Bill Payments using RPPS

TabaPay offers bill payments via MasterCard Remote Payment and Presentment Service (RPPS).

The MasterCard Remote Payment and Presentment Service (RPPS), governed by MasterCard International, is a fully electronic solution for bill payment processing that provides electronic routing, posting, and same day settlement of financial transactions.

Participants

Participant Detail
Originator/Originator Bank The Originator originates payment transactions to RPPS using TabaPay as the service provider to originate payments files to RPPS.

The Originator’s Bank is a financial institution used by any Originator. It is the institution from which the MasterCard Settlement Bank obtains funds via a Fedwire to credit Receivers for payment files sent through the RPPS network.

If an Originator is unable to fund payments sent through the RPPS network, the Originator’s Bank would be responsible for guaranteeing the funds for the Originator.
Biller The Biller is a company to which a MasterCard RPPS payment transaction is sent
Biller’s Bank A Biller’s Bank is a financial institution that receives payments on behalf of a Biller from an Originator via the RPPS network.
TabaPay TabaPay is the Originator’s Service Provider connecting to MasterCard RPPS for bill payments originated to the Biller via RPPS.
MasterCard RPPS MasterCard RPPS maintains all connections between Originators and Receivers to transmit data and funds. It allows all parties involved to have one connection to reach multiple Originators and Billers, and maintains all connections, performs extensive edit checks on all files and payment transactions, batches and sends all files, and initiates all settlement transactions.
MasterCard RPPS Settlement Bank The MasterCard Settlement Bank is the financial institution used by RPPS to initiate Fed wires to all Originators’ Settlement Banks and to credit all Receivers for payment files sent through the RPPS network. The MasterCard Settlement Bank sends Fed wires for the value of payments transferred through the MasterCard RPPS network to the appropriate Receivers. The MasterCard Settlement Bank is an agent of MasterCard RPPS and has an agreement with MasterCard RPPS to provide settlement services on its behalf

How Bill Payments via RPPS Works

1 Consumer at the Originator attempts to initiate payment to the Biller
User experience of the consumer is provided by the Originator, and for the purposes of this document, details of the user experience, interaction between Originator and Consumer during biller search etc. is out of scope of this document.
2 The Originator reviews an online directory with TabaPay (Read RPPS Biller Directory)
TabaPay accesses directory at MasterCard RPPS to determine if the Biller can receive payments electronically via the RPPS network.
3 Consumer confirms the payment to the biller. User experience of the consumer is provided by the Originator, and for the purposes of this document, details of the user experience, interaction between Originator and Consumer during biller search etc. is out of scope of this document.
4 The Originator prepares a payment file containing bill payment transactions and sends the file to TabaPay. Validation of records is performed by TabaPay prior to sending a payment file to RPPS.
5 TabaPay sends the file to MasterCard RPPS to process. This includes file and batch editing, account number validation and sorting/batching of payments.
6 The MasterCard RPPS Settlement Bank initiates a Fedwire against the Originator’s bank to retrieve funds in the amount of the payment file after all accounts number validations are complete and inaccurate account numbers have been rejected.
Note: Settlement occurs once daily at 6 PM California time for the total processing that occurred that day.
7 The MasterCard RPPS Settlement Bank initiates Fedwires to credit the appropriate Biller’s Bank.
8 MasterCard RPPS sends payment files to the appropriate Biller.
MasterCard RPPS sends confirmation files to TabaPay confirming transactions received, processed, any rejects from RPPS, returns from Billers, and reasons for the reject or return.
9 The Biller posts the credit to its account receivable.

Considerations

Topic Considerations
Returns Billers can return any payment sent through TabaPay and the RPPS system.
Any payment not posted within 24 hours by the Biller is electronically returned via the RPPS network. RPPS routes it back to the correct Originator.
MasterCard RPPS also allows partial returns. These may be used for various reasons, such as discounts, commissions, rebates, or fees.
The Biller can electronically return any payment to the Originator through TabaPay and RPPS network. Each returned payment includes a return code that provides the reason the payment is being returned. Payments may be returned if the Biller is unable to post the payment, as may occur if an invalid account number or closed account number is used.
Errors and resulting payment disputes are minimized because MasterCard RPPS edits all transaction files prior to sending them to the Biller’s Bank. However, a Biller can return any payment to an Originator via the RPPS network/TabaPay.
Guaranteed Funds All funds to match payment files sent through MasterCard RPPS are transferred via Fedwire; hence, they are guaranteed funds.
Soft Descriptor Every Bill Payment will appear as “Bill Payment” in the consumer’s statement.
Biller Search using RPPS Biller Directory

Biller Search using RPPS Biller Directory

  1. Originator requests Biller Name and Biller Address from consumer and provides the values to TabaPay in a flat file. Format must be conformant with TabaPay requirements.
  2. TabaPay searches RPPS Biller Directory for the Biller (using numerical values from the address) and returns Biller Name to the Originator.
  3. Once Originator confirms the Biller Name from the Consumer, and requests account number for the Consumer at the Biller, Originator creates bill payment for the biller with TabaPay using the Consumer’s account number in the required format.

