Why You Should Set Up Direct Debit

[TimBartel]

As a Telstra customer, the variety of options and online tools you have available to you make it easy to manage and pay your bills. But there’s no easier way than with Direct Debit.

Just how easy is it? Read on for how to set it up, but first here’s why you should set up Direct Debit to pay your Telstra bill.

No Unexpected Bill Surprises

Once you’re set up for Direct Debit we’ll let you know before we take out your next bill. We’ll also give you a simply way to check any additional charges. As always you can also query a bill you’re unsure about, in MyAccount and the My Telstra App.

Set it & Forget it

Once you’re all set up, there’s no need to give paying your bill another thought. Each month your amount due will be automatically debited from our account on your bills due date. That’s going to help you avoid late fees, and remove the need to queuing up to pay.

***

So that’s the why. And now that you’re no doubt chomping at the bit to get started, here’s how you get Direct Debit set up.

My Telstra App

To set up Direct Debit using the My Telstra App, sign in to the app using your Telstra ID and then:

1. Select the Payments tab
2. Select the billing account you want to set up direct debit for.
3. Scroll down and select ‘ Setup direct debit’.
4. Set a payment limit or leave this field blank to automatically pay the full amount of your bill each month.
5. Select a payment method and fill in your bank/card details
6. Tap submit.

My Account

To set up Direct Debit using My Account, head to my.telstra.com.au and log in using your Telstra ID. Once you’ve done that:

1. Select “Set up direct debit” from the options located beneath your account balance on the right side of the page.
2. From the Payments page you’ll now find yourself on, click the button that says “Set up direct debit”
3. Choose the type of direct debit you require; Automatic or Fixed.
4. Select your payment method, and tick the box to indicate you accept the Telstra Direct Debit Terms & Conditions.
5. Enter your payment details and click “Submit”.

Telstra.com

To set up Direct Debit without signing in to the My Telstra App or MyAccount you can follow this link, or alternatively navigate to Telstra.com and click on “Pay a bill”  or “Manage account” from the options on the home page. From there:

1. Click on “Set up direct debit” or “Set up or change direct debit” depending on which of the previous options you selected.
2. Enter your Telstra account number and choose whether you are setting up a new direct debit, or updating an existing one.
3. Fill out all required fields and then select the type of direct debit you require.
4. Choose your payment method and tick the box to indicate you accept the Telstra Direct Debit Terms & Conditions.
5. Enter your payment details and click “Submit”.

And there you go. You’re all set up for direct debit!

Telstra Plus Bonus Points Offer -Terms and Conditions

EDIT: This promotional offer has now ended

The Offer:

Telstra Plus, our customer rewards program, lets you earn points for every dollar you spend on your bill. But now it gets even better because when up to Direct Debit you can earn 50,000 bonus Telstra Plus points.

• Offer applies from 04/12/2019 until 31/01/2020, unless otherwise withdrawn or extended at Telstra’s discretion.

Eligibility of offer ('Eligibility Criteria'):

• Must be invited by Telstra in order to participate in the offer
• Must have an active Telstra Plus membership (Telstra Plus Terms & Conditions apply)
• Must have an eligible account: A Post-Paid billing arrangement that is not currently registered for Direct Debit, if you have more than one eligible billing arrangement, the offer will apply to each account where the ‘redemption conditions’ are met.
• Accounts with a pre-existing Direct Debit arrangement as at the start of the promotion are not eligible for this offer – i.e. customers will not become eligible for the promotion merely by removing Direct Debit and re-registering during the promotion period.

