What household bills can you pay with a credit card?

jonnyenglish

I was wondering what household bills if any you moneysavers pay monthly with your credit cards? I know you can pay mobile monthly contract bills in this way but is there anything else such as broadband and other utility bills?

All I'm thinking is that cashback and other credit card rewards could be earned in this way instead of paying the bills via a debit card or direct debit.

Obviously this would require responsible spending and anybody paying their bills with a credit card would have to be aware of the risks when paying by way of a credit card continuous payment authority (CPA) rather than direct debit. Am I correct in thinking that direct debits can be cancelled by the account holder but CPA's have to be cancelled by the billing company.

jonesMUFCforever

I pay my water rates and telephone and gas bills online with a credit card.
I have a pre pay electric meter which I buy tokens from the local corner shop again with a credit card.

Up to now they don't charge extra and the 1% cashback on Egg Money helps.

Any

Many of the household bills - our gas, electricity and water for example gives us discount if we pay DD. I think it is £5 for gas for example, so there is no reward card giving me more than that.

Even DDs shouldn't be canceled by you. But can be. Basically if you are in contract with someone like mobile phone company and you just cancel DD at your bank, you will still be contractualy liable for the bill you run to date and any periods you signed yourself too. So you need to cancel your contract with the company and they will stop taking DD. If they don't then you cancel it at your bank, but you are covered as they were taking money after the cancelation.

elegant_elephant

I pay my council tax each month on my credit card.

Moggles_2

jonnyenglish wrote: »

I was wondering what household bills, if any, you moneysavers pay monthly with your credit cards? I know you can pay mobile monthly contract bills in this way, but is there anything else such as broadband and other utility bills?

Really depends on the utility provider. Some water & sewage companies accept credit card payments, as do electricity & gas suppliers. You can also pay your house insurance and telephone bills by credit card and some local authorities accept payment of council tax by credit card.

Moggles_2

jonnyenglish wrote: »

Anybody paying their bills with a credit card would have to be aware of the risks when paying by way of a credit card continuous payment authority (CPA) rather than direct debit. Am I correct in thinking that direct debits can be cancelled by the account holder, but CPAs have to be cancelled by the billing company?

Yes. A regular payment from a credit card is termed a continuous payment authority [CPA]. Once set up, you can’t cancel it. Neither can your credit card provider. Only the company you've arranged to pay can do this. Therefore, if you cancel the credit card and forget to notify the payee, payments will continue to be charged to the closed account. The first some people know about this is a letter from a debt collection agency. :eek:

Personally, I avoid CPAs where possible. I pay those providers who accept credit card payment online or over the phone or use DDs.

NickX

Yes I pay gas, electricity, water, TV licence and council tax on a Credit Card all with no surcharges.

It is quite handy when you have a nice 0% purchases deal or you are getting a decent amount of cashback.

Richard019

NickX wrote: »

Yes I pay gas, electricity, water, TV licence and council tax on a Credit Card all with no surcharges.

It is quite handy when you have a nice 0% purchases deal or you are getting a decent amount of cashback.

Once I have a cashback card I must look into this.

Unfortunately though my LA charges 3.75% (I think) for credit card payments on the Council Tax/Water rates so that has to be a slow stooze job (or a well timed lump sum on a new Amex card)

sicker

Lucky NickX. All these payments he makes by cc have an additional charge in my area especially the TV licence. I paid mine by cc but was charged an additional amount for the priveledge.

NickX

sicker wrote: »

Lucky NickX. All these payments he makes by cc have an additional charge in my area especially the TV licence. I paid mine by cc but was charged an additional amount for the priveledge.

Well I am fortunate with my local council and I may be able to save more by switching utility companies, but haven't because my existing suppliers accept Credit Cards with no surcharge.

With regard to the TV licence, I am surprised. This is a national thing and I pay online with my Credit Card and don't get charged a fee. How much extra did they charge you ?

clio

Does a 1 off payment with a credit card count as a CPA or does it take more payments before it,s recognised as a CPA!!