Refer RPPS Biller Directory File Format

Originator Payment File

Sample Input File

New Page

ISO

MID

ACH Type

Entry Type

Entry Description

Amount

IIN

First name

Last name

Account type

RTN

Account

Debit-Credit

6281

21

N

RPPS

205

rpps0000496

Samwise

Gamgee

RP

123456789

4444444444

C

6281

21

N

RPPS

443.89

rpps0000497

Samwise

Gamgee

RP

123456789

4444444445

C

6281

21

N

RPPS

5.03

rpps0000498

Samwise

Gamgee

RP

233456789

3333333335

C

6281

21

N

RPPS

6.81

rpps0000499

Samwise

Gamgee

RP

123456789

4444444445

C

6281

21

N

RPPS

155.4

rpps0000500

Samwise

Gamgee

RP

*0002380203

*56789

C

6281

21

N

RPPS

68.93

rpps0000501

Samwise

Gamgee

RP

*0002380203

*56780

C

Input File Format

Processed File from TabaPay

RPPS Files

File Details

• File sharing details will be provided to the client

  • Input File name: yyyymmdd_ISO_MID_RPPSInput_N_v2-5.csv (sent to TabaPay)
  • Processed file: yyyymmdd_ISO_MID_RPPSProcessed_A.csv (received from TabaPay)
    o - yyyymmdd=file date
    o - N=sequence number (1..n) if multiple files per cycle used
    o - A=file modifier (A..Z)
    o - For ISO: Do not use MID
    • Comma separator for each field

Input files

• Merchant deposits input file(s) into the file sharing tool.
• All input files since last batch are processed.
• TabaPay moves Input files to 'Inboxprocessed' after processing.
• Email to [email protected] with copy to [email protected]: subject: NAME ACH; total debits and $s, total credits and $s
• Cut-off times: Same day: 7:30 AM PT; Next day: 6pm PT.
• File cutoff missed will be moved to next window
• Confirmation of processing email to merchant
• TabaPay output files, processed files, return files:
• Merchant Pickup return files, Processed files, and Output files in the 'Outbox'

Others

There following files associated with RPPS:

  • Input file -> this file is generated by the merchant and contains the transaction requests.
  • Processed file -> this file is generated by TabaPay. It indicates that transactions that have been sent to the bank.
    • Status: Processed -> Transaction has been sent to the bank.
    • Status: Rejected -> Transaction was rejected, status codes below.

TabaPay pushes RPPS files via SFTP.
SFTP Push - Security options can include:

  • Merchant whitelists TabaPay IP
  • SFTP ID and Password
  • TabaPay public key for SFTP security (ID or ID+PW)
  • File encryption using Merchant public PGP key

FAQs

FAQs | Transaction Costs

What is the cost of each bill pay transaction through Tabapay?

Standard RPPS costs + TabaPay Markup based on contract.

Will I be charged if a transaction is returned or rejected?

You will pay for every transaction that MasterCard charges; No separate TabaPay or MasterCard charges on Returns.

FAQs | Payment File Confirmation

When payments are processed, rejected, or returned how long will it take for TabaPay to inform us?

TabaPay’s cutoff is 6 PM PT, and you should receive the processed file after the nightly batch at about 6:30 PM. You will receive other reports next morning via Dropbox.

How will those payment updates be shared?

SFTP via Dropbox

FAQs | File Format

Is Account the Bill Pay Account number linking Consumer and Biller?

Yes. Account number matches against biller masks in the Mastercard RPPS Biller/Creditor Directory.

Debit/Credit designator – is this telling us that the Biller accepts Debit or Credit cards?

Credit is a payment, Debit is a reversal.

If so, where would we send the credit card number in the payment file?

Not in the payment file, but TabaPay can help you with processing consumer credit card payments through TabaPay as well. Our card acceptance suite includes PCI-Compliant iFrames as well as APIs to place transactions with us.

Does TabaPay initiate the credit card transaction to pay the biller?

Payment to the biller is handled by the network.

Biller Directory File Format

 

·       Record 0 consists of biller information.

·       Record 1 contains biller addresses.

·       Record 2 contains biller masks.

o    There may be multiple 1 and 2 records associated with a 0 record.

o    Each 1 record may contain from 1 to 20 addresses.

o    If no biller addresses are available for a biller, no 1 record will be created.

o    Each 2 record may contain from 1 to 80 masks for the full and partial downloads, and from 1 to 60 masks for the advanced full download.

o    There must be at least one mask for a biller.

o    The address record may contain from 1 to 10 addresses, and the mask record may contain from 1 to 25 masks.

