Month: August 2016

The Paywise Account Number is a 12 digit number that can be used to identify a merchant, a customer or a transaction. As mentioned in a previous article there are 3 payment methods in Paywise: Manual, Automated and Integrated. The type of account number used depends on the payment method.

Identify a Merchant

The Paywise Account Number is used to identify the merchant. It represents the account number assigned to the merchant by Paywise. The merchant provides customers with the Paywise Account Number to make payments at the LOTTO VIA agents. This number is fixed for all payment transactions to the merchant. This number type is used for the Manual Payment Method only.

Identify a Transaction

In this case, the Paywise Account Number represents a transaction number generated by the merchant. Each customer is given a unique transaction number by the merchant. Each time a customer conducts a transaction a unique number is given to him to make a payment.

Identify a Customer

The Paywise Account Number represents a customer. Some organizations, like associations, want to identify payments made by members. So the Paywise Account Number represents the member’s identification number. This enables the organization to recognize members by name whenever dues are paid and easily reconcile their accounts.

Two Account Number Types

Generally, a merchant will use a single account number type. However, two account number types (transaction and customer) can be used. For one off transactions or first time customers the merchant can issue a transaction number. However, for repeat customers the merchant then issues a unique customer number to each customer.

For example, an association may issue a transaction number to an applicant in order to pay a registration fee. Once the application is processed and accepted the association then issues a customer number to the member. The member uses this number to make all subsequent payments.

Merchants that select the Automated Payment Method may use both the transaction and customer account types.

To manage the account numbers in Paywise is a very easy and simple process. Upon registration, we provide merchants with guidance on how to do so.

Persons can make payments using the Paywise payment slip. The payment slip contains the product code which identifies Paywise on the NLCB LOTTO terminal system. Also, the payment slip has the merchant’s account name and account number on the Paywise system plus Paywise contact information. A sample of the payment slip is shown below.

A payment slip is generated and sent to Paywise merchants upon registration. The payment slip is in an image format.

Merchants send the payment slip to customers so that they have the information to pay to the merchant’s Paywise account.

Normally, the payment slip is sent via WhatsApp or Messenger. It can be sent by email or other electronic means. Since the payment slip is an image, customers can save it on their mobile phones as a photo.

To make a payment customers simply show the image on their phones to the NLCB LOTTO agents. There is no need to print the payment slip.

Although we recommend the use of the payment slip to make payments it is not always necessary. Many merchants only provide their customers with the Paywise account number. Customers go the NLCB LOTTO agent, state they are making a Paywise payment, and present the account number and cash to make the payment. This works.

Paywise is a new system and there are over 900 agents.  Some NLCB LOTTO agents may be doing a Paywise transaction for the first time. In such a case, customers may experience delays in making the payment, if the payment slip is not presented to the agent. As mentioned above, the payment slip has the product code which the agent can use to identify Paywise on the NLCB LOTTO terminal system. Once the agent is familiar with Paywise payments the payment slip is not necessary.

Many merchants do not use the payment slip. They provide the customer with the account number only. If the customer experiences any delay in making the payment the payment slip is sent to the customer. Alternatively, the merchant calls us and we walk the customer through the process. Since the payment process is very simple, few calls are received.