UPI Autopay: The Easiest Way of Recurring Payments

On July 22, 2020, the National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) initiated UPI AutoPay for recurring payments using the UPI trail. This feature came into force aiming at the buyer's convenience. With the autopay feature, you can perform automatic monthly payments for recurring use cases such as paying bills, utility recharge, loan repayments, fund investments, content subscriptions, grocery purchases, housing society payments, and membership fees that require a monthly payment.

You can use autopay to make recurring transactions under Rs. 5,000 using UPI apps like Paytm, GooglePay, Phonepe, and other digital platforms. So, read further to understand the AutoPay feature. 

What is a UPI AutoPay feature?

UPI is one of the most widely used payment methods in India. Seeing the rise in users, the Indian government rolled out the UPI automatic payment features, which allow individuals to automate monthly payments of a specified price. 

When accessing the AutoPay feature, it deducts the money from the bank account automatically without any manual work on a specific date. People can use this service to pay bills, obtain content subscriptions, access utility services, and other things. NPCI's UPI AutoPay is a masterful initiative that allows UPI customers to pay recurring bills using UPI-linked bank accounts.

Also, the rise in subscription-based payments is becoming more popular in India due to the digital revolution of use case scenarios such as bill payments, financial investments, and the rapid adaptation of OTT platforms. And by offering recurring payments, enterprises hope to improve customer convenience by providing uninterrupted services. It also benefits merchants by ensuring that payments are received on time.

Benefits of UPI AutoPay feature:

You can benefit significantly from UPI AutoPay because it is a secure and easy way to make recurring payments. The following are some of the advantages of using UPI AutoPay.

1. Payments from an existing UPI account can be easily automated using the UPI AutoPay-empowered app.

2. Users can set up recurring payments ranging from 1 to 5000 INR.

3. It provides a simple and secure method of initiating recurring payments.

4. Mandatory settings do not necessitate paperwork or documentation.

5. It contributes to cashless and digital payments

6. Payments made on time reduce the possibility of penalties and late fees, which is critical for any business.

7. After creating a mandate, customers can modify or pause or revoke the plan as needed.

How does the UPI Auto Pay work?

Since the emergence of UPI AutoPay, significant UPI applications have included a 'Mandate' option. You can use this option to develop, reconfigure, accept, revoke, or delay the auto-debit mandate. 

If you want to automate transactions on the platform, you must give merchants a one-time approval to use these functionalities. Other details, such as the subscription start date, merchant name, and debit frequency, must also be entered when creating the subscription. Let's go over the procedures for using UPI AutoPay.

1. You should select a subscription plan.

2. You should approve a payment using a UPI PIN. (This is a one-time transaction authentication activity.)

3. Recurring payments get deducted automatically, with no further action required from you.

4. You will have the option to withdraw or pause mandates at any time using the UPI app.

5. Also, you can set up recurring payments on a weekly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly, yearly, or as-presented basis.

How to set up your AutoPay feature?

Since India uses Phonepe, Google Pay, and Paytm the most, here are the steps you should follow to enable the AutoPay feature.

Phonepe:

1. Open the app

2. Select all under the recharge and pay bills section

3. Choose the bill you want to pay and enter the relevant details. (You can also check the past bills in the recent accounts section).

4. Click on the confirm button.

5. Choose the set-up autopay option.

6. Tap continue

7. Select the bank account to pay 

8. Confirm the payment with the UPI PIN

9. Tap done

Note: On Phonepe, you can AutoPay for a maximum of 15000 INR monthly. 

Google Pay:

1. Open the app

2. On the top right corner, click on your profile.

3. Select the autopay option.

4. The autopay status opens in three tabs - live, pending, and completed.

5. In the pending tab, select the item you want to take action on, either set or remove an autopay.

6. Enter the UPI PIN 

7. There you go.

Note: On Google Pay, you can AutoPay for a maximum of 5000 INR monthly.

Paytm:

1. Open the app

2. Tap on the link now button, and you will land on a new automatic payments page.

3. On the automatic payments page, click on update now option (which is next to the listed payments)

4. You will land on a new page where you can choose your favored saved cards, add a new card and select the item you want to autopay. 

Note: On Paytm, to perform AutoPay, you must choose either a credit or debit card as the mode of payment. 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I cancel UPI AutoPay?

Yes, you can cancel AutoPay. In the live tab, click on the item you want to cancel, select the edit option, and click on the cancel button.

2. What happens if I do not have sufficient balance in my account with autopay?

You must pay overdraft or NSF fees when your account balance is not enough when an autopay payment is due.

3. How long does an automatic payment take?

It will usually take 2-5 business days. 

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