Leah Kidd

Fast Five: Our Most Commonly Asked Questions This Week May 2022

Our most frequently asked questions in May 2022

1. In the new Sniip interface, what's the difference between, 'Review' and 'To Pay'?

Great question! We’ve provided some clarification for you below. 

‘Review’: This is a new category and includes all the bills that you have imported or “shared” to Sniip. These bills will need to be reviewed (confirming BPAY Biller Code, Reference Number, due date, amount, etc) before they appear in the ‘To Pay’ screen. 

‘To Pay’: These are the bills that you need to pay! Any bills that you have reviewed and are waiting to be paid are in ‘To Pay’. 

Please note: If you’re the first person to pay a BPAY Biller Code, your bill will be in ‘To Pay’ with the status as ‘Blocked biller (under review)’. 

 If they’ve been paid, or scheduled, they’ll either be in ‘Pending’, ‘Scheduled’ or ‘Paid’. We have a very helpful resource on our website that runs you through the new Sniip interface. You can check it out, here

 

2. How do I know if a BPAY Biller is accepted by Sniip?

You simply need to upload the bill to Sniip to find out if it can be paid with Sniip. 

When you upload a bill to the app, it will let you know whether you are able to pay that specific bill. 

If you are unable to pay that bill it will either show ‘Biller unavailable (under review)’ or ‘Biller not currently available’. 

Your bill will be in the ‘To Pay’ tab, however it is unable to be paid until it has been reviewed by Sniip. 

We aim to review all billers within 24 hours. However, if you need them to be approved quicker, feel free to give us a call (details below) and we will try and review it as soon as possible. 

If your biller is approved, you’ll receive a push notification to your mobile (pictured above) as well as an email. If your biller is unable to be paid, it will remain as a ‘Blocked Biller’ (picture above). 

Unfortunately, as determined by our banking partners, there are certain restrictions regarding payments to certain billers, due to their risk profile. These include:

  • Remittance service provider
  • Charities and Not-for-Profit
  • Intermediaries
  • Pay-day lenders
  • Internet gambling
  • Casinos
  • Goods dealers
  • Foreign exchange currencies
  • Securities and derivatives
  • Managed investment schemes
  • International business operations
  • International students or travel products
  • Hiring and leasing
  • Banking and financial institutions

If there’s any urgency to your bill payment, we completely understand! Please email a copy of your invoice to customercare@sniip.com. Alternatively, call our Sniip Support Squad on (07) 3268 7710 and we’ll be happy to assist you and expedite the review process, where possible.

Please note: If a biller has already been reviewed and restricted, you will receive a ‘blocked biller’ message and the pay button will be disabled. If you believe this is a mistake, please contact us. 

 

3.What’s this about ‘scan any bill?’ How does that work?

Using the Sniip app, you can hover your camera over any BPAY Biller Code and have your bill (either paper or digital bill from your laptop or tablet) imported into the Sniip app, ready for payment. 

This means no more manual entry of BPAY Biller Codes or long reference numbers. When you scan, they’re all imported for you!

It’s a very cool feature and we’d love you to check it out! The concept is the same as scanning a QR code, but instead you’re scanning the BPAY Biller Code and reference number on the bill.

Here’s a quick, ‘how-to’ for scanning in your first BPAY Biller Code using Sniip.

  1. Open the Sniip app, tap the ‘+’ button and select ‘Scan any bill’. 
  2. Hover your camera over the BPAY Biller Code on your bill. 
  3. A digital version of your bill will be imported into the Sniip app ready for payment.

4. What does ‘auto import’ mean? What is this magic?

This is hands-down one of our favourite features in the Sniip app and the best way to keep track of your bills. 

How? We’ll scan your inbox for any bill you can pay with Sniip and automatically add it into the Sniip app ready for your payment. We’ll send you a handy push notification when the bill arrives meaning you’ll never miss a bill payment again. 

Is it safe? Absolutely! At Sniip we’re proud to have achieved Tier 1 in the Payment Card Industry, Data Security Standards (PCI DSS) – this is the same, stringent level as banks. 

Ready to get set-up? Here’s how: 

  1. In the Sniip app, tap the menu in the top left corner 
  2. Select ‘Import from email’, then select your chosen mail provider 
  3. Connect your email address. Done!
 

5. How do I invest in Sniip?

This continues to be one of our most commonly asked questions and is a top search of Google.

Thank you for your interest in investing in Sniip.  