To Redeem the offer ('Redemption Conditions'):

• Meet the requirements of the offer (as described under 'Eligibility Criteria')
• Register your eligible account for Direct Debit according to the Direct Debit Terms & Conditions
• You can register for Direct Debit via any method that Telstra offers, including the Telstra 24x7 app, My Account and Telstra.com
• Have a successful Direct Debit payment made on your next bill after the Direct Debit is set-up

The points will be bestowed to your Telstra Plus membership when;

• You've successfully registered for direct debit for your eligible account, AND
• Your next bill is issued after direct debit is registered (this is determined by your bill cycle/bill period), AND
• Your first Direct Debit payment has been made in-full (you can see the direct debit payment date on the top section your bill)
• Note if you pay your bill via another method other than direct debit prior to your direct debit payment date, you will forfeit the Telstra Plus bonus points and they will not be bestowed.
• THEN We will bestow the Telstra Plus points to your membership within 14 business days of this first payment, which will reflect in your Telstra Plus Membership points balance.
• If you choose to cancel your direct debit arrangement within 3 Months, we may reserve the right to reverse these bonus points in accordance with the Telstra Plus Telstra Plus Terms & Conditions

[ScreenName2022]

Thanks for that!  I've signed up for direct debit as per the instructions above.  How can I be sure that I'll receive the points?  I've met all stated terms and conditions posted above, being: 

1.Successfully enrol in Telstra Plus (if they are not already enrolled) by 13/12/2019; and add the eligible purchase to the Telstra account which is enrolled in Telstra Plus or the account that will be enrolled in Telstra Plus.

2. Register for Direct debit by 13/12/2019 

3.Members who are enrolled will be able to see their bonus points in the 24x7 App or through My Account within 14 business days from after first successful Direct Debit payment. Customers who are not enrolled in Telstra Plus at the time of making their eligible purchase will see their bonus points within 14 business days from enrolment.

4. By accepting the bonus points you agree to use them in accordance with the Telstra Plus terms and conditions, available at https://www.telstra.com.au/plus/terms-and-conditions and any point redemption terms and conditions that apply to the reward you utilise your Telstra Plus points for.

5. Bonus points will be bestowed after you have had a bill paid by direct debit.

6. Customers that remove Direct Debit within 6 months will not be eligible to retain the bonus points.

[JamesM18]

Can you provide details on the 'up to 50,000 bonus Telstra Plus points' statement? What's the absolute minimum awarded, how do you achieve the maximum, do they get applied all at once or over time as bills are paid? etc etc

[TimBartel]

Hi @JamesM18 

I've edited this article to now simply read "if you’re signed up to Direct Debit you can earn 50,000 bonus".

The "up to" was a hold over from an earlier draft of the article. As long as you satisfy the terms of this offer you'll receive the full bestowal of bonus points.

Thanks, 

[JamesM18]

Awesome, thanks Tim!

[Ozmoz]

Doh!... every man and his dog must be registering atm as the app just sits there atm with the T and a circle going round and round and round lol

[cf4]

Had no trouble registering about 20 minutes ago.

[FrustratedC]

You should not sign up for Direct Debit.

If Telstra has an error, and in my experience, this is very often, it means that Telstra will continue to pull money out of your account. Getting Telstra to give the money back once they have taken it is very difficult.

Even after getting a direction from the TIO (case ) Telstra continue to rip money out to which they are not entitled.

If you email them, they will tell you the "email is not monitored". If you contact support overseas, the poor agents have processes designed to keep you going around in circles.

Do not use direct debit until Telstra can be responsive and responsible.

Do not believe what the Australian social media team tell you. They are a 'different department'.

After all, have you ever heard of an error where Telstra keeps 'accidentally' paying you each month? No. They would fix that immediately. No, the errors they like are the ones they can drag out and continue to utilise "direct debit".

Do not use Direct Debit.

That is all.

[CHQ]

How about existing Direct Debit customers? Can they just cancel and re-register Direct Debit and be eligible to receive the bonus points? 

[cf4]

@FrustratedC  Direct debit can be cancelled at any time by contacting your bank.

[Ozmoz]

@CHQ I wondered that myself, maybe @TimBartel can answer that.

I know you can cancel your direct debit online via your account and via the app, and it can take 24hrs to be removed. Maybe then you just put it back?