·       Record 3 contains mask descriptors.

·       Record 4 contains AKAs.

·       Record 5 contains contacts.

·       Record 6 contains phone and fax numbers.

o    There may be multiple 3 records associated with a 2 record, multiple 4 and 5 records associated with a 0 record and multiple 6 records associated with a 5 record.

o    Each 3 record may contain from 1 to 35 mask descriptors.

o    Each 4 record may contain from 1 to 15 AKAs.

o    Each 5 record may contain from 1 to 7 contacts.

o    Each 6 record may contain from 1 to 20 phone numbers.

o    If there is no data for record types 3 through 6, then they will not be created.

o    If a mask has mask descriptors, then that mask will be on a 2 record by itself, and the descriptors will be on one or more 3 records after it.

o    Likewise if a contact has phone/fax numbers the contact will be on a 5 record by itself, and the phone/fax numbers will be on one or more 6 records after it.

o    Mask record may contain from 1 to 50 masks and the contact record may contain from 1 to 3 contacts.

o    An 'X0' record will be generated to indicate no data for partial and advanced partial file downloads.


·       mask record may contain from 1 to 50 masks and the contact record may contain from 1 to 3 contacts.

·       An 'X0' record will be generated to indicate no data for partial and advanced partial file downloads.

File Layout:

 

Record lengths for the fixed-width format (in bytes): Biller - 1450 to 1451; Biller Address - 232 to 4621 (2311 automated); Mask - 46 to 2701 (2251 automated); Mask Descriptor - 61 to 2101; AKA -

149 to 2221; Contact - 658 to 4600 (1972 automated); Contact Phone - 101 to 2001.

 

Biller Record (0)

 

Field Name

Field Size (Bytes)

Field Description

Record Type

N 1

Type of Record; 0 - Biller

Biller Key

N 10

Unique key for this biller record. This value never changes.

Record Effective Date

N 10

The date of the last change to this record - YYYY- MM-DD

Biller ID

N 10

Unique biller ID

Live Date

N 10

The date this biller was first activated - YYYY-MM- DD

Transit Routing Number/ABA

N 10

Credit Counseling Biller ID populated on the RPPS website.

Biller Name

AN 128

Corporate Name

Biller Class

AN 50

Industry Type

Biller Type

AN 30

Identifies the biller type.

Line of Business

AN 2

Indicates biller line of business

File Format

N 3

File format for the biller

Accepts Prenotes?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

Accepts Guaranteed Payments Only?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Accepts DMP Prenotes?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Accepts DMP Payments Only?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Average Response Time (Hours)

N 4

The typical time for a biller to respond to a DMP request

*Accept CDP Prenotes?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No


*Accept CDV Prenotes?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Accept CDD Prenotes?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Accept CDF Prenotes?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Accept CDN Prenotes?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Accept FBD Prenotes?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Accept FBC Prenotes?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Return CDR?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Return CDT?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Return CDA?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Return CDV?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Return CDC?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

*Return CDM?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

Require Addenda with Reversals?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

Country Code

AN 3

Three character ISO country code

State/Province Code

AN 3

Three character ISO country subdivision code

Check Digit Routine?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

Currency Code

AN 3

Three character ISO currency code

Territory Code

N 1

1 - Global, 2 - National, 3 - Regional

Previous Biller Name

AN 128

Biller Name prior to Change

Note

AN 1000

Comment field

Accepts Exception Payments?

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

 

Same Day Payment Deadline Cycle

 

AN 1

The deadline cycle used for same-day billers. This field is not present if the biller's concentrator or your institution(s) does not participate in same-day processing.

Total Addresses

N 6

Total Number of Addresses Associated with this Biller

Total Masks

N 6

Total Number of Masks Associated with this Biller

Total AKAs

N 6

Total Number of AKAs Associated with this Biller

Total Contacts

N 6

Total Number of Contacts Associated with this Biller

*Only present in Credit Counseling Directory

 

 

Address Record (1)

 

Field Name

Field Type

Field Description

Record Type

N 1

Type of Record; 1 - Address

Address Key(N)

N 10

Unique key for this address record. This value never changes.

Record Effective Date(N)

N 10

The date of the last change to this record - YYYY- MM-DD

Address Type(N)

AN 40

The kind of address

Address Line 1(N)

AN 50

1st line of Biller Address

Address Line 2(N)

AN 50

2nd line of Biller Address

City(N)

AN 50

Biller City Name

State/Province Code(N)

AN 3

Three character ISO country subdivision code

Country Code(N)

AN 3

Three character ISO country code

Postal Code(N)

AN 15

Address Postal Code

 

 

Biller Mask Record (2)

 

Field Name

Field Type

Field Description

Record Type

N 1

Type of Record; 2 - Mask

Mask Key(N)

N 10

Unique key for this mask record. This value never changes.