Right now, Sniip is an unlisted public company. If you would like to discuss investing in Sniip, please contact investors@sniip.com.

 

New Look, Same Sniip

NEW LOOK, SAME SNIIP

A tour of the new Sniip interface

Our humble app has expanded significantly since our inception. Based on your feedback, we knew it was due time for the interface to get an upgrade.

Sniip started working with Brisbane City Council and Queensland Urban Utilities in 2016 to improve the way people manage and pay their bills. Since then, Sniip has become a member of BPAY, allowing users to pay over 60,000 billers across Australia. 

Our design team has worked very hard to bring you this new interface, which is designed to elevate your Sniip experience and help you navigate the app more easily. 

We now have a dashboard! Here, you’ll find a high level summary of your bills. You can easily see any upcoming or scheduled payments and the total amounts. 

We know change can be scary but rest assured, we’re here to guide you through the new app interface and ensure your experience remains as seamless and easy as you expect it to be.

We’re here for you every step of the way as you learn the new interface, and if you have any questions at all, just give us a call at (07) 3268 7710 and we’ll be delighted to assist you.

Fast Five: Our Most Commonly Asked Questions This Week (13/03/22)

Our most frequently asked questions in April 2022

1. I submitted my user verification documentation (KYC) but I’m not verified yet! Why?

Thank you for submitting your documentation! We usually review your verification submission within one (1) business day. 

You will be notified (via push notification and email) when your verification has been approved. To ensure your account gets approved as soon as possible, please ensure you upload a copy of your current Driver Licence or passport that clearly shows your full name, date of birth and photograph – you can explore our top tips for successful verification, here

If you’d like to check the status of your user verification, or require it to be reviewed urgently, please call (07) 3268 7710 or email customercare@sniip.com

2. I added a bill and it says, ‘Biller Under Review’ - what do I do?

Great question! If your bill is under review, it’s likely that you’re the first person to pay that biller with the Sniip app. 

Rest assured, we review new billers as quickly as possible – usually within 24 hours. 

If your biller is approved, you will receive a push notification letting you know. You may be asked to supply a copy of your invoice as part of the approval process. 

If your biller is determined to fall under one of our restricted industries, Sniip will display the message “Biller not currently available” on the ‘Bill Details’ screen. 

These categories include:

  • Remittance service provider
  • Charities and Not-for-Profit
  • Intermediaries
  • Pay-day lenders
  • Internet gambling
  • Casinos
  • Goods dealers
  • Foreign exchange currencies
  • Securities and derivatives
  • Managed investment schemes
  • International business operations
  • International students or travel products
  • Hiring and leasing
  • Banking and financial institutions

If there’s any urgency to your bill payment, we completely understand! Please email a copy of your invoice to customercare@sniip.com. Alternatively, call our Sniip Support Squad on (07) 3268 7710 and we’ll be happy to assist you and expedite the review process where possible.

Please note: If a biller has already been reviewed and restricted, you will receive a ‘blocked biller’ message and the pay button will be disabled. If you believe this is a mistake, please contact us. 

3.When can I start paying to a biller's bank account (BSB and Account Number) because my bill doesn't have a BPAY Biller Code?

Since launching pay from a BSB and Account number at the start of this month, this is the #1 question we’re receiving right now and we appreciate your enthusiasm. 

Rest assured, we’re working hard to bring you this functionality. Our Technical Development Team is currently working away like busy bees and right now we’re on track to release this in 2023. This means you’ll be able to pay all your bills using Sniip, whether they have a BPAY Biller Code or not.

If you’d like to hop on the waitlist to be notified when this feature is released or join our pre-release for this feature, please email customercare@sniip.com

4. Do you have a daily limit for transactions?

Great question! There is no daily limit for transactions made through the Sniip app. 

However, if you’re using the Sniip app for the first time or processing a larger bill than usual, your bank may restrict the transaction amount based on their own internal security guidelines. 

If you are making a payment of this nature, we recommend contacting your bank directly to pre-authorise the transaction. 

If you process the transaction, you may receive the notification, ‘Declined’. 



5. How do I invest in Sniip?

This is a frequently asked question by many of our users. Right now, Sniip is an unlisted public company. If you would like to discuss investing in Sniip, please contact investors@sniip.com.

Easter Office Hours

Please note, our office will be closed Friday, April 15 (Good Friday) through to Monday, April 18 (Easter Monday) and reopen Tuesday, April 19. 

If you require urgent support over this time, please email customercare@sniip.com and a member of our Sniip Support Squad will assist you. 

