I ask for your opinion on paying utility bills with a credit card. I am very frugal. I never charge more on my CC than I can pay off that month. I like obtaining points on my purchases and always use them toward my bill.
Presently I do not pay any utility bills with my CC. Is it a good idea?
I was going to do a poll but I hit enter too quickly.
I pay several bills with a credit card. The card is on auto-pay from my checking account so I don’t have to do anything to manage these bills.
One thing I recommend is to get a separate credit card for bills. I used to use the same card I used for purchases but about once a year the card would be compromised and they would issue me a new card with a new number. I then had to go to every bill I was paying with the card and update the number. I now use a card that is only for bills and I never hand it to anyone or use it for online purchases. It’s much less likely that it will ever be compromised.
My gas/electric supplier charges a $3.95 “convenience” fee to pay by credit card. I suspect yours charges something similar. If so, it does not make any sense. If they don’t charge extra, then its a good idea.
If you are already in the habit of paying your credit card off every month, and have been doing so for years, then it’s unlikely that putting your phone bill on your card will send you into consumer debt. As mentioned just double check there aren’t fees.
Off the top of my head I have cell phone, house phone (yes we have a house phone) and netflix on my CC. Cable/internet goes to my husband’s card. We pay everything off every month.
Right, that fee can counter some rewards, so its one of few times where I don’t go that route.
For most everything else, I throw it on the card for rewards and protections, and treat it like cash (meaning I don’t carry a balance). I’m also fine with anything hitting the CC companies cash pile, before mine, should there be any issues.
Thank you! Everyone!
I checked. My electric company does charge a fee so I did not sign up
I too have a home phone (bundled with DSL) 
I just signed up for auto-pay on the CC for cell, home phone/DSL already on for Netflix.
Lets the points accrue!
I pay everything with CC, and make sure to pay at least most of it off every month. CC’s provide rewards, in my case cash back; it’s only like 1.5%, but my debit cards give me back 0% so it’s a pretty easy call there.
I pay the bills for the landline/DSL service, cell phone service and cable service with a credit card each month. I wouldn’t do it if they charged a convenience fee.
Think also about CC’s that give you something back. I use a CC tied to an airline, and pay everything with it. I pay it off every month.
Cosata Rica - free
Cancun - free
Austin TX - free
And we get some priorities. Such as no fees for extra bags. And the premium club or whatever for less line waiting.
THat’s a good idea!! We were hit by the Home Depot breach (though no unusual charges yet, but a new card is coming) and it’s going to be a pain.
If the utility allows it, and doesn’t charge extra for the privilege, then I see little downside to using a charge card. We have our cell phone bill hitting the credit card; the gas and electric bills don’t offer that choice as far as I know.
I pay with my check card, I don’t get to rack up any points on my credit card but I’ve never had to pay a fee. [Plus I haven’t had to buy a book of stamps in years]
All of mine. Autopay. But I get a paper bill and read it carefully.
Pay interest on money when you don’t have to? Unless you are cut off and need to be reconnected, don’t do this. Most utilities won’t cut off service until the average temperature of a preset number of average temperature days drops below a certain temperature. We’re in November, which is when that temperature cut off usually starts.
Yes, you’ll be late, but you’re usually safe until March. Besides, the less money that some bank syphons off from you means its that much more of Your money that gets paid towards Your bill.
Paying interest? How odd. I get 1% back when I pay bills with my card, and a float until I pay it off. The OP gets points. Why not do this?
Be very careful. I will never do autopay. If they screw up & overcharge you, it’s up to you to fight to get your money back. (FTR, I pay electronically, but I have to put in the dollar amount I am paying.)
Every once in a while you hear of someone who went away & comes home to a $3000 cell phone bill because of roaming charges. They’ll charge you & since it’s a legitimate charge, the credit card company probably won’t take your side when you dispute it.
In my case, the Gas Co replaced the meter but set the new one off by 100 units. The usage graph on bill showed I used as much gas in (a mild) Sept/Oct as I had the previous Feb. :dubious:
I called them - they sent me a revised bill & said they’d send someone out to adjust the meter.
Next month’s bill was still approx. 100 units off from the previous year so I called them - they sent me a revised bill & said they’d send someone out to adjust the meter. This went on for four months, until I threatened a regulatory complaint against them. If they just grabbed what they wanted, I’m sure I would have overlooked it at some point & they would have gotten the extra money from me even though it was their error.