How to use PayTM App for making Payments

PayTM is an Android / iOS based app used for mobile recharges, making utility payments, send / receive money and buy products online through its e-commerce store and mobile app-commerce store.

PayTM provides:

It provides direct-to-customer transaction service.

It has a mobile wallet for registered users to store money that can be used for online payments. Users can connect their debit / credit card or use net banking to save money in their wallets. Users can also save their card details in PayTM app so that users don't have to everytime punch in their card details to make online payment. They just need to enter the CVV number and let PayTM do the transaction through their saved card.

How PayTM makes money:

PayTM earns through commissions from vendors for the mobile recharges done. It also earns commissions from merchants / sellers selling products on their web store. PayTM also earns interest on money stored by various users in virtual mobile wallet.

PayTM also gives cashbacks to its customers to build its user database. Customers can use these cashbacks to make online payments and save few bucks. PayTM do not allow user to redeem the cash backs into their bank accounts.

PayTM do not charge any fees from its customers.

PayTM Mobile Wallet: 

Good thing about using PayTM app is that you don't need to store money or maintain minimum wallet balance. When you plan to make payment using PayTM, at that very moment user can add funds in wallet and utilize the same fund to make payment for the online purchase.

App Usability:

Once installed using mobile number and email address, users can link their card and start making payments using PayTM using their CVV number. So it's super easy to use and user friendly.

Sunday Bazaar:

PayTM runs a Sunday Bazaar every Sunday where they offer products / deals at throw away prices on their commerce store.

Customer Care:

PayTM has a 24x7 customer service. You can reach out to them here care@paytm.com

URL: http://www.paytm.com/care/

Is PayTM Safe:

PayTM uses Norton Security for online transactions.

As far as mobile recharge is concerned, PayTM is pretty safe to use. But one cannot take gurantee for the products purchased from PayTM store.

Services Offered:

- Pay / Recharge mobile, landline, DTH, data card bills
- Make utility payments like water, electricity, gas
- Pay insurance fee
- School / college fee
- Buy products from PayTM store
- Book Movie tickets
- Book bus tickets
- Hotels Bookings
- Transfer money to family / friends
- Make online payment on respective stores using PayTM

Spend Limit:

PayTM to every new Registered user gives a spending limit of Rs. 10,000 per month. if users want to have no spend limit, they need to complete their KYC verification and submit the doc.

PayTM Signup / Registration:

1. Download the app from google playstore or Apple iOS AppStore
2. Install the app
3. Register using your mobile number and email address. Enter password.
4. Confirm your account registration using the OTP sent by PayTM.
5. User can now load money in his / her wallet and save cards under Profile and is good to make payments

Add Cards:

Users can go to My Profile > Saved Cards > Add a Card
PayTM will transfer 1 rupee from your card and load it in your mobile wallet to successfully register your card.

Add Money in Wallet:

Login into the app > Click on "Add Money" on homepage > Enter the amount > Click on "Add Money" > You can add money by either net banking or using credit / debit card.if you have already saved the card details, System will only ask you to enter the CVV number to add money to your wallet.

Pay / Send Money:

4 options:
- Scan the QR code and make payment by entering the amount
- Enter mobile number, amount and reason and make payment
- Show your QR code and ask for particular amount payment
- Directly send to Bank Account by adding account details

Similar Apps:

There are many other mobile apps available now on both Android and Apple AppStore providing mobile wallets and easy options to make online / offline payments. To name a few:

Mobikwik
PayU
FreeCharge
HDFC Payzapp
ICICI Pockets
Chillr
Oxigen
PhonePe (android app)

Benefit of Using PayTM:

With current government banning 500 / 1000 currency notes, it's a good opportunity to go cashless and make payment using PayTM app. You don't need to carry cash in your pocket to make payment. Just show the QR code and receive payment or make use of mobile number to make payments.

Use PayTM Offline:

You can make use of either OTP or bar code to make payments, send / receive money offline. The OTP and Bar code refreshes every 60 seconds. Either the merchant or the buyer needs to enter the OTP or scan the bar code to make payment without internet connectivity. 

The Demonetization Effect

Effect: 

With the recent demonetization of 500 / 1000 rupee notes by Indian govt., many are facing problems exchanging the money or depositing it in banks but at the same time, every honest tax payer is supporting Narendra Modi for the initiative taken. People have realized that it may be a temporary short term trouble but will definitely help government to curb black money in long run.

Opinion:

I personally feel this is the right step taken by government and will impact economy in a positive way in years to come. Only those who have stash of undisclosed cash hidden in their pockets are worried about the move.

