We've been able to pay our CESPE and Telnor bills online using U.S. credit cards for years. In the last 2 months suddenly our payments will not post
on either system. Both their systems immediately come back with "TRANSACCIÓN RECHAZADA, INTENTE CON OTRA TARJETA".
I've checked with the card companies for 2 different cards and they are not seeing any attempt to charge the cards, and there are no blocks on charges
from Mexico.
My Spanish is poor, but even when I am able to get someone to understand the problem their service reps are of no help whatsoever and have told me
that know their systems are down. This has been a problem for months and I seriously doubt both systems have been down for that long.
Has anyone else run into this problem and found a solution?
Thanks
[Edited on 6-16-2021 by Stevabc]
[Edited on 6-16-2021 by Stevabc]John Harper - 6-16-2021 at 12:45 PM
Is there a local office? Do you have any friends who speak Spanish well and can help interpret for you? I don't know if you live in Baja, or just
pay remotely for a house, but finding a Spanish speaker would be my choice if all you have is telephone access. Good luck!
JohnStevabc - 6-16-2021 at 01:29 PM
I had a friend pay the bills the last couple of month, but I can't continue to rely on him to do so. I need to find a way to pay these bills myself
when I'm not in Mexico. AKgringo - 6-16-2021 at 01:53 PM
I have never had a Mexican utility bill, but in Alaska, and California, I have pre-paid some bills with a balance large enough to cover what would
come in while I was traveling.
Is that a workable option, assuming you can get down there, or have someone else load your account with a positive balance?Stevabc - 6-17-2021 at 08:26 AM
There may be an option to set up autopay with Telnor, but CESPE apparently doesn't have one, or a way to pay in advance.
Considering the number of Americans who live in Mexico part of the year, I'm surprised this hasn't been an issue for anyone else. boe4fun - 6-17-2021 at 08:34 AM
Maybe try uLink for payment? I use it to pay my fideicomiso.SFandH - 6-17-2021 at 09:36 AM
There may be an option to set up autopay with Telnor, but CESPE apparently doesn't have one, or a way to pay in advance.
Considering the number of Americans who live in Mexico part of the year, I'm surprised this hasn't been an issue for anyone else.
I've found the simplest, least hassle method is to pay phone, electricity, and water in advance. I normally pay for 6 months twice a year. I go to the
offices to do that.
Another advantage of this method is that there are no credit/debit cards involved. I trust Mexican data systems even less than I trust US systems, and
US systems are hacked on a regular basis.
[Edited on 6-17-2021 by SFandH]gnukid - 6-17-2021 at 10:02 AM
They want a local credit card, perhaps try phone apps, multipagos or mi oxxo
RFClark - 6-17-2021 at 10:07 PM
Hi,
Paypal has a service called xoom.com I use it to pay my telcel bill from the US. I think that you can pay more things. Take a look.SFandH - 6-18-2021 at 05:48 AM
I went to the Ensenada Telnor office with my credit card in hand. They have to fill in a form, get a copy of your credit card, copy of passport. 10
minutes later my autopay bill for Telnor is now functional. Yes, they will not accept payment with a US CC. That was changed over a year ago. I used
to be able to pay my CFE bill via CC as well, but that went away two years ago. There I prepay with about $4,000 Pesos ahead of time. They send me
invoices via e-mail every month.
I had a friend pay the bills the last couple of month, but I can't continue to rely on him to do so. I need to find a way to pay these bills myself
when I'm not in Mexico.
Udo - 6-18-2021 at 10:41 AM
The Ensenada office has English-speaking customer service agents.
Is there a local office? Do you have any friends who speak Spanish well and can help interpret for you? I don't know if you live in Baja, or just
pay remotely for a house, but finding a Spanish speaker would be my choice if all you have is telephone access. Good luck!
John
karenintx - 6-18-2021 at 11:03 AM
CFE will accept Am-Express Platinum as an online payment.
Stevabc - 6-18-2021 at 02:25 PM
Update: I'm aware of the Paypal service, but have been burned by Paypal shutting down an account in good standing in the past and do not want to deal
with them again if there is an alternative.
I was able to set up autopay on a credit card after a long wait at a Telnor office. CFE has been set up for a different payment method that is still
working and that just leaves CESPE. I'll be going to their office on Monday to see what they can do. Stevabc - 6-19-2021 at 11:57 AM
Yes, they will not accept payment with a US CC. That was changed over a year ago.
That is incorrect, it wasn't changed "over a year ago." I have been able to use a U.S. credit card for years for Telnor and CESPE and have done so
like clockwork every single month. The problems paying just started in the last 2 months.
It looks like it's related to a new geo-location rule that was introduced this year:
