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How to Create and Use BillPay Numbers in Tanzania

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ClickPesa’s BillPay Numbers in Tanzania is a powerful payment solution that lets merchants receive payments directly through mobile money, CRDB SIM banking, internet banking, and Wakalas, without needing a website or app. Whether it’s a one-time order or recurring customer payment, BillPay control numbers make it simple, secure, and automatic.

This guide covers everything you need to know about setting up and using Order and Customer BillPay Control Numbers, along with real-world examples for webshop checkouts, invoices, and offline purchases.

What Is a BillPay Control Number?

BillPay in Tanzania is essentially a control number, a unique numeric code that a customer uses to make a payment to your business via supported channels like:

  • M-Pesa, Tigo Pesa, Airtel Money, HaloPesa
  • CRDB SIM Banking (App or USSD)
  • CRDB Internet Banking and CRDB Wakalas (Agents)

ClickPesa offers three types of BillPay control numbers:

  1. Merchant BillPay-Namba
  2. Order BillPay Control Number
  3. Customer BillPay Control Number

Let’s break down how each works and when to use them.

1. Merchant BillPay-Namba

This is your base 4-digit identifier as a ClickPesa merchant. Think of it as your merchant code.

  • Assigned by ClickPesa when you onboard, after sign up.
  • Used to generate Order or Customer control numbers
  • Can also be used on its own to make internal merchant deposits

Usually, you won’t give this directly to customers unless you’re combining it with a specific order or customer reference.

2. Order BillPay Control Number (One-Time Use)

An Order BillPay Control Number is created for a single, specific payment. It’s dynamic and meant for one-time use, ideal for:

  • Online purchases
  • Invoices
  • In-store payments

How to Create One:

[Merchant BillPay-Namba] + [Order Reference] = Order BillPay Control Number

Example:

  • Merchant BillPay-Namba: 1122
  • Order Reference: 231256
  • Order BillPay Control Number: 1122231256

You can generate this manually, through the ClickPesa Dashboard, or via API.

How Customers Use It:

  • Enter the control number in their mobile money or CRDB banking app
  • Complete payment
  • ClickPesa links the payment to the specific order and shows you real-time updates

3. Customer BillPay Control Number (Recurring Use)

A Customer BillPay Control Number is a static number assigned to a specific customer. It can be reused over and over,  ideal for:

  • Subscription payments
  • School tuition fees
  • Regular monthly services (e.g. rent, retainer fees)

How to Assign One:

  1. Log in to your ClickPesa Merchant Dashboard
  2. Go to Collection → Customers
  3. Select a customer or create a new one
  4. In the Customer Overview, find the “Customer BillPay Control Number”
  5. If it’s missing, click Assign BillPay Number to generate it
  6. Share it with the customer

Example:

A school assigns each student a control number. The student uses the same number to pay tuition every term.

  • Enter their personal control number in mobile money or SIM banking app
  • Make payment any time
  • ClickPesa matches and tracks it under their profile

Tracking and Reconciliation

All BillPay payments are:

  • Processed instantly
  • Tracked in real-time
  • Matched automatically via the ClickPesa Dashboard, Query Payment API, or Webhooks

Common Use Cases & Payment Flows

Invoice Payments:

For businesses sending invoices to customers.

Flow:

  1. Invoice includes Order BillPay Control Number
  2. Customer pays using mobile money, CRDB SIM banking, or Wakala
  3. Your system tracks and confirms payment automatically via API

Offline Store or Restaurant:

For brick-and-mortar merchants or field agents.

Flow:

  1. Staff shares an Order BillPay Control Number with the customer (verbally or on printed bill)
  2. Customer pays via mobile money
  3. You verify payment through dashboard or get webhook confirmation instantly

Why Use ClickPesa BillPay?

  • Receiving payments via ClickPesa BillPay is completely FREE — Zero fees, Zero hassle, Nada!
  • Offline-Friendly — Works without apps or websites
  • Real-Time Tracking — Know the moment payment is received
  • Flexible Setup — Use manually, with the dashboard, or via API
  • Safe & Compliant — Built under Bank of Tanzania regulations

Final Thoughts

Whether you’re running an online store, issuing invoices, or managing recurring customers, ClickPesa BillPay Control Numbers offer a powerful and simple way to get paid across Tanzania.

Start by assigning your Merchant BillPay-Namba after signed up, then build your custom Order or Customer numbers. You’ll be able to offer your clients a frictionless, familiar way to pay,  without any middlemen, delays, or complexity.

Ready to get started?

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