Request:

Through this post, i would like to make a humble request to all the educated citizens of the country who knows how to use mobile wallets, please make use of wallets to the fullest and help others as well to do daily transactions.

How To Help:

if you know someone in your family or friend circle who needs to transact on daily basis for utilities, please educate them on how to use mobile wallets to pay for the transactions. Help them register their bank accounts in mobile wallets. This way they don't need to worry about carrying cash in their pockets or search for cash rich ATMs or wait in queues for long hours. Feed their wallets in every possible way.

If you find anyone within your family who needs a mobile recharge or pay bills, it's good time for a responsible citizen to pitch in and do the transaction on their behalf using mobile wallets. This way you will not only be able to save their time standing in queues but also avoid the frustration. Buy grocery for them from BigBasket or pay their electricity, cable, broadband bills etc.

Mobile Wallets:

There are many popular mobile e-wallets available which are easy to install and use to transfer / send / receive money or pay the for utilities. Some of the popular ones are: PayTM, MobiKwik, FreeCharge, PayU, Payzapp, Chillr etc.

What more you can do:

People who can transact using mobile wallets can avoid going banks right now and wait to get their hard cash exchanged / deposited in bank accounts. Let the poor or others who has no knowledge of how to use mobile wallets or who needs money on urgent basis or has gone to bank for other important work, give them priority first to visit the branch and do the transactions. Help them in every possible way. You can always get your money exchanged / deposited later, once the situation has come under control and there's not much rush in banks. Have patience. Support the initiative.

If you see an elderly in queue, offer them help by standing in for them or install mobile wallets on their mobile and help them to transact online. If you have enough change (cash) in hand in 100 / 50 / 20 / 10 denominations, exchange that with poor who stand in queue to get 500 / 1000 notes exchanged / deposited.

You can use cheque to make payments. I paid the house maid her monthly salary through cheque. I left the date blank for her to fill it later whenever she find it comfortable to go to the bank and deposit it. I paid the plumber for his service through PayTM.

News:

I recently read that a hospital denied treatment because patient family could only pay in 500 / 1000 notes. As a result, the patient died. An ENT doctor in my locality denied checkup to all those patients visiting with 500 / 1000 notes. Is this human ? Is money above someone's life. Doctors, Hospitals at this time should welcome the move and ask patients or families to pay via mobile wallets or cheques or bank transfer but do not deny them the service. They are in pain and they need your help. Work Responsibly.

That's my take on how you can help others.

Information on Popular Mobile Wallets:

Here's a snippet of few mobile wallets that you can use or educate your family members / friends on how to use them so that they can avoid visiting banks or ATMs for money to do daily transactions:

1. PayTM: Super easy to use. Pay or Send money by scanning the code or using the mobile number. You can add money in your wallet to use it later. Pay mobile bills, recharge, utility bills through PayTM.

2. Mobikwik: Again a very popular app to do all sorts of transactions. Add money to your wallet and use the app to do every transaction.

3. Payzapp: Use HDFC Payzapp to pay for online purchases or utility transactions. I use this app to buy grocery from bigbasket on thursdays as i get cashback of 200 on every 1200 purchase.

Note: You don't need to have HDFC account to install this app. I have configured my icici card in Payzapp to make payments.

4. PayU: Similar to above apps. Super easy to use.

Other similar apps:
Freecharge, Pockets from ICICI Bank, Chillr app etc.

Only downside of using Chillr app is that there are very few banks registered as partners with Chillr. So the chances are high that you may not find your bank listed as partner. As a result you may not be able to transact using Chillr app.

Check if ATM in your area has Waiting / Cash / No Cash:

Here's a website which gives you a list of ATMs that has cash / no cash or has waiting line in front of them. You just need to enter your area Pincode and submit, it will list out all the ATMs with their current money status.

Website: http://www.cashnocash.com

I do not have any idea of how authentic the information is. But one can give it a try and see if it really works or not.

Please share this message with others.

Thanks

#BlackMoney
#Demonetization
#ATMQueues

Save Money When You Buy Online - Cheat Sheet

This is my Cheat sheet to save money when i buy online. Checkout ways how you can save few bucks when buying online.

You can checkout the detailed post by clicking here.

1. Install "honey" app from chrome store. 
Run the HONEY app when you are on the checkout page of any website. It will automatically apply the coupon codes to give you discounts. This is no useless app as it really works. One can save big using this wonderful app

2. Use Payback
if you do not have a Payback account, apply for one today. This is a great way of earning payback points on every purchase that you make using your ICICI Bank's Debit  credit card online or offline. Every swipe will earn you points. Accumulate the points over a period of time and use them later to buy products online.

