ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS FOR UTILITY COMPANIES

NDMS offers complete solutions for utilities companies. We offer the utility sector a comprehensive range of payment processing solutions that allow transactions to be completed in real time, either on-line or by call center agents while the customer is on the telephone. We also provide a recurring payments service, the ideal solution for businesses that need to process set or varying transaction amounts for individual customers on a recurring basis. Transactions can be uploaded via an integrated system or using our virtual terminal option. Our systems support multiple file types and you can choose to add additional transaction information to support your business’s reporting requirements. In addition, we provide multi-currency options, which allow you to process in a number of leading currencies.

Whatever your requirements we have a solution to meet your needs.

  • Recurring payments service
  • Increased revenue through cost reduction
  • Fully secure processing
  • Supports multiple file types
  • On-line reporting
  • Multi-currency
  • Accept payments at your location, online, by telephone or in the field
  • Manage your financial information with state-of-the-art reporting options

Reduced transaction fees

Many utilities launched credit card payment options following marketing efforts by Visa and MasterCard in 2005. Credit card payment processing networks began offering special rates to utility companies to help remove one of the major roadblocks to credit card use for recurring monthly utility bills.

Other factors fueling the credit card acceptance boom for utilities:

  • More payment options.  Industry experts say consumers – now accustomed to buying everything from burgers to blue jeans with plastic – are demanding more options for paying routine, recurring bills.
  • Convenience. Online billing and payments are more convenient than writing checks, hunting down stamps – which continue to increase in cost – or walking up to payment windows.
  • Rewards. Debit and credit card rewards programs that offer points and cash back based on the amount of credit card use have grown in popularity, which is another incentive to put routine bills on plastic.
  • The economy. Some families may be hard-pressed to come up with utility bill payments because their overall living expenses have increased dramatically compared to previous years.  As the economy slows downs and utility bills rise with the price of oil, homeowners may look toward credit cards as options to pay utility expenses.

Recurring payments

Today, many businesses as well as consumers are looking for ways to make paying bills more convenient.  And, chances are, many of them are your customers. Recurring payments—when your customer authorizes you to bill a card account monthly, quarterly, or annually—can give them the convenience they want.  Payment amounts can be fixed or fluctuate and payment agreements can exist indefinitely, providing the easiest way to ensure timely payment.  This also brings a host of benefits for you, including a significant competitive advantage.

Benefits to Merchants

  • Satisfy demand for payment card options
  • Reduce payment-related customer service calls
  • Improve cash flow and reduce exposure to lost payments and bad checks
  • Reduce delinquencies
  • Improve collections
  • Increase customer retention

Benefits to Cardholders

  • Convenience of setting up account payments once
  • Time savings from writing fewer checks
  • Relief from stress, knowing bills are paid on time
  • Cost savings on postage
  • Earning points/frequent flyer miles in eligible rewards programs