Save $700 on your electricity bill

Save $700 on your electricity bill

EXPERTS warn household energy bills are set to soar, so here’s how to prepare now and save $700 off your energy bill. 

Finance guru Effie Zahos chatted to Nine News this morning forecasting rises around June/ July this year to layer on top on annual winter household heating costs. 

The article reminded us of a piece we put together heading into summer last year on how to save $700 on your energy bill. So, we created a winter version for you too, here.

We’re 56 days out from winter and we see you reaching for that reverse cycle aircon as the morning mercury starts to mellow. 

Here’s your friendly reminder that every extra degree of heating is adding a greater cost to your energy bill. There’s the obvious steps to layer on an extra jumper, slip on those fluffy bed socks or boots, grab a cup or tea, cozy up with a blanket on or simply do some star jumps. But sometimes, it’s just not enough? We hear you! 

If you’re going to run the aircon, what’s the recommended reading? Good question! Set your thermostat between 22 to 24 degrees celsius and ensure your aircon filter is clean. Use your aircon sparingly and if you can, run it to warm your house when you get home, or your bedroom before you go to sleep rather than blasting it 24/7 (we see you, you cheeky devils). 

According to a recent article by Nine news, ‘Households bracing for higher power bills in coming months’, wholesale energy prices, which make up to 32% of our bill, are soaring and your next energy bill will follow accordingly. 

If you’re looking to prepare now to reduce the cost of your next energy bill, here’s some fast facts from the Department of Energy to save you in other areas of your home.

  • Turning off, or ridding yourself of a second fridge could save you around $172 a year  
  • Switching off the game console when not in use could save you up to $193 a year (this goes for all appliances you’re not using, just remember to switch them off at the wall) 
  • Using the clothesline once a week instead of using the dryer could save around $79 a year
  • Installing a water-efficient 4-star showerhead could save around $315 a year on water bills (you’ll also save on your energy bill as less water will need to be heated)
  • Shop around for the best deal from energy suppliers, don’t assume you’re automatically on the best plan. 

Effie’s top tips from the Nine News article this morning: 

  1. If you’re eligible for rebates (e.g a low income earner or pensioner) “grab them” – there’s some great information, here
  2. When you receive your energy bill, check the bottom of your bill to see if you could save on a cheaper plan with your current provider. 
  3. Or, better yet, use receiving your bill as a reminder to “compare, compare, compare” with other energy providers to ensure you’re getting the best deal, check out the comparison tool by Compare the Market, here

Plus, you can use Sniip instalments (not a BNPL) to save your own money in advance. That way, when your bill due date rolls around, there’s no nasty surprises and you’ve got the money ready to roll. 

Financially Savvy Easter

Financially Savvy Easter? Here's how!

Financially Savvy Easter? Here's How?

Explore our: Top 5 tips for a Financially Savvy Easter

It’s the holiday that always seems to roll around just as we start to get a handle on the New Year. And even though Easter eggs have been on the shelves since December (sighs), it’s still somehow always a surprise when the holiday is suddenly upon us!

But not to worry! We’re here to help you avoid financial shock this holiday season with our top tips for a Financially Savvy Easter. 

1. Let’s get crafty

Instead of spending money on Easter decorations or craft activities for the kids, why not make them yourself!? Get the kids (or the kids at heart) involved in making a DIY Easter Egg basket, bunny foam cups, Easter garland, dip-dyed easter eggs, popsicle chickens or potato stamps. It’s a good way to keep everyone busy from the “I’m bored” school holidays one liners, too. 

2. Plan a Potluck

Whether it’s with family, friends or colleagues, a potluck is a cost effective way to bring everyone together without the financial burden of completely hosting. What’s a potluck? Basically, it’s when someone says, ‘can you bring a dish?’ to any event you attend and you bring something homemade (or from the store). Plus, you can always add in some healthy competition of ‘best dish’ to keep things interesting. 

We quizzed Sniip HQ and here’s some of our teams favourites to whip up for a gathering:

3. Explore Nature

We are lucky to live in such a beautiful country, and exploring nature is a great way to get the family out of the house – without breaking the budget. Going on a day walk and packing a picnic is a wallet friendly, energy burning day out for everyone and a great way to spend some quality time and make memories with your loved ones. 

Here’s some walks you might like to explore in your around city: 

4. Keep it Simple!

Easter eggs are objectively the best form of chocolate. There’s nothing better than unwrapping a little chocolate treat (or ten) in the shape of an egg. 

