Following a three-year high 6.1% inflation rate in June, Filipino consumers are tightening their belts due to the rising prices of basic commodities and transport costs. With Filipino households expecting higher prices for food and utilities in the coming months, GCash, the leading e-wallet app in the country, now makes it possible for users to avoid the hassle of having their utilities cut and give them more time to pay for their bills if they don’t have enough funds during the due date.
As part of its broader efforts to democratize Filipinos’ access to financial services, GCash is enabling the use of GCredit, its mobile credit line, to its Pay Bills feature, allowing consumers to settle their bills even without a credit card or a bank account.
The Pay Bills feature on the GCash app currently allows users to pay for their utilities such as electricity, water, credit card and other services from over 1,600 billers using their GCash balance. Through the availability of GCredit for select billers, GCash users may now settle their bills on time when current cash on hand is limited.
Multiple bill payments in one app
GCash has also expanded its network of billers to over 1,600 partners, making it easier for consumers to settle multiple billers without leaving the app. Basic utilities, such as electricity, water, cable TV, internet, and telecom services, can all be paid through the app as GCash has partnered with national and regional utilities providers and cooperatives to provide Filipinos all over the country with a convenient way of paying bills. This includes Angeles Electric, Iloilo 1,2 and 3 Electric Cooperatives, Cebu 2 Electric Cooperative, Inc., Davao del Sur Electric Cooperative, Davao Light, La Union Electric Cooperative, and Pampanga I and II Electric Cooperatives..
Aside from utilities and dues, Pay Bills on GCash also covers national and local government services, such as NSO and NBI, where users can settle payments for documents such as birth or marriage certificates and NBI clearance. Settling taxes with BIR, as well as paying for real estate and business taxes with select local government units, is also made possible as GCash has partnered with local government units. LGUs that accept GCash as payment method include Angeles City and San Fernando, Pampanga; Cauayan City, Isabela; Tagbilaran City, Bohol; Lapu-lapu City, Cordova and Mandaue City, Cebu; Upi, Maguindanao; Oton, Iloilo; San Miguel, Tarlac; and Tagum City, Davao.
Aside from one-time payments, monthly contributions for SSS and Pag-IBIG Fund can also be done through Pay Bills feature. See the complete list of billers here: https://www.gcash.com/partners/billers
Convenience at a fraction of the cost
With minimal additional fees, GCash provides a convenient and secure way for users to settle bills without the need to visit bayad centers or multiple offices. Since GCash generates an electronic receipt through SMS and email after each Pay Bills transaction, users don’t have to worry about losing or damaging physical receipts as their proof of payment is stored safely in their mobile phone.
The Pay Bills service on GCash also allows users to save their billing details so they no longer have to input their account number and contact information each time they need to settle their monthly payments. Users can also set reminders for their next payment date through the Pay Bills feature, so they can avoid penalties and interest rates that may increase when payments are missed.
Safe and secure transactions
GCash is regulated by Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and all billers in the Pay Bills service are verified to be legitimate. GCash also ensures it has stringent security measures in place to prevent scams from unverified payment agents.
To pay for bills via GCash, users may access the Pay Bills icon through the dashboard, or find it under ‘Other Services.’ They may input the biller name on the search bar or choose from different categories under Pay Bills. Users should then input their billing details, choose their payment option and verify the transaction.
GCredit is only available for fully-verified users who have enough GScore, a trust score based on a GCash user’s activity, such as maintaining a GCash balance, regular cash-in and cash-out, paying bills, sending money and paying for online purchases through GCash.