Pay National Fuel Bill With Credit Card: A Complete Guide

Paying your National Fuel bill with a credit card is a convenient way to earn rewards or cashback while keeping up with your utility payments. In this comprehensive guide we’ll walk through everything you need to know about using a credit card to pay your National Fuel gas bill online.

Overview of Paying National Fuel Bill With Credit Card

National Fuel Gas Company provides natural gas to over 730,000 customers across New York and Pennsylvania. Traditionally, customers could pay their National Fuel gas bills via check, debit