But buying individual Easter eggs can add up quickly, try not to get caught up at the shops in buying non-chocolate presents for your gift list (or yourself too). 

There’s nothing wrong with sticking to the humble yet delicious Easter egg. If dietaries are of concern, to play it safe, you could opt to gift cute tea or a nice book. Or, writing a card to show your appreciation for that special person in your life is a lovely gesture. 

We (and our waistlines) know the amount of chocolate in circulation around Easter. There’s no need for extravagant presents. Try to keep it small, considered and personal – that’s meaningful! 

5. Scan, schedule and sign-up for seamless bill delivery

You finally get over Christmas, then realise it’s almost Easter and suddenly there’s more gifts to buy and potential holidays to be had. We feel you! 

It’s a busy time and sometimes things can get missed or overlooked, don’t let your bills be one of them. Check out our top 2 favourite ways to keep on top of your bills this Easter! 

Scan and schedule 

Open the Sniip app, tap the ‘+’ button and select ‘Scan’. Scan the BPAY Biller Code on your bill, then schedule it for when it’s due. 

Repeat this process until all your bills are loaded into the Sniip app and ready for payment. Avoid any late fees and rest easy knowing your bills are sorted! 

Seamless bill delivery 

Sign-up for seamless bill delivery and have your bills automatically added to the Sniip app when they arrive in your inbox. 

This is hands down our favourite feature in the Sniip app. Here’s how to do it:

Open the Sniip app, tap the side menu, select ‘Import from Email’ and start getting your bills automatically delivered to Sniip. 

You’ll receive a push notification when they arrive in the Sniip app. Your bill will be ready to schedule or pay!

New Feature Alert: BSB + Account Numbers

New Feature Alert: Paying from BSB + Account Number

Sniip is growing, and changing!

Meet our newest (and most requested) feature, paying from a Bank Account! 

It’s important to us that we always offer a free option in the Sniip app, and paying from a bank account is super easy to use! 

With the addition of bank accounts as a payment option, we have enabled a new way for you to use Sniip with no processing fees.

If you’re a debit card user with Sniip, rest assured we haven’t removed the ability for you to pay with your own funds for free – it’s just via your bank account now as opposed to a debit card. 

This means you’re still able to access all of Sniip’s convenient features and functionality at no cost. 

As always, we remain committed to providing you with the best bill payment service possible. 

Pay from BSB & Account Number

Setting up your Bank Account is easy! We’ve covered all the basics for you including: 

  • How to verify your Sniip account 
  • Adding your BSB & Account Number
  • Paying from a BSB & Account Number
Note: Before adding a Bank Account, you must verify your identity. 

We understand that verifying your identity can be an onerous task and appreciate your assistance! Customer protection, card security and fraud prevention are the highest priorities at Sniip. We’ve put together an FAQ if you have any questions, and as always our Sniip Support Squad are only a phone call away. Feel free to contact us on (07) 3268 7710 or email customercare@sniip.com

New Feature Alert: Preferred Names

New Feature Alert: Preferred Name

New Feature Alert: Preferred Names

You asked, we delivered!

You can now add a preferred first name to your user profile in the Sniip app.  

At Sniip, we recognise, for a whole range of reasons, you may desire an alternative name (preferred name) by which you are addressed. 

We don’t need to know the reason, but it’s important to us, because it’s important to you. For this reason, you can now submit your preferred name on your account. 

Definitions

Legal name: The name as it appears on your local documentation such as your Driver Licence or Passport. 

Preferred name: A preferred chosen name is any name you wish to use other than your legal name. Your preferred name will be appear in the Sniip app and be used in our communications with you. 

How do I add my preferred name to the Sniip app?

Existing Users

  • To update your preferred name in the app.
  • First tap on your profile picture from the home screen to access your account details.
  • Tap ‘Account information’ and update your preferred first name. 
  • Tap ‘Done’ on the keyboard to update!

New Users

  • When you are signing up for Sniip and creating your profile, you will be able to enter your legal first and last name, as well as your preferred name.
  • This step is totally optional – and you can also change your preferred name at any time, see below!

To find out more on how to get started with Sniip, click here. 

Why is it important?

We sometimes are required to review transactions and verify a users identity (just like a bank would, in order to pay a bill). In order for Sniip to verify your identity we need your legal name to match the name on your Drivers license or Passport. 

At Sniip, we take payment security very seriously. If you have any questions, check out our FAQ. 

