How To Pay Credit Card Bills Through IMPS

• The first step is to download the mobile application of your banking institution. For instance, you have to download the mobile application of ICICI Bank if you hold a bank account with this banking entity.
• Once you download the mobile application, you have to login to mobile banking using credentials.
• Click the ‘Bank Account’ button. You shall be provided with a link for the IMPS payment option.
• Click the ‘IMPS’ button and choose the ‘Merchant Payment’ button.
• Furnish the necessary financial details such as MMID, the contact number of billers, and your bank account from which funds are transferred, the billing amount, and your credit card number.
• Finally, hit the ‘confirm’ button. The transaction is successful!

Pay Credit Card Bill Online through BillDesk

• BillDesk is an online payment platform which allows you make credit card bill payments without having any online account.
• Many banks and credit card issuers use the platform to offer easy and convenient bill payment services for their customers not using the net banking facility.
• Through BillDesk, you can pay credit card bills of any bank using a debit card or net banking account of partner banks.
• The BillDesk platform of each bank is unique and provides different payment options. You can visit the respective payment page for the list of banks allowed for net banking transactions or debit card transactions.
• The screenshot below illustrates HDFC Credit Card BillDesk page along with the list of banks it accepts for bill payment.

Pay Credit Card Bill using Mobile wallets and Payment systems

• The recent entrants in the industry, mobile wallets and payment systems, started offering credit card bill payment option on their platforms.
• Paytm, Mobikwik, PhonePe, BHIM/UPI, etc., are some mobile payment platforms that provide credit card bill payment facility.
• No separate registration is required on these platforms to make payments. You just need to download the app, link your debit card or savings account, recharge the wallet, enter your credit card details and make the payment.
• This screenshot illustrates the credit card bill payment interface on Paytm.

Pay Credit Card Bill Online through Auto Debit Facility

Credit Card payment processing time – On the payment due date

• If you have a net banking account for your savings account, you can register for the auto debit facility and can rest assured about your credit card dues.
• The auto debit facility allows you to provide standard instructions to your savings or current account-holding bank to debit the credit card bill on the same day every month.
• While registering for the facility, you can choose either the minimum amount due or the total amount due.
• You can register for the facility through your net banking account or by sending a written request to the bank.
• Once registered, the auto debit facility will become effective from the immediate credit card payment due date.
• The amount will be credited instantly on the payment due date every month.

Methods to Pay Credit Card Payment Offline

When you don’t have access to the internet, you can use any one of the offline methods to make your credit card payment.

Listed below are various non-internet ways to make your credit card bill payment.

• By calling customer care
• By walking in to a bank ATM
• Over-the-counter payment
• By drawing a cheque or demand draft

Let’s look at each method in detail.

Pay Credit Card Bill Offline by Calling Customer Care

Credit Card payment processing time – Instant

• Some credit card issuers or banks allow you to pay your credit card bill by calling the respective customer care. However, in order to use the channel, you must have a savings or current account with the card issuer or the bank.
• If your bank account and credit card are from the same issuer, you can call the customer care to pay your credit card bill.
• In most cases, the IVR would guide you through the payment process without human intervention. Hence, your card details and other information remain secure.
• However, not all card issuers would provide the facility. Check with your respective card issuer before making the payment.
• Payments made through the customer care are typically instant.

Pay Credit Card Bill Offline Through the ATM

Credit Card payment processing time – Instant

• If you have a debit card from your credit card issuer or bank, you can walk-in to the bank’s ATM to pay the credit card bill.
• Visit any nearest ATM of your credit card issuer with your debit card, insert your debit card into the ATM kiosk, select credit card bill payment option and follow the instructions to make credit card payment.
• Usually, the bill payment through ATM is instant as the amount gets transferred from your savings or current account to your credit card account.

Pay Credit Card Bill Offline at the Bank Branch Office

Credit Card payment processing time – 1 working day

• If your credit card issuer is a bank with a physical office, you can walk in to the nearest branch and make your credit card payment by depositing cash.
• Simply walk in to the respective bank branch, fill-in the deposit slip with your credit card details and the bill amount and submit it at the counter.
• The payment will be processed within 1 working day.
• Over-the-counter payments usually entail a service charge of up to Rs.100 per payment.

Pay Credit Card Bill Offline by Drawing a Cheque/DD

Another offline credit card payment method is to draw a cheque or demand draft (DD) in favour of the credit card account and drop it at any bank branch or ATM drop box.

The cheque or draft should favour the respective credit card account (write the 26-digit credit card number on the cheque) and it should also contain your name and contact number on the reverse side.

If your cheque issuing bank and the card issuer are the same, your cheque will be processed within 3 working days, if they are not the same, it will take 5 working days, outstation cheques will be cleared in 12 – 21 working days.

Hence, make sure to pay your bill in accordance to the cheque clearing timelines so that the payment would reflect on or before the due date.

Benefits of Paying Credit Card Bills Online

• Saves time and effort: Paying your credit card bill online is quick and easy. It saves a lot of time which you would’ve otherwise spent on visiting the bank or ATM.
• Convenience and comfort: Online payments can be done from the comfort of your own home or office. You can also make payments through your mobile or computer from anywhere around the world.
• Safe and secure: Online Banking is secure with the IPIN or other ways of authenticating your identity. Banks provide safety features that ensures your privacy and identity are protected. It eliminates the risk of losing money or information in the mail or anywhere else.
• Easy records: When you use online banking facilities, everything is recorded instantly and is available for your review anytime you need. All your information is automatically organised and available at one place. This makes it convenient when you’re budgeting and filing taxes.
• More control: You can choose to pay the minimum due, the full amount or any amount that you desire when you pay your credit card bill online. You can change your choice with each bill.
• Eco-friendly: Making payments online saves paper, cheques, envelopes, stamps, and receipts. It also eliminates clutter when you receive all your statements and receipts electronically.

Important Tips While Making Online Payments:

• Check your credit card statement – Before you make any payments towards your credit card bill, check your online statement. Ensure all charges to the card are correct and note the exact amount you need to pay on the payment due date.
• Processing time – Always check the time it would take for your payment to be processed when you are paying your credit card bills. For payments made through the bank’s internet banking facility, the turnover time is usually the same day. So this option can be used to make payments on the due date without the risk of incurring a penalty. Other online methods can take 1 to 5 working days.
• Provide accurate information – Make sure you are accurate when entering your credit card number, bank account number and other details. Take the time to double-check the information you have provided and make the payment for the right amount.

Credit Card Billing Cycle

Credit card billing cycles refer to the period during which your credit card bill is generated. The transactions made on your credit card during the credit card billing cycle will reflect on your card statement.

For example, if your credit card statement is generated on the fourth day of every month, then your credit card billing cycle will start on the fifth day of the previous month and will end on the fourth day of the current month. All the transactions made during this period will reflect on your credit card statement generated on the fourth day of the month. It is important to note that credit card cycle may vary between 27-31 days and may vary from bank to bank and the type of card availed.

How Does a Billing Cycle Work?

The billing cycle starts the day your card is activated. Depending on your credit card, even though you may not have made any transaction, the card may charge activation fee which will reflect on your statement generated next month. In case you are looking to transfer your balance to your credit card, then all the previously completed transactions get added to it. Other charges such as EMIs, finance charges, fuel surcharge waiver, amount refunded, etc. will all reflect on your next month statement. It is your duty to ensure you pay the credit card for the bill generated during the cycle.

Once you make any transactions on the 6th day of the month, then the bill for it will be generated in the next month’s bill for which you will have more time to pay.