BPAY Training
The BPAY Customer Reference
Number (CRN)
August 2015
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / Confidential
Agenda
1
What is the Customer
Reference Number (CRN)?
•
Key Terminology
•
The Check Digit
•
How the CRN is used and works
2
Mobile Phone Numbers and
ABN as CRNs
3
Variable and Intelligent CRN
4
Benefits of using the CRN
5
How do you create CRNs?
BPAY Training
What is the Customer Reference
Number (CRN)?
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
2
BPAY Training
Key Terminology
Customer Reference Number (CRN)
A unique number allocated to a customer’s
invoice identifying the customer and/or the
account to be paid
Biller Code
A unique BPAY number assigned to each
specific biller by their Biller Institution
Intelligent CRN
Enables Billers to fix the following as part of
the CRN:
•
The Amount and Expiry Date of the BPAY
payment or
•
The Expiry date by which the BPAY
payment has to be made (it will not be
accepted if made after that date) or
•
The Amount of the BPAY Payment (it will
not be accepted if it is less than the
required amount)
Check Digit
Contained in the CRN is a number called the
Check Digit
• It’s used to ensure that the CRN is entered
correctly and is calculated using the CRN
itself.
• Usually found at the end, it can be located
anywhere within the CRN
• This depends on the Check Digit
Rule applied
Variable CRN
Enables Billers to track payments relating to
specific periods, bills, invoices or transactions
and changes from bill to bill
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
3
BPAY Training
Key Terminology
A Check Digit Rule
This is the algorithm used to calculate the
check digit within the Customer Reference
Number (CRN) and is mandatory* for all
Billers to use as part of their CRN generation
process.
Validation Rule
A validation rule is a customised rule used to
further validate a Customer Reference
Number, in addition to the Check Digit rule,
for specific Biller requirements:
•
For example: a Biller may want to exclude
the first 5 digits of a CRN from the Check
Digit calculation. This is not mandatory,
these rules give Billers additional flexibility
in the sophistication of their CRNs
•
Validation Rules are also used by Billers to
eliminate Payment Errors and to limit
Fraud on particular Biller Codes e.g. Credit
Card Biller Codes
Customised Check Digit Rules are also used
by Billers to eliminate payment errors
Validation Routines
Contain new and updated Check Digit and
Validation rules. These are maintained by
BPAY and distributed up to 3 times per year
as part of the Validation Routines process.
These can be downloaded from the BPAY
Operations Portal
* Check digit not required where mobile numbers are used as CRNs, see section Mobile Numbers as CRNs
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
4
BPAY Training
What is a Customer Reference Number?
• The Customer Reference Number (CRN) enables easy
and accurate account reconciliation by Billers
• The CRN is located on the customer’s bill, next to the
BPAY logo and below the Biller Code
• It is generated by the Biller
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
5
BPAY Training
The Check Digit
• The Check Digit is calculated from the Customer
Reference Number itself and is used for error detection to
ensure that the customer enters the CRN correctly
• Every BPAY CRN contains a Check Digit*, usually at the
end of the number
- The Check Digit can be generated using an
algorithm (Check Digit Rule) for example:
MOD10V01 or MOD10V05
* Check digit not required for CRNs generated using a mobile number, see section Mobile Phone Numbers as CRNs
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
6
BPAY Training
How the CRN is used
The CRN is generated by each Biller, it relates to the
customer’s account number, invoice number or in
some cases mobile phone number or ABN
•
It is validated by the Payer Institution using the *Check Digit rule
and, if required, some validation rules
•
The CRN is validated at point of BPAY payment.
