Since 2002, BPAY has commissioned TNS, a global market research firm, to undertake its annual Consumer Usage & Attitudes Study. One objective of this extensive study is to identify consumer trends within the bill payment landscape, including how consumers manage their bill payment obligations and their perceptions around BPAY and BPAY View.

With both quantitative and qualitative findings, this comprehensive snapshot of bill payment habits is a critical component in evaluating the brand?s performance on an ongoing basis.

In 2007, virtually all survey participants (97%) had heard of BPAY.

And not only had brand awareness reached saturation point, but consumers expressed their confidence and trust in the brand. Consumers consistently ranked security, convenience and ease as the most influential factors to shape their bill payment choices ? and based on these features, BPAY outperformed all other payment methods.

The survey reported that BPAY had the largest share of bills, accounting for 36 per cent of bill payments made in the last month. The findings also indicated that BPAY payments tend to ensure timely bill remittance, with 94 per cent of BPAY users surveyed citing they pay a bill on or before the due date.

In terms of bill payment methods, increasingly consumers are moving to electronic options. This corresponds with a decline in telephone, in-person and mail payments ? a steady trend that remains unchanged since the study began.

The shift to electronic commerce is now moving beyond bill payment into the area of bill presentment ? the realm of BPAY View. Of those surveyed, 35 per cent were aware of BPAY View and 40 per cent indicated that they would consider using the service.

The primary incentive for people to use BPAY View was around the availability of more bills, a challenge BPAY is set to overcome this year with a number of new billers set to join the service, particularly from the utilities sector.

Consumers reported their bill preference for e-presentment, with recurring household bills at the top of the list.

BPAY Billers who would like more information on the 2007 Usage & Attitudes Study should contact the BPAY office.