3. Use PayTM, Mobikwik, HDFC PayZapp wallets:
Use wallets to receive Cashbacks. Most of the ecommerce websites have tied up with wallet companies which inturn offer cashbacks on every purchase. Make full use of wallets to earn cashbacks.

4. Buy during Lightning Deals / Shopping festivals / carnivals / big billion sales
It's always good to buy stuff online during festival sales. Make a wish list of items that you plan to buy. Wait for various ecommerce websites to come up with their Sale / Discount Days. Buy in sale to earn hefty discounts.

5. Use CouponDuniya:
CouponDunia gives cashbacks for online purchases. Just visit CoupinDunia website first. Checkout for the product items or the store on their website and get redirected to specific ecommerce website from their platform. Buy the product listed and get cashback in your CouponDunia account. You can transfer the cashbacks received to your bank account after a minimum target is reached. Isn't that cool ?

6. Use Price Drop Alerts website "Cheapass":
This website will trigger an email to your mailbox if the price drops for the product you wish to buy. Once you see the price has dropped considerably, go any buy the product immediately. These price drop alerts works great in buying products at throw away prices.

7. Few ecommerce websites runs wallet promotions every week / month. Make use of them. for eg: Bigbasket has tied up with HDFC Payzapp for Thursday purchasing. if you buy from bigbasket on thursdays and make payment using HDFC Payzapp, you get a cashback of Rs. 200 on every Rs. 1000 purchase. So next time planning to buy from bigbasket, install Payzapp and only buy on thursdays. Other advantage, you get the fresh fruits and vegetables if bought on thursdays in Pune.

8. Buy online instead of buying offline

9. Activate / Enable each ecommerce website's store alerts 

Checkout Detailed post here.

Pockets app from ICICI Bank

ICICI Bank has come up with a mobile wallet app called "Pockets". This is similar to popular apps like Paytm & Mobikwik.

Pockets by ICICI is your online wallet (free VISA card as they say it) to do online transactions. It's not necessary to have a Bank account number to access this app. Registration is done through your mobile number (MPIN) if you do not hold an account with ICICI Bank. Otherwise it asks your account login details.

Check out this video:

The app is super easy to use. User friendly interface makes it more easy to do all sorts of transactions. It allows you to recharge prepaid mobile, DTH, data cards, pay postpaid mobile bills & utility bills and shop online. You can transfer money to any Bank account or contacts.

This app gives direct competition to the most popular "Bookmyshow" app as you can book movie tickets through Pockets now. Easy steps makes it like a knife through the cake. The only drawback is if you are on "Book my show" website and land on the payment page, you may not find an option to make payments using "Pockets" wallet. PayU, Mobikwik and other wallets are available to make payments.

You can easily add funds in your Pockets wallet and get cachback, add contacts to favorites if you plan to do frequent money transfers. You can split the bills with your friends even if they do not have ICICI bank account number. it gives you an option to view statements, transactions done within the app.

Through this app, you can apply for Pockets physical card and use it offline. It's free but the Bank do charge you for the courier handling charges. make sure you enter your complete address while applying for the physical card. Personally, i really don't think its necessary to apply for physical card because most of the important transactions you can do through the app.

You can also check out the best offers and deals available through the app. It also sends notifications in your mailbox for any new offers.

If you are having a Bank account with ICICI, this app gives you an option to switch between your Pockets account and your bank account. Switching to Bank account is similar to checking your online account. You can check last 10 transactions done or more, see statements, balance and make online transfers as well.

For any update for eg: you get a gift or friends split bills, the app shows a notification similar to facebook within the app.

You can personalize the app and change your settings, profile, add your photo. you can even create your wish list within the app.

ICICI gives you an option to chat directly with their Customer Care within the app. I have been using this app on my android mobile and till now hasn't come across any situation where i need to speak with Customer Care.

It has login / logout option so everytime you open the app to do transaction or check balance, you need to login and logout once you finish the transaction. So its highly secure and easy to use.

The app can be installed on both Apple IOS and Android through google play store.

A big major issue is the app hangs and shuts down suddenly which is not a good sign while making banking transaction. User feels insecure while making transaction. Also, many users who applied for the physical card are waiting forever to get the card delivered at their footsteps.

I have been using this app to recharge my mobile, book tickets and transfer funds and view statements and transactions, i never came across any issue. I also use other apps like Paytm & Mobikwik depending on which app is giving me more cashback while making transactions.

I would recommend you to install this app and use it only when you find any offer at better discounts or cash backs than other apps.

Thanks