•
The validation details are provided to each institution on a daily
basis via the Biller Master File
The process of checking payments is fully automated
minimising Mistaken Payments
The CRN is one of the reasons why the reconciliation
of a BPAY payment is so simple and accurate
A Biller can create specific validation requirements
within the CRN
•
For example: when a customer is making a BPAY payment, a Biller
may require the first six digits of the CRN to match the first six digits
of the customer’s account number
* Check digit not required where mobile numbers are used as CRNs, see section Mobile Numbers as CRNs
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
7
BPAY Training
How the CRN is used
The CRN is validated within Internet or Mobile
Banking when the customer submits a Payment
Instruction
It is validated against the Check Digit and Validation
Rules defined in the Biller Master File at the
customer’s Payer Institution
•
Length must be between 2 and 20 digits including the check digit
-
The Biller can specify how many digits a CRN must contain
-
It can be multiple lengths on one Biller code
•
It must include a check digit*
•
It must be Numeric only with no spaces
•
There are a variety of check digit algorithms, one of the most
popular is MOD10V01
•
The Biller can also specify that specific digits must be in certain
positions of the CRN, such as the CRN must start with a 2, 3 or 4
•
This function is known as a Fixed Digit within the Biller Set
Up. Please Note: this can only be used if all CRNs have
the same digit in that position.
* Check digit not required where mobile numbers are used as CRNs, see section Mobile
Numbers as CRNs
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
8
BPAY Training
Mobile Numbers as CRNs
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
9
BPAY Training
Mobile Phone Numbers as CRNs
SME benefits:
This functionality is enabled using the check digit rule
PREPAYMOBL
•
It is a number the SME already has
•
No check digit is required
•
It can be easily reconciled to their customer
•
•
It does not require creation of a check digit
CRNs are validated to start with ‘04’ and be a length of
10 digits
•
It enables simple contact with the Payer via the mobile
number provided
•
This routine is already set-up and available for use by
Billers and Payer Institutions validating BPAY Payments
•
The SME will need to be set-up as a Variable CRN Biller
For SMEs who do not have account or invoice numbers we enable them to use their customer’s mobile number as their CRN
•
To qualify for this option, the SME must have:
•
Less than 200 BPAY payments per month
•
Not have any other numbers that can be used for
generating CRNs
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
10
BPAY Training
ABN (Australian Business
Number) as CRNs
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
11
BPAY Training
ABN as CRNs
BPAY has enabled the use of Australian Business
Numbers (ABNs) as BPAY Customer Reference
Numbers (CRNs).
•
The ABN issued by ASIC and the ATO contains a check digit so it
can be used as a BPAY CRN
•
BPAY has now developed specialised validation that can check that
a valid ABN formatted number has been used as a BPAY CRN
Use of the ABN also provides benefits in
Superannuation payments
•
Clearing houses and payroll providers can use their ABN as their
CRN when making super contributions using BPAY
For Business to Business payments, Billers can now
choose to use their customer’s ABN as the BPAY CRN
on their customer’s bill or invoice
•
Removes the need for the biller to define a new type of customer
identifier
•
•
They are using a pre-existing number that they have to
capture for their Tax records
Using the ABN as a CRN means the biller receiving the payment
can also check that they have correctly captured the business’s
ABN
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
12
BPAY Training
Variable & intelligent CRN
(iCRN)
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
13
BPAY Training
What is a Variable CRN?
A number of BPAY billers have customer reference
numbers that are variable, that is they change with
each bill
Variable CRN ensures that the CRN is not prepopulated within Internet or Mobile banking,
prompting the customer to enter the correct CRN
each time
Variable CRN enables the biller to track payments
relating to specific periods, bills, invoices or
transactions. For example:
Variable CRN is a pre-requisite for iCRN
•
TNT tracking a parcel with the payment rather than the individual
who receives it, or
•
Qantas accepting a BPAY payment for a specific itinerary booked
over the internet
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
•
This a requirement as the iCRN would change from bill to bill
14
BPAY Training
What is an Intelligent CRN? (iCRN)
Allows Billers to fix:
•
The amount and expiry date of the BPAY payment
or
•
The expiry date of the BPAY payment only
or
•
Standard CRN
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
The amount of the BPAY payment only
Intelligent CRN
15
BPAY Training
Why iCRN?
