Changes to payments via DEFT

We've made some important changes to our DEFT offering.

A photo of smiling man standing against house. Male is standing with arms crossed. He is wearing shirt.
A photo of smiling man standing against house. Male is standing with arms crossed. He is wearing shirt.

Important changes

We're changing our DEFT payment options:

From Friday 1 March 2024, we’ll no longer be accepting payments via the DEFT phone payments service.

From Friday 1 November 2024, we’ll no longer be accepting mail-in cheque payments.

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With 97% of payments being made online today*, we’re making this change to simplify our DEFT offering.

We’re here to support you to start working through this change.

What's happening and when?

From Friday 1 March 2024, we’ll no longer be accepting phone payments via the automated DEFT phone payments service.

From Friday 1 November 2024, we’ll no longer be accepting mail-in cheques sent to DEFT PO boxes.

Why are you removing phone and mail-in cheque payments?

As a digital bank we’re committed to transitioning to completely digital payments.

We’ve also seen the demand for phone and mail-in cheque payments decrease significantly in recent years, so we’re streamlining our payment options and will no longer be accepting these payments through DEFT.

For customers who prefer paying over the phone, you may be able to make DEFT payments via BPAY® using your bank’s phone banking service.

For customers who prefer paying by cheque, you’ll still be able to pay by cheque in person at Australia Post if your biller has provided a DEFT barcode or rent card. Australia Post is unable to accept payments with only a DEFT reference number.

We also offer other payment methods that can be completed online.

To find out what options your biller has made available for you, please refer to your DEFT payment invoice. Once you’ve selected a payment method, instructions on how to pay your bill can be found in these FAQs.

Note:

® Registered to BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518.

How can I pay my bill now?

Depending on what your biller offers, payment options include:

  • BPAY – pay from your transaction account or credit card via internet or phone banking
  • DEFT.com.au – make one-off or recurring payments using a credit or debit card or bank account online1
  • Australia Post – pay in-store at Australia Post via eftpos or cheque2

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.

Note:

1Depending on the fees set by your biller, a surcharge for card and/or direct debit payments may apply.

2You’ll need a barcode or DEFT rent card provided by your biller to pay at Australia Post. You can’t pay with a DEFT reference number alone.

How do I pay online?

To make a payment online, simply go to www.deft.com.au

  1. Select ‘Pay without a login’ on the DEFT homepage.
  2. Enter the DEFT reference number given to you by your biller.
  3. Enter your card details.
  4. Enter the payment amount.
  5. If you’d like to send a copy of the payment receipt by email, enter the email address of the recipient (optional)
  6. Select ‘I’m not a robot’ and follow the prompts (this is a security feature).
  7. Select ‘Next’.
  8. Review the details of your payment. Select ‘Edit’ to make any changes, or if all details are correct, select ‘Pay now’.
  9. It’s important to not click back or interrupt the screen while the payment processes.
  10. If the payment was successful, you’ll be presented with a copy of the payment receipt. If the payment was unsuccessful, a message will appear on your screen.

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.

*Note: Depending on the fees set by your biller, a surcharge for card and/or direct debit payments may apply.

Can I still pay in person?

For customers who prefer paying in person at Australia Post outlets, 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 additional help or special 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 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 (SYD) Business Days

Business days to clear

BPAY

Dependent on your bank.

BPAY processing depends on your bank. Most major banks will settle within one to five business days.

Credit card

MasterCard and Visa 9:30pm (Sydney time)

 

Payments by credit cards are generally received within two business days, but funds are drawn on the day.

Debit card

MasterCard and Visa 9:30pm (Sydney time)

 

American Express and Diners Club 7:00pm (Sydney time)

 

Payments by debit cards are generally received within two business days, but funds are drawn on the day.

Bank account

Payments from your bank account 5:00pm (Sydney time)

 

Payments by Direct Debit are cleared three business days from when the request was submitted.

Note:

Please note the biller may charge fees that vary by payment method.

Need help?

We're here to answer any questions you have about DEFT payments.

Speak to the team

1800 672 162

Overseas +61 02 8550 5642

For billers

For any further queries, please get in touch with your Relationship Manager.

For billers

Please refer to our Help Centre articles about changes to cash and cheque services.

We have a range of tools and resources available to help you manage this change with your clients.

There are a range of alternative payment options available to your payers including:

  • Credit, debit card or bank account
  • BPAY
  • In person at Australia Post1
  • If they have multiple bills to pay, they can generate a BPAY Batch file from their business management software and upload to online banking

You may choose to offer some or all of these options.

Sometimes, we may have to 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 phone payments and mail-in cheques as payment options.

For any other information, please contact your relationship manager or call 1800 672 162.

Note:

1You’ll need to provide a barcode or a plastic DEFT rent card to allow the payer to pay at Australia Post.

Additional information

*97% of DEFT payments for the 12 months to June 2023 have been made using BPAY®, card, or via direct debit. BPAY is a registered trademark of BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518.