But this option is inconvenient for residents whose houses are serviced by several utility companies. To pay for each of them, you need to visit several offices, which can be located in different parts of the city. This will incur additional travel costs and take 1.5 hours or more.

Intermediary banks in paying utility bills

Customers do not use banking servicesonly for registration of cards and credits. Transfer to the utility account is also in demand among visitors to the financial institution.

Unlike providers, the benefit for banks when transferring funds is a possible commission for the service provided. It may include a minimum amount, for example, from 50 rubles or a percentage of the transfer (0.5% or more).

Sometimes the transfer to the supplier's account is carried out without commission. In such cases, customers do not have to worry about where it is better to pay utility bills.

No bank commission is not a permanent advantage: receipts are paid without interest only if the supplier has entered into an agreement with the company. Under the agreement, the obligation to pay the commission is assumed by the company whose account belongs to the branch of the bank.

When sending funds at the bank, the transfer arrives within 48 hours. In most cases, money is credited the next day after sending. The client is given a confirmation of the payment made in the form of a check, which indicates the supplier, the date of the operation, the amount and the amount of the possible commission.

Banks are one of the most common options where you can pay for utilities, as depending on the financial institution, the size of the commission and the speed of transferring funds will differ. The leader in accepting payments from individuals is Sberbank PJSC: more than 1.2 million citizens use its bill payment services every day.

"Unitedwindows" - an alternative to bank offices

If a client does not want to pay utility bills at a branch of a credit institution, he can contact companies specializing in accepting payments from citizens. These are the so-called "Single Windows".

Companies, unlike banks, do not engage in additional promotion of their products: they make a profit through intermediary transactions related to transfers. This is an additional option where customers can pay utility bills without commission and long queues.

The disadvantage of this method is its remoteness: unlike the variety of banks, there are several times fewer branches of the One Stop Shop in cities, so many payers have difficulty finding an organization.

Like banks, "Single Windows" do not guarantee payment of all bills without commission, but the list of companies, when paying for the details of which interest is not charged, is larger by 10-20%. This is one of the most profitable options for paying utility bills in Moscow: the number of branches in the capital is 12 times greater than in cities with a population of less than 300,000 people.

Payment for utility services at terminals

Payment terminals have been used since 2016 not only as a way to top up mobile phones and online wallets. Gradually, their functionality expanded significantly, and one of the new features was the receipt of funds to pay utility bills.

The advantage of the method is its geography: payment terminalsinstalled in 9 out of 10 shopping malls, 75% of municipal buildings and 36% of large stores. For payment, you can use both a bank card and cash.

This is a modern option where you pay utility bills (in St. Petersburg, for example) when it is not possible to visit post offices. The disadvantage of this method is an increased commission: when transferring to the supplier's account in the terminal, up to 10% is charged, including the minimum threshold (for example, 10 rubles).

Terminals also do not have a wide list of companies: it includes only large providers of housing and communal services, for example, Gazprom or Mosenergosbyt.

Using mobile applications of banks and other financial companies

The modern method of transferring funds to pay utility bills is associated with the use of applications for smartphones. These are mobile versions of online banking or payment companies. They are distinguished by convenient functionality, free maintenance and additional features, such as printing the transaction history.

Money transfer using a mobile application is an online transfer that is credited to the supplier's account from 1 minute to 24 hours. Fast payments are convenient for both the client and the bank: the payer instantly gets rid of the debt, and the intermediary receives a commission.

In most banks, when using applications for smartphones, the commission is charged less than when paying at a bank office: from 0.5%up to 2%. For example, when making payments in the mobile version of Sberbank Online, the maximum commission is 1%, and when paying for utilities at a bank office, it reaches 3%.

Electronic money when paying for utilities

WebMoney, QIWI or "Yandex. Money" have long ceased to be used only as an additional wallet. Electronic services are a great option where you can pay utility bills without commission.

Unlike banks and other payment acceptance companies, transferring funds using e-wallets is almost instantaneous. In this case, the sender has a confirmation of the operation in the form of an electronic check. The document can be printed and used in case of disputes as proof of payment.

The convenience of the method is its versatility:

• Fast money transfer.
• Ability to use the template for subsequent payments.
• Low commission - from 0% to 3%.
• A large number of service providers. In addition to the list of companies represented, the payer can independently add new payment details or transfer funds using the specified parameters.

Internet banking for utility bills

Pay utility bills conveniently and quickly using Internet banking. This is an online version of the company's office, which simplifies the procedure for transferring funds to the supplier's account.

Online banking is popular among financialorganizations that actively use plastic cards. To enter the system, you need to enter a username and password, and transactions are confirmed using codes sent by SMS from the bank. Online banking also has the ability to save templates and print receipts confirming payments.

Cooperation between housing and communal services companies and banks allows customers to make payments regularly and without commissions. This is beneficial for users who have not decided where to pay for utilities without additional expenses for the budget.

The disadvantage of online banks is the possibility of unauthorized access to card data: if customers have lost or voluntarily transferred their passwords to third parties, fraudsters can use the funds on the owner's accounts.