The Easiest Way to Pay Bills Later By Phone

Paying bills is an unavoidable part of life. But for many people, paying on time can be a real challenge. When money is tight or paychecks don’t line up with due dates, late fees and service interruptions are a constant threat. Thankfully, there are now services that allow you to pay bills later by phone in just a few minutes. These bill pay by phone services offer a flexible and convenient way to ensure your bills get paid on time, even when your bank account is running low.

What is Bill Pay By Phone?

Bill pay by phone services allow you to pay your monthly bills immediately while deferring the payment withdrawal from your bank account by a few weeks or a month. Here’s a quick rundown of how they work:

• Upload Bill: Simply snap a photo of your bill or input the payment details manually.

• Get Approved: The bill pay service reviews your information and approves your request, often in less than a day.

• Pay Service Fee You pay a small service fee and the bill pay company pays your bill in full immediately on your behalf

• Make Installments The bill pay service withdraws the total bill amount plus their fee from your bank account in 3-4 automatic installments over the coming weeks

It’s an extremely convenient way to ensure your essential bills like rent, utilities, phone, and more never go unpaid or incur late fees even if your current bank balance is low. The installments allow you to catch up without getting behind.

Benefits of Bill Pay By Phone

Bill pay by phone services offer a number of useful benefits:

• Avoid Late Fees: With bill pay by phone, your bills get paid on time, eliminating expensive late fees.

• Prevent Service Interruptions: Critical services like power and phone stay on since the bills are paid promptly.

• More Time to Pay: The installment plan gives you more time to have the money in your account to cover the full balance.

• Improve Credit: On-time payments are reported to credit bureaus, helping build your credit score.

• Simple & Fast: It only takes a few minutes to upload a bill and get approved by phone.

• Accessible: The automated systems allow you to take care of payments 24/7 by phone.

• Short-Term Solution: These services are designed for one-time or occasional use when money is tight.

For those who struggle to align due dates with pay dates, bill pay by phone can provide some much-needed flexibility and peace of mind.

How Bill Pay By Phone Services Work

Most bill pay by phone services follow a straightforward 4-step process:

1. Upload Bill

Start by snapping a photo of your paper bill or inputting the payment details manually on the bill pay service’s website or app. You’ll need to provide basic personal information as well.

2. Get Approved

The bill pay company will review your bill, personal details, bank account information and approve your request within 1 business day in most cases.

3. Pay Service Fee

Once approved, you’ll pay the bill pay service’s fee upfront, which is typically a flat rate like $6 per $100 paid. The bill pay company then uses this fee to immediately pay your bill in full on your behalf.

4. Make Installments

Over the next few weeks, the full bill payment plus the service fee is withdrawn from your bank account in 3-4 automatic installments on the payment dates you select.

It’s an extremely quick and convenient process that ensures critical bills get paid on time without any effort on your part. The installments allow you to smoothly cover the full balance.

Popular Bill Pay By Phone Services

There are a number of reputable bill pay by phone services to consider if you’re looking for an easy way to pay bills later. Here are some top options:

Willow

Willow is one of the most widely used bill pay by phone services. They cover bills up to $500 for first time customers with installments over 2-4 months. Willow charges a flat service fee of $6 per $100 paid. There are no hidden fees, interest, or credit checks. Willow also helps build credit by reporting on-time payments.

PayPal Credit

Formerly known as Bill Me Later, PayPal Credit lets you pay bills immediately while deferring the payment. You can submit bills through their website or app. PayPal Credit charges variable service fees based on creditworthiness and does perform a soft credit check. Integrates seamlessly if you already use PayPal.

Affirm

Affirm is another popular bill pay later provider. They offer 3, 6, or 12 month installment plans at 0% APR. Affirm charges no late fees but does perform a soft credit check. Affirm can be used for routine bills as well as large one-time expenses.

Can I Pay Bills Later By Phone Without Apps or Websites?

While most bill pay later services do require accessing their website or app to submit your bill, some do offer options to take care of the entire process directly over the phone.

For example, with PayPal Credit’s automated Bill Me Later phone system, you can call in at any time and use their voice prompts to check your balance, schedule a payment, make a payment, and access account statements. So it is possible to pay bills later with just a phone call.

However, for most providers, their website or mobile app will provide the smoothest experience for uploading bills, tracking installments, managing payments, etc. But phone support is always available if you ever need assistance.

Tips for Paying Bills By Phone

If you want to use a bill pay by phone service to ensure your essential bills get paid on time, here are some useful tips:

• Compare service fees – Costs vary so compare options to find the most affordable provider for your needs. Fees are usually based on amount paid.

• Link bank/debit card – Be sure to securely link a bank account or debit card to cover installments. Many don’t accept credit cards.

• Understand installment dates – Confirm the specific dates installments will be withdrawn to avoid overdrafts.

• Use autopay – Enroll in autopay through the bill pay service for installment payments to be automated.

• Monitor account – Periodically check your bill pay account to view upcoming payments and ensure accuracy.

• Pay on time – Be sure to have sufficient funds on installment dates or risk late fees from the bill pay provider.

The Bottom Line

Paying bills later by phone is an easy and stress-free way to keep your accounts in order, even when your personal finances might be tight. Services like Willow, PayPal Credit, and Affirm allow you to pay now and cover the full balance over time in completely manageable installments. This prevents late fees, maintains uninterrupted service, and helps build your credit history. If you occasionally come up short at bill time, paying bills by phone can provide the flexibility you need to stay current on your financial obligations. Give it a try for reliable bill management and greater peace of mind!