USB Cash + for utilities with 3rd party involved?

[digitek]

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@randian wrote:

How about Speedpay (now ACI, formerly Western Union)? Does it code as utilities or money services when used to pay electric bills? They don't allow overcharging so they're less than ideal.

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Duke Energy uses SpeedPay, it codes as Utilities, I can prepay it over $1k at least haven't tried to find a ceiling, there is a flat fee like $2.50 to use it.

[randian]

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@digitek wrote:

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@randian wrote:

How about Speedpay (now ACI, formerly Western Union)? Does it code as utilities or money services when used to pay electric bills? They don't allow overcharging so they're less than ideal.

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Duke Energy uses SpeedPay, it codes as Utilities, I can prepay it over $1k at least haven't tried to find a ceiling, there is a flat fee like $2.50 to use it.

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FPL says they won't accept overpayments of more than $10, presumably to maximize SpeedPay fees.

[ChargedUp]

So Cal Edison's (and PG&E and So Cal Gas) payment processing triggers the utilities category on BBVA, so I don't see why it wouldn't on USB or Elan. They're all Visa so they should read the category the same.

[Wavester64]

Was wondering if anyone reading this thread knows if you pay your utlities and they use Kubra for payment does it trigger the 5% CB for utilies?

[Anonymous]

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@Turbobuick wrote:

Southern California Edison uses Chase Bank to process their bills paid via credit cards and charges $1.65 convenience fee. With the size of our electric bills during summer heat, it's well worth it. 

My question is will US Bank Cash Plus see this as a payment to SCE or Chase Bank? Thanks. 

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If your utility company charges a fee to pay your bill with a credit card, try paying with credit card using PayPal Bill Pay service instead.  With PayPal Bill Pay, I'm able to pay my PECO utility bill with my credit card as the funding source without paying a fee even though PECO charges a fee for direct credit card payments.

https://www.paypal.com/us/digital-wallet/manage-money/pay-bills

There are a couple of limitations with PayPal Bill Pay.   First, the payee has to be listed in PayPal.  PayPal doesn't allow you to add new payees.  Second, if your payee doesn't take regular PayPal as a payment type, I don't think you can set up autopay with PayPal Bill Pay.  You have to schedule each and every payment.

I've read that US Bank Cash+ treats the PayPal Bill Pay utility payment as utility category whereas Chase Freedom Flex treats it as PayPal category.  I've only used a 3% cash back card to make utility payments through PayPay Bill Pay so I don't have any data points to share.  One can make a trial payment to try it out.

[K-in-Boston]

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@randian wrote:

How about Speedpay (now ACI, formerly Western Union)? Does it code as utilities or money services when used to pay electric bills? They don't allow overcharging so they're less than ideal.

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I know this post is a bit aged at this point, but as coldfusion and longtimelurker mentioned previously, both Eversource and National Grid use SpeedPay and definitely allow overpayments and code as utilities.  I also have a ton of $602.50 Eversource gas and electric payments in my Cash+ history (as well as lots of overpayments for Boston Water & Sewer now that they started charging a fee, although that is not through SpeedPay).