US Payments

Transaction Management Systems

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Weatherized Bill Payment Kiosk – Turnkey PaySite® Kiosk

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Outdoor Bill Payment Kiosk

In addition to payment kiosks placed inside utility offices and retail locations like grocery and convenience stores, many utilities are implementing outdoor PaySite kiosks. The weatherized PaySite is an excellent solution to offer 24×7 availability for walk up or drive through payers. The kiosk accepts cash, check, and card payments and processes transactions in real-time. 

Many utilities are replacing drop boxes with kiosks, alleviating the workload for front office staff. With real-time reporting and simple reconciliation, PaySite makes paying in person more convenient for customers and simplifies accounting procedures for utility staff. 

Kiosk Models

Anticipating a Fall Outbreak of Covid-19?

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Bill Pay Kiosks Help Mitigate Impacts of the Virus

How Utilities are preparing for a fall flare up.

As states begin reopening, there remains a looming cloud of potential uptick in Covid cases for the fall. Utilities have extended moratorium on disconnects in response to the first wave of the virus, but what does this look like in the future? Are states planning to implement intermittent stay at home orders during flare-ups of the virus and how should utilities prepare for fall 2020?

Consumer Behavior

Consumer behavior is obviously experiencing a major shift to digital and self-service consumption methods. For utilities, there is a niche of customers who still prefer to pay in person, which presents challenges for accepting these customer payments. With office closures, utilities depend upon payment networks at local retailers and drive-thru transactions. There is still person to person interaction and potential transmission in these situations, as there is a tangible handoff of the payment and receipt.

Limit Person-to-Person Transactions

Bill pay kiosks are a cost effective and reliable solution that protects employees and customers. In light of the recent announcement from the CDC that the virus does not spread easily, excluding person-to-person transmission, bill payment kiosks are essential to serve in-person payers and limit opportunities for transmission. U.S. Payments has seen a ramp up in kiosk orders to prepare for the fall as utilities realize the benefit of offering a self-service option for customers to pay with cash, check, or card in-person. U.S. Payments has an array of PaySite® kiosk models to best fit your needs.

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Kiosk Spotlight

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Indoor PaySite Utility Bill Pay Kiosk

Indoor Bill Pay Kiosk

The indoor PaySite is our most popular bill payment kiosk model. Located at >1,000 utility offices, grocery, and convenience stores, the kiosk is able to be installed free-standing. As a retail application, the kiosk accepts payments for 30+ companies and are strategically placed based on utility client preference. Many utility clients place indoor kiosks in their vestibule or lobby. 24×7 available kiosks enhance the convenience of paying bills in person.

The indoor payment kiosk can process cash, check, debit, and credit transactions and transmits payment details in real-time.

Kiosk highlights:

  • Requires only 2.33 sqft of floor space
  • High speed Internet and standard power outlet
  • Real-time account lookup and payment posting for direct clients
  • Easy-to-use touchscreen user experience
  • Text and audible instructions
  • Printed receipts
  • Customer and client support
  • 24×7 kiosk monitoring and on-site maintenance
  • Cash servicing

Operating the Largest Turn-key Bill Pay Kiosk Network in the U.S.

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U.S. Payments patented Transaction Management System allows billers to utilize industry leading payment solutions including kiosk, phone, and online payments. As the pioneer in multi-biller payment kiosks, we provide clients with the ability to reduce the cost of in-person payments, eliminate long lines in the office, and enhance customer service. Our network of over 1250 kiosks in the U.S. allows payers to make fast, easy, convenient, and secure in-person payments. U.S. Payments also offers IVR/CSR phone and online payments through the same processing system as the kiosks; multiplying the cost savings and creating efficiencies across all payment channels.

Our network of retail partners enhances clients’ ability to better reach their customer. Retailers that host a PaySite allow customers to pay when and where it is convenient. These retailers enjoy the benefit of increased traffic and revenue for their stores. Take advantage of our patented Transaction Management System as it is the most flexible, effective, efficient, and accurate solution that serves many prominent U.S. billers. 

Turn-Key Payment Services

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Helping Utility, Telecom, Municipality, and Government Entities Focus on What They Do Best

Expectations and Costs

Like most business to consumer organizations, a fundamental mission for Utility and Telecommunication companies in the U.S. is to meet and exceed customer expectations. This goal produces features and functions like real-time outage reporting, account management, usage monitoring, paperless billing, prepaid electric and phone service, etc. Congruently, smart thermostats, AMI metering, smarter mobile devices, faster Internet, a la carte TV, and the like, are enabling consumers to have more control over the way they consume energy and entertainment. Consumers now have a breadth of options that fit their budget, but still expect companies to expand personal benefits and decrease costs; reinforcing that successful companies deliver perceived benefits that exceed costs.

Perceptions and Bill Pay

“Perception is reality” is a phrase that rings true in the current climate. Companies invest major capital in updating infrastructure to allow more efficient delivery of services and real time information to promote notions of enhancement. Each touch-point with customers must be simple, convenient, and functional to preserve positive perceptions. One of these interactions that is often overlooked, or discounted, is the most basic principal of any business, getting paid, and the fashion in which payments are made. There are countless third party organizations that process web and phone payments, each delivering very similar customer facing processes, but handling data and funds transmittal differently. Similarly, in-person payers are required to fit their schedule to make it to the customer service desk or local grocery store to pay with cash. Often, in the retail environment, the process is cumbersome and human error is inevitable.

Simple, Convenient, and Functional Payments

U.S. Payments (USP) operates the nation’s largest turn-key bill pay kiosk service in addition to Web, App, IVR, and Agent Assisted payments. Each payment channel operates on USP’s patented Transaction Management System (TSM), requiring a single real-time interface with client Customer Information System (CIS). The system balances all transactions to the penny daily and generates daily summaries for all methods. Using each service consolidates reporting and settlement, simplifying the sea of reports and remittance files from multiple payment vendors. In addition to enhanced efficiencies for daily accounting functions, utilizing the full TSM suite amplifies cost savings pertaining to customer payments.

