From Thursday 1 October 2026, you’ll no longer be able to make payments on deft.com.au using a credit or debit card.
Any payments you may have already scheduled using a credit or debit card from 1 October 2026 will be cancelled on this date.
Changes to payments via DEFT
We've made some important changes to our DEFT offering.
Important changes
We're changing our DEFT payment options:
From Thursday 1 October 2026, you’ll no longer be able to make payments on deft.com.au using a credit or debit card.
Any payments you may have already scheduled using your credit or debit card from 1 October 2026 will be cancelled on this date.
You can continue to make DEFT payments using our available payment options.
We’re here to support you through this change.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's happening and when?
Why are you removing card payments?
Following recent changes by the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), card companies including Visa and Mastercard have announced they’ll prohibit businesses from charging customers a surcharge on card payments.
As a result, we’re evolving the payment options available on DEFT to focus on fast, fee-free methods, and removing the option to pay by card.
By transitioning to options like PayID®, we can offer you a fast and secure way to pay directly from your bank account in real-time^.
Note:
^PayID payments made on a non-business day will not be settled until the next business day. Some banks may apply a hold or delay on payments to complete fraud security checks.
How can I pay my bill now?
Depending on what your biller offers, payment options include:
- PayID - make instant^, fee-free payments via mobile or internet banking using <deftreferencenumber>@deft.com.au
- BPAY® – pay by mobile or internet banking using the DEFT Biller Code advised by your biller. Use your DEFT reference number as the Customer Reference Number.
- deft.com.au – make one-off or recurring direct debits (from your bank account)
- Australia Post – pay in-store at Australia Post via eftpos or cheque. You’ll need a barcode generated by your biller. This can usually be found on your invoice or levy notice for strata lot owners.
To avoid late fees, please read our FAQs guide to find out how long it takes for a payment to clear using different payment methods.
^PayID payments made on a non-business day will not be settled until the next business day. Some banks may apply a hold or delay on payments to complete fraud security checks.
Can I still pay in person?
For customers who prefer paying in person at Australia Post, payment can be made by eftpos or cheque. You’ll need a DEFT barcode or rent card provided by your biller. Australia Post is unable to accept payments with only a DEFT reference number.
To avoid late fees, please read our FAQs guide to find out how long it takes for a payment to clear using different payment methods.
Who can I speak to if I need special help or assistance?
If you need help making payments, you can contact your biller or you can call us on
1800 672 162 (overseas +61 02 8550 5642) Monday to Friday, 8.30am - 5.00pm (Sydney time).
How long does it take for my payment to clear if I’m using the different payment methods?
To help make the switch and avoid late fees, please see the table below which outlines payment timeframes which will help you determine when you should schedule your next payment*:
Payment method | Cut off time Business Days | Business days to clear |
PayID | N/A | Payments made by PayID are cleared on the same business day^ they’re made. ^PayID payments made on a non-business day will not be settled until the next business day. Some banks may apply a hold or delay on payments to complete fraud security checks. |
BPAY | Dependent on your bank.
| BPAY processing depends on your bank. Most major banks will settle within one business day. |
Direct Debit | 5:00pm (Sydney time)
| Payments by Direct Debit are cleared three business days from when the request was submitted. |
eftpos (over the counter at Australia Post) | The Business Day closing time of the relevant Australia Post outlet
| Payments will generally be cleared and received by your Biller within two (2) Business Days. |
Cheque (over the counter at Australia Post) | The Business Day closing time of the relevant Australia Post outlet
| Processing of cheques is dependent on Australia Post and could be delayed or returned if there is an error identified upon presentment. Macquarie is therefore not responsible for late payments or late fees associated with the Australia Post service. If you are concerned about the timing of your payment we suggest using an alternate payment method. |
Note:
*Your biller may charge fees that vary by payment method.
Need help?
We're here to answer any questions you have about DEFT payments.
For billers
For any further queries, please get in touch with your Relationship Manager.
For billers
You may use the below payer guide to help manage this change with your payers.
There are a range of alternative options for your payers to pay. Refer to our payment options for more information.
You may choose to offer some or all of these options.
We may refer questions about payment options or information regarding your payment advice from your payers back to you.
We’re working closely with your software provider to make changes to your payment template (levy notice or invoice) to remove the reference to card payments as a payment option.
For any other information, please contact your relationship manager or call 1800 672 162.