Bill Payments using RPPS

Overview

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 it 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

RPPS File Formats & Samples

New Page

Originator Payment File

Sample data

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



File header record


Field #

Field position

Field Size

Content/Format

Example

Remarks

  •  

1

1

Numeric

Record Type Code

1

  •  

2-3

2

Numeric

Priority Code

01

  •  

4-13

10

Alphanumeric

Immediate Destination

“ “ + 999900004

  •  

14-23

10

Alphanumeric

Immediate Origin

Bank properties RPPS-ID

  •  

24-29

6

YYMMDD

Transmission date

YYMMDD

  •  

30-33

4

HHMM

Transmission Time

HHMM

  •  

34

1

Alphanumeric

File modifier

User input

  •  

35-37

3

Numeric

Record size

094

  •  

38-39

2

Numeric

Blocking factor

10

  •  

40

1

Numeric

Format code

1

  •  

41-63

23

Alphabet

Destination

MC REMIT PROC CENT SITE

  •  

64-86

23

Alphabet

Original Name

TabaPay INC

  •  

87-94

8

Alphanumeric

Reference code

YYMMDDD-File modifier



Batch header


Field #

Field position

Field Size

Content/Format

Example

Remarks

  •  

1

1

Numeric

Record Type Code

5

  •  

2-4

3

Numeric

Service Class Code

220 Credit, 225 Debit

  •  

5-20

16

Alphanumeric

Biller Name

Left justified, with blank

  •  

21-40

20


Reserved

Blank

  •  

41-50

10

AN

Biller ID


  •  

51-53

3

A

Entry Class

CIE

  •  

54-63

10

A

Entry Description

RPS PAYMNT or REVERSAL

  •  

64-69

6

O/AN

Biller Descriptive Date

YYMMDD

  •  

70-75

6

N

Transmission Date

YYMMDD

  •  

76-78

3


Reserved

Blank

  •  

79

1

N

Originator Status code

1

  •  

80-87

8

N

MC RPPS ID


  •  

88-94

7

N

Batch number

Unique per file


Detail Record


Field #

Field position

Field Size

Content/Format

Example

Remarks

  •  

1

1

Numeric

Record Type Code

6

  •  

2-3

2

N

Transaction Code

22 Credit. 27 Debit

  •  

4-29

26

X

Reserved

Blank

  •  

30-39

10

N

Net amount

2 decimal pl

  •  

40-54

15

AN

Consumer name

CIE format

  •  

55-76

22

AN

Acct number


  •  

77-78

2

X


Blank

  •  

79

1

N

Addenda record

0

  •  

80-94

15

N

Trace Number



Batch control


Field #

Field position

Field Size

Content/Format

Example

Remarks

  •  

1

1

Numeric

Record Type Code

8

  •  

2-4

3

N

Service code

220-credit. 225-debit

  •  

5-10

6

N

Entry count

# entries

  •  

11-20

10



blanks

  •  

21-32

12

N

Sum debit amt

2 decimals

  •  

33-44

12

N

Sum credit amt

2 decimals

  •  

45-54

10

AN

Biller id


  •  

55-79

25




  •  

80-87

8

N

RPPS ID

Bank properties

  •  

88-94

7

N

Batch number

Match header


File control


Field #

Field position

Field Size

Content/Format

Example

Remarks

  •  

1

1

Numeric

Record Type Code

9

  •  

2-7

6

N

Batch count

# batches

  •  

8-13

6

N

Block count

blank

  •  

14-21

8

N

Entry count

#entries

  •  

22-31

10

N

Hash


  •  

32-43

12

N

Sum debit amt

2 decimals

  •  

44-55

12

N

Sum credit amt

2 decimals

  •  

56-94

30


Reserved




RPPS Error Codes



RC

Description

R01

Insufficient Funds

R02

Customer account closed

R03

No account

R04

Invalid account number

R05

No pre-notification on file

R06

Returned in accordance with originator request

R07

Authorization previously permitted revoked by customer

R08

Payment stopped or stop payment on item

R09

Uncollected funds

R10

Customer advises not authorized

R12

Branch sold to another DFI

R14

Representative payee deceased

R15

Individual (beneficiary) deceased

R16

Account frozen

R17

File record edit criteria

R18

Improper effective entry date

R19

Amount field error

R20

Non-transaction account

R21

Invalid biller identification number

R22

Invalid account number

R23

Payment refused by biller

R24

Duplicate entry

R25

Invalid fair share amount

R26

Erroneous data

R29

Corporate customer advises not authorized

R31

Permissible return entry (CCD only)

R42

Routing number/check digit error

R43

Invalid DFI account number

R61

Misrouted return

R62

Incorrect trace number

R63

Incorrect dollar amount

R64

Incorrect individual identification

R65

Incorrect transaction code

R66

Incorrect company identification

R67

Duplicate return

R68

Untimely return

R69

Multiple errors

R70

Permissible return entry not accepted

R71

Misrouted dishonored return

R72

Untimely dishonored return

R73

Timely original return

R74

Corrected return

R80

Cross-border payment coding error

R81

Non-participant in cross-border program

R82

Invalid foreign receiving DFI identification

R83

Foreign receiving DFI unable to settle

R84

Entry not processed

R95

Rebate of fair share from creditor

C01

Incorrect DFI account number

C02

Incorrect routing number

C03

Incorrect routing number and DFI account number

C04

Incorrect individual name/receiving company name

C05

Incorrect transaction code

C06

Incorrect DFI account number and incorrect transaction code

C07

Incorrect routing number incorrect DFI account number and incorrect transaction cod

C08

Incorrect foreign receiving DFI identification (CBR and PBR only)

C09

Incorrect customer account number

C10

Incorrect company name

C11

Incorrect company identification number (biller identification number)

C12

Incorrect company name and company identification

C50

Automated‚ Account Conversion: Customer account number incorrect

C51

Automated, Account Conversion: Biller ID incorrect

C52

Automated, Account Conversion: Customer account number and Biller ID incorrect

C68

DFI account number not from original entry detail record


Processed File from TabaPay

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