Is there a new feature you’d like to see in the Sniip app? We’ve love to hear it! Send us an email with your idea to customercare@sniip.com and we’ll pass it onto our Technical Development team! 

Fast Five: Our most commonly asked questions this week (14/02/2022)

Our most frequently asked questions in February 2022

1. Are my Sniip Rewards automatically applied to my bill? I can’t see how to redeem them? 

When it comes to using your Sniip Rewards on your bills, you’re in control of when and how you use your rewards.

To use your reward credit, turn on the ‘Use Sniip Rewards’ toggle slider on the pay screen. 

You can watch how to turn on your reward toggle, here or learn more about rewards, here.

2. Will I be charged the processing fee by Sniip and by my biller?

Short answer, no. You are never charged twice. 

When you pay a bill with a BPAY Biller Code, you pay only the Sniip processing fee associated with your payment method. 

When you pay using a Sniip QR code (on selected rates and water bills), there is no Sniip processing fee. You may be charged a fee by your biller at the time of making the payment, or on your next bill, for payment processing costs.

3. Why is my biller currently under review? How can I speed up the process?

Great question! If your bill is under review, it’s likely that you’re the first person to pay that biller with the Sniip app. 

Rest assured, we review new billers as quickly as possible – usually within 24 hours. 

If your biller is approved, you will receive a push notification letting you know. You may be asked to supply a copy of your invoice as part of the approval process. 

If your biller is determined to fall under one of our restricted industries, Sniip will display the message ‘Biller not currently available’ on the ‘Bill Details’ screen. If there’s any urgency to your bill payment, we completely understand! Please email a copy of your bill to customercare@sniip.com. Alternatively, call our Sniip Support Squad on (07) 3268 7710 and we’ll be happy to assist you.

4. I’m paying bills with my Crypto.com card. What’s it classified as? Will I earn points?

This is a hot question! Crypto.com cards are classified as prepaid debit cards and earn full points with Crypto.com. 

Sniip does not determine the classification of the Crypto.com card. When the card is validated, the payment gateway returns a notification that the card is classified as a prepaid card.

The Crypto.com website states: “The Crypto.com Visa Card is a prepaid card. Broadly speaking, prepaid cards are the same as debit cards. The difference is that debit cards are linked to your bank account, but prepaid cards need to be topped up. In our case, you can top up using bank account transfers, other credit/debit cards, or cryptocurrency.”

5. If my bill doesn’t have a QR code on it, how do I pay it with Sniip?

If your bill is one of the 60,000+ bills with a BPAY Biller Code on it, chances are you can pay it with Sniip! 

It’s the same process as scanning a Sniip QR code. You simply open the Sniip app, tap the ‘+’ button, select ‘Scan’, then hover your phone over the BPAY Biller Code on your bill. 

The app will then pull your bill into the Sniip app ready for you to review and pay!

Redeeming your Sniip Rewards


Redeeming your Sniip Rewards

We have been getting a few questions from you recently on how to redeem your Sniip Rewards. 

Maybe you’ve been busy referring your friends, or came in through one of our partners? Regardless, we’re so happy that you have been busy earning rewards!

We know that when it comes to budgeting and bill payments, there’s some times where we all need a little more help! That’s why Sniip gives you full control over how and when you redeem your Sniip Rewards. 

Watch below to see how to Redeem Your Sniip Rewards Balance when making a bill payment. 

It is important you ensure that the toggle in the payment screen is switched ON. 

This will enable your Rewards balance for that bill, and you will see the final payment amount with your Rewards balance deducted. 

Please note Sniip Rewards are unable to be used for scheduled payments, or when making payments via the Sniip QR or Australia Post ‘Post Billpay’ code. Rewards can only be redeemed for a bill with a minimum payment of $50.

Let us know if we can help in any other way by contacting our Sniip Support Squad at customercare@sniip.com or at (07) 3268 7710.

Sniip and Google Empower You: Pay bills quickly now (Hot-Tip)

Sniip|Google: Sniip takes the sting out of paying bills with the help of Google Cloud

Earlier this year, our development team at Sniip caught up with Google to have a chat about how Sniip has achieved scale with the help of Google Cloud.

We are very proud to share some of the story behind the building of our industry leading bill-payments platform at Sniip! (Thank you Danny Mills and Lidia Zurek). 

Our entire development team is based right here in Brisbane, Australia. We’ve included a Sniipet (😉) of the article below.

Read the full article, here