Record Effective Date(N)

N 10

The date of the last change to this record - YYYY- MM-DD

Mask Length(N)

N 2

Length of Mask

Mask(N)

AN 22

*=Alpha,#=Numeric,@=Alpha or Numeric, !=Special Character

Exception Mask?(N)

AN 1

Y - Yes, N - No

 

 

Biller Mask Descriptor Record (3)

 

Field Name

Field Type

Field Description

Record Type

N 1

Type of Record; 3 - Biller Mask Descriptor

Biller Mask Descriptor Key(N)

N 10

Unique key for this record. This value never changes.

Record Effective Date(N)

N 10

The date of the last change to this record - YYYY-MM-DD

Mask Descriptor(N)

AN 50

Description of Biller Mask


Biller AKA Record (4)

 

Field Name

Field Type

Field Description

Record Type

N 1

Type of Record; 4 - AKA

AKA Key(N)

N 10

Unique key for this AKA record. This value never changes.

Record Effective Date(N)

N 10

The date of the last change to this record - YYYY- MM-DD

AKA Name(N)

AN 128

Biller Alias

 

 

Biller Contact Record (5)

 

Field Name

Field Type

Field Description

Record Type

N 1

Type of Record; 5 - Contact

Contact Key(N)

N 10

Unique key for this contact record. This value never changes.

Record Effective Date(N)

N 10

The date of the last change to this record - YYYY- MM-DD

Contact Type(N)

AN 40

The kind of contact

Organization Name(N)

AN 128

Organization contact is associated with

Courtesy Title(N)

AN 20

Contact courtesy title

First Name(N)

AN 50

Contact first name

Last Name(N)

AN 50

Contact last name

Title(N)

AN 50

Contact business position title

Address Line 1(N)

AN 50

1st line of Biller Address

Address Line 2(N)

AN 50

2nd line of Biller Address

City(N)

AN 50

Biller City Name

State/Province Code(N)

AN 3

Three character ISO country subdivision code

Country Code(N)

AN 3

Three character ISO country code

Postal Code(N)

AN 15

Address Postal Code

Email(N)

AN 128

Email address

 

Biller Contact Phone Record (6)

 

Field Name

Field Type

Field Description

Record Type

N 1

Type of Record; 6 - Phone

Phone Key(N)

N 10

Unique key for this Phone record. This value never changes.

Record Effective Date(N)

N 10

The date of the last change to this record - YYYY- MM-DD

Phone Type(N)

AN 30

Phone, Fax or Alternate Phone

Phone Number(N)

AN 50

Can include dashes, spaces, etc.

 

File Layout for Advanced Partial File Type:

 

Record lengths for the fixed-width format(in bytes): Biller - 22 to 2072; Biller Address - 32 to 182; Mask - 32 to 126; Mask Descriptor - 42 to 192; AKA - 32 to 338; Contact - 32 to 338; Phone - 42 to

192.

 

 

ACD

Indicator

 

AN 1

Indicates an add or delete of a record or a change to a field. A deleted record will have no field changes listed.

Record Type

 

N 1

Type of Record; 0 - Biller, 1 - Address, 2 - Mask, 3 - Mask Descriptor, 4 - AKA, 5 - Biller Contact, 6 - Phone Number

 

Biller Key

 

N 10

All record types. Unique left-justified key identifying either the biller record changed (type 0) or the biller record the change is associated with (types 1-6).

This value never changes.

 

Record Key

 

N 10

Record Types 1-6. Unique left-justified key identifying either the record changed (types 1,2,4 and 5) or the record the change is associated with (types 3 and 6). This value never changes.

Record Key

N 10

Record Types 3 and 6 only. Unique left-justified key for this record. This value never changes.

Effective Date

N 10

The date this change becomes effective - YYYY-MM- DD

Field

AN 50

The name of the field being added or changed; not available on a delete.

 

Current Value

AN 1000(0), 50(1),

22(2), 50(3),

128(4), 128(5),

50(6)

 

The field value as of the effective date; available on an add or a change.

 

Prior Value

AN 1000(0), 50(1),

22(2), 50(3),

128(4), 128(5),

50(6)

 

The field value before the effective date; available only on a change.

 

 

No-Data Record

 

Field Name

Field Size (Bytes)

Field Description

ACD

Indicator

AN 2

Indicates No Data Modifications are available (X0)

Effective Date

N 10

Indicates the processing date of the file - YYYY- MM-DD