Centrepay - how exactly does it work?

[Shanaynay]

Hi all :wave:

I've hear about Centrepay, how exactly does it work?

So say you wanted to Centrepay your phone bill and electricity bill, how does it work........ say you get your phone bill, it's $100, and it's due next fortnight, does that mean that next fortnight your pay from CL will be $100 less? Or is it taken out gradually?

Thanks!

[Lirael]

nope each fortnight an amount gets taken out. say $20. then when you get the bill it will be cheaper. say the bill is $100 and you have had two $20 payments taken out, your bill will be $60 instead.(eg of a monthly bill) for elec etc thats 3 monthly you will get $120 off your bill(6 payments of $20) and if your bill is less, it will be a credit to your next bill.

ETA its almost the same as the company themselves direct debiting your account, except you never actually get the money with centrepay so you cant accidentally spend it KWIM?

[Shanaynay]

Oh good, that sounds great!
So can you choose the amount you want taken out each fortnight for each bill then?

How do you know how much you have 'put away' for each bill iykwim... do you have to write it down, or does CL tell you each fortnight or something, or do you just wait till you get your bill to see how much you've paid of it?

[Lirael]

yeah you can choose how much and can do it with a few comapnies at one time. I would write it on something like calendar. if you usually get $300 you would just get $280(for a $20 deduction) so you will get used to it. and the company will write a list of the payments on the bill. also i think c link tells you in the beginning how much is being taken(and everytime they send a statement-i get one about every 3 weeks as my child support goes up and down)

[Shanaynay]

Ok cool, thanks so much, sorry for all the q's but I have just one more - does it get taken out of your FTB payments or the parenting payment? Or can you choose which one?

Also, do you know if you can pay telstra mobile bills with it, or just the home phone bill?

[Lirael]

you can choose, and i think you can pay telstra mobile? I use a prepaid mobile sorry
you need provider numbers account numbers and stuff. best to take the bills themselves in when you go do it :)

[Lirael]

oh and ring them first 136150 just to be sure you have all the stuff you need save you making more than one trip(i know I hate having to run around)

[bubbles & peanut]

I LOVE Centrepay! I use it for my rent payments. I love knowing that the money goes straight to the Real Estate, and the Rent Receipts are taken care of by someone else!

If you are registered for Centrelinks Online Services, you can add, edit and delete Centrepay deductions online.

[Amberlea]

Not all companies allow you to pay via centrepay .. you need to ring each company and make sure that they do it.
If they do - they will send you out a Centrepay form with their details already filled out, you just need to fill in your section and hand it in to Centrelink.

I pay my home phone and electricity this way - it's so much easier not having to worry about it.

[Shanaynay]

Thanks guys.
I'm pretty sure I'll be right for the phone and electricity, as that's just Telstra and Energy Australia, but not sure about my gas company... will have to check. I hope so!