Payment of utility bills through mobile phone is gaining popularity in the country after the launch of services two leading telecom companies, users say.
Afifa Affreen, a private banker in the city, said the option to pay gas and electricity bills has kept her from standing in long lines in banks for the payment, which often consumes time and involves hasstle.
"Even, sometimes we fail to pay our electricity and gas bills in time, as both of us (she and her husband) are jobholders."
But following the introduction of mobile bill payment system, people can pay their bills regularly without going to the service points, she added.
Presently, only two operators - Grameenphone (GP) and Robi - are providing the bill payment facility. Of them, the leading mobile phone operation GP provides the service across the country, while Robi provides it in some selected zones.
GP's spokesman Syed Talat Kamal said: "We're the pioneering telephony firm that introduced the billing system in 2006. Until May 2014, a total of 26.79 million utility bills have been paid through our network."
He said the system, branded as Grameenphone Bill Pay Service, was initially introduced in the Chittagong region under an agreement with the Bangladesh Power Development Board (PDB).
GP users can register by sending an SMS to 1200 and create a bill payment account. After creating an account, they can pay utility bills from anywhere across the country through sending single SMS with substantially low charges.
He told the FE that clients of other mobile operators can also pay their utility bills through Bill Pay/Mobi Cash outlets, and they will receive confirmation by a return SMS.
According to the company, GP charges Tk 5 for paying bill up to Tk 400, Tk 10 for bill of Tk 401-1,500, Tk 15 for bill of Tk 1,501-5,000, and Tk 25 for bill of more than Tk 5,000.
"If someone pays from his/her own mobile, s/he simply needs to dial *777# to reconfirm. And no additional charge is needed for that," he said.
Customers can collect their bill statement from GP centres across the country, he also said.
Presently, the bill payment system is supported by PDB Chittagong, PDB Rajshahi, PDB Sylhet, DESCO, DPDC, Bakhrabad Gas Distribution Company, Karnaphuli Gas, Jalalabad Gas, Titas Gas, and Chittagong WASA.
"GP is not only providing the utility payment service, it also provides further assistance by mediating between the organisation concerned and the customer, if there is any inconvenience," the GP official noted.
Considering the demand of the service, Robi Axiata Limited, another leading mobile telephony firm, also introduced utility bill payment system in some selected regions of the country.
"Out of 6 regions of PDB's mobile electricity payment zones, Robi is currently offering the service in Rajshahi, Comilla and Mymensingh zones," Robi's spokesman Mohiuddin Babar said.
Claiming the response of the service very impressive, he said his company is working hard to expand the service across the country soon.
He also said Robi has recently won the right to collect PDB's electricity bills in Mymensingh region through a competitive tendering process, beating other mobile phone operators.
"The electricity bills, paid through Robi's system, will be updated on PDB's billing system on real time basis."
PDB clients may choose to pay their electricity bills either through Robi cash points or through their mobile phones, Mr Babar added.
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