For Billers who require BPAY Payments to be
made for Legal and/or compliance reasons
Billers who would use this
capability include:
Payments by a specific date
Vehicle Registration and Licensing
Payment of a specific amount
Insurance Renewals
Both of the Above
Government Permits and Licences
Infringements processing – Traffic and Parking
Justice and Courts
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
16
BPAY Training
Key iCRN Features
iCRNs have the same length (20) and
format (numeric) of standard CRNs
The variable CRN flag in the Biller Master
File (BMF) should be set to Y to indicate
that the CRN will change for each billing
cycle – this is done by performing a Biller
Update via the BPAY Operations Portal
•
The only way Billers using intelligent CRN
(iCRN) will be identified is by the Check
Digit Rule name
•
There are no other flags or identifiers in Biller Master File
(BMF)
•
Three new Check Digit rules have been developed to cater for
iCRN, the rules are as follows:
-
ICRNAMTDTE = Amount and Date
-
ICRNAMT = Amount only
-
ICRNDATE = Expiry Date only
This is a pre-requisite for iCRN
Billers may design their own custom iCRN
validation routine provided it is within the
constraints of existing iCRN functionality
•
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
There will be no Payer Institution changes required
17
BPAY Training
CRN Benefits
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
18
BPAY Training
CRN Benefits Summary
Feature
Benefit
Check Digit reduces customer input errors
Ensures user accuracy so that payments can be automatically
allocated to the correct account
Unique reference number that identifies the account to be paid
Enables easy account reconciliation
The option for SME’s to use customer mobile phone number as the
customer’s CRN
The option for businesses to use customer’s ABN as their CRN
Encourages greater BPAY take-up by SME’s for their customers
and enables them to offer BPAY using a number they already have
that can be easily reconciled with their customer
ABN as CRN utilises a number the customer already has
Variable CRN – Ensures the customers enter the CRN each time
they make a BPAY Payment within Internet Banking
Gives the Biller flexibility to track and manage payments more
effectively. These payments could relate to a specific period, bill,
invoice or transaction rather than a customer ensuring accurate
allocation of funds
Intelligent CRN – As part of the CRN, Billers can fix:
Provides a more flexible CRN enabling usage by a wider range
of Billers who require this functionality for legal and/or
compliance reasons
•
•
•
The amount and expiry date of the BPAY payment;
The expiry date of the BPAY payment only;
The amount of the BPAY payment only
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
19
BPAY Training
How to Create CRNs
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
20
BPAY Training
Creating CRNs via the BPAY Operations Portal
• The BPAY Operations Portal includes the ability for Scheme Member staff to create CRNs
using the CRN Tools option from the menu:
– The stand-alone version of the CRN Tool will still be available, if required
– The CRN Tool is automatically updated by BPAY with each new release of Validation
Routines
– Please see the Operations Portal CRN Tool Mini User Guide and BPAY Training for
further information on this feature
Copyright 2015 BPAY Group / August 2015 / Confidential
21
Where to get help and more information
The BPAY Training Portal is a ‘one stop shop’ to
access the BPAY Training:
• Accessible from the Member area on www.bpay.com.au
• Obtain your username/password from your BPAY Product Manager
• Provides Product, Sales and Operations training
All materials can be run within the portal or
downloaded, including:
•
•
•
•
•
•
Power point presentations
Quick Reference Guides
BPAY Training Tutorials
Sales Training e-learning modules for BPAY View and Master Biller
Operations ‘How To’ Guides
(Step-by-step Guides to all key Operations tasks)
BPAY Technical Operating Procedures (TOPS)
• Appendix C
Published by BPAY Pty Ltd ABN 69 079 137 518 (Phone (02) 9646 9222; email: marketing@bpay.com.au). BPAY Payments are offered by over 150 BPAY Payer Institutions. Each BPAY Payer Institution is a Member of the
BPAY Scheme - managed by BPAY Pty Ltd. When you use BPAY and/or BPAY View, the BPAY Scheme is paid fees relating to processing costs and BPAY Scheme membership. Contact your financial institution to see if it offers
BPAY and/or BPAY View and to get the terms and conditions or Product Disclosure Statement (PDS). This is general advice - before using BPAY and/or BPAY View please review the PDS and consider whether BPAY and/or
BPAY View is appropriate for your personal circumstances.