The U.S. Payments Suite

Turn-Key PaySite® Bill Pay Kiosk

USP’s self-service PaySite® payment kiosk is located at more than 1,200 utility offices and retail locations in 45 states. The kiosk processes real-time cash, check, and card payments and is a PCI Level 1 Service. USP manages maintenance, armored pickup, 24×7 monitoring, in-house customer care, client services, payment research, and marketing as a part of the service. Uptime is critical, and USP’s kiosk network uptime is 95%. Additionally, our data center uptime is 99.999%, making the service reliable and readily available.

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Phone Payments-IVR and Agent-Assisted

IVR has become somewhat of a commodity, with an array of different options from various vendors, all completing the same task. U.S. Payments IVR system is simple to use, does not require a sign up, and ~80% of all callers stay in the IVR. USP’s in-house call center can assist IVR callers to finish the payment or assist with any kiosk questions. The key benefits to USP’s IVR is the simplicity, speed, security, support, and consolidation of reports and settlement.

Web and App

As technology continues enhancing the convenience of web and app payments, consumer expectations are continually rising considering how app and web payments operate. Similarly, companies are expecting increased functionality and security from their web and app payment vendors. U.S. Payments has multiple solutions to create a seamless and secure experience for clients and their customers. As mobile devices continue Each of USP’s web and app services are PCI Level 1 certified and the various iterations are designed to best meet client preferences. Below are each of USP’s web and/or app offerings:

PaySite Online-Account Based

USP’s PaySite Online is an account based portal where users can store payment methods, various accounts, and make payments using this information. The dashboard is intuitive and easy to use, so customers spend less time navigating and are able to complete a transaction painlessly.

One Time Pay-No Sign In

USP’s One Time Pay option is excellent for users that prefer skipping account creation or quickly make a payment without signing in. This payment workflow can be implemented using an external link, or can be designed to be embedded on your website for a seamless experience. Additionally, this service can be customized to match your brand guidelines and web CSS. One Time Pay is mobile responsive, user friendly, and PCI Level 1 certified.

Embedded Payment Service-Seamless Web Portal

Embedded utilizes iFrame to create a seamless and secure payment portal inside your website or app. Similar to One Time Pay, this portal can be designed to match your brand and creates an experience that seemingly never leaves your site. Embedded can be implemented behind your account login, increasing ease of use for customers who have stored payment methods. The 2-step process is as simple as entering payment information and authorizing the payment.

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PaySite App-Launching in 2020

The PaySite app serves both kiosk and app payers. Kiosk users can create an account and store their bills to expedite the experience using the kiosk. Similarly, users wishing to pay in the app have the ability to make an ACH or card transaction using stored payment methods or as a one time payment.

Support

U.S. Payments mission is to provide innovative payment services with integrity. Clients find that our expert staff is prompt, courteous, and dedicated to best serving our clients and customers. Being receptive and responsive to issues and questions is a fundamental characteristic of the company.

Wrapping Up

Taking advantage of U.S. Payments full suite of payment channels eliminates balancing multiple reporting and settlement files from an array of vendors. You receive a consolidated daily report that has kiosk, phone, web, and app transactions represented and the next business day, USP initiates an ACH tying back to that report. Each payment channel touts innovative structure based on client feedback, PCI level 1 service, industry leading uptime, and exceptional client and customer service.

Why Bill Payment Kiosks?

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Based on utility client and retail partner feedback, here are the top 10 reasons to adopt the PaySite® bill payment kiosk.

Speed, Ease-of-use, and Convenience

Utility customers and cooperative members value the speed of the payment process and the posting of funds to their accounts. PaySite’s friendly user interface (UI) makes the process easy to use. Bill pay kiosks expand convenience beyond a client’s office. Many clients place kiosks at their office, but extend the hours of accessibility by installing outdoor units or placing payment kiosks in a 24×7 vestibule.

Assurance

Many clients utilize U.S. Payments’ (USP) real-time interface capabilities to reflect payments on PaySite user accounts immediately.

Security

USP is a PCI-DSS Level 1 service provider.

Turn-key

Maintenance, technical support, 24×7 kiosk monitoring, armored services, marketing support, customer support, and payment research are all included with your PaySite program. Focus on what you do best and we manage the bill payment kiosks.

Eliminate Lines

Many clients and retail partners experience an influx in payment traffic around peak billing periods. Converting over-the-counter payers to self-service clears lines and allows you to focus on true customer service issues.

One-stop Shopping

By adding kiosks in the retail environment, customers are able to fill up their gas tank or grab their groceries and pay their bill in one trip to the store. Customers have increasingly reported “location” to play and important role in their overall satisfaction.

Reporting and Reconciliation

Traditional in-person bill payment is, by nature, a labor intensive process. The kiosk eliminates the human element, alleviating cash balancing issues.

Fast Money, Faster Data

USP initiates an ACH for all payments that are processed through the kiosks the following business day, so even if cash is in the machine, USP is sending clients the funds. Clients receive reports daily that tie to the ACH and clients have access to a variety of other real-time reports within USP client console.

Ongoing Support

Kiosk up-time is critical, and USP provides support for all facets of your kiosk network. From on-site maintenance to payment research, USP is dedicated to be an extension of your customer service efforts and extended downtime produces customer frustration.

Customers Prefer It

Based on primary research, the PaySite kiosk maintains a 98% retention rate. Once a customer begins using the kiosk, they continue using it.

Want more information about the PaySite kiosk?