Demonetisation: Short of cash? Here's how you can pay your utility bills with mobile wallet Apps

New Delhi: The use of 'mobile wallet' is likely to increase in India, especially after the Narendra Modi government's bold demonetisation move, throwing enough signals that the country is heading towards cashless economy.

With the increasing rate of smart phone and internet penetration in the country, the concept of mobile wallet is no longer naïve to an average customer. In view of the initial cash crunch triggered by the government's demonetisation move, 'mobile wallet apps' have provided big help to people in paying their utility bills and much more.

While the mobile wallet apps are easy to use, safe and fully protected, they also spare the user from unnecessary hassles like travelling and standing in long queues to pay utility bills on time. 

For those who are still ignorant about how to use mobile wallet here are few simple steps that will guide them through:

1- Download the mobile wallet apps from Google Play Store or Apple I-Store. The wallets like Paytm, PayU, MobiKwik, Vodafone M-pesa, Citrus Pay, Oxigen Wallet etc can be downloaded from iOS or Android smartphones.

2- Once the app is downloaded or installed in the smartphone, it is ready to use. Choose from any of the options- credit card, debit card or internet banking to fill the wallet with some cash.

 3- The wallets have tie up with merchants like Zomato, BookMyShow, Uber, Goibibo, Makemytrip, Grofers, Pepperfry, Jabong etc. Any kind of online product purchase, booking tickets or payment of utility bills can be done with the help of these wallets. 

Go to payment section and choose ‘wallet’ from the payment options. Enter phone number and email id for the transaction. Then the pre-stored cash from the wallet will automatically get deducted.

4- Once the cash from the wallet gets deducted, you will get a notification in your mobile. Within minutes, that cash will get delivered to the merchant from where you have done the actual purchase.

Step 5- Once the merchant receives the cash, you will get a notification too. And then your payment for online shopping or bill paying is done. Within days, you might also get a reminder about the remaining account balance of your mobile wallet. If required, you can recharge it again.

Your money and bank details are safe with the mobile wallet apps. Some of them like Paytm are also RBI approved and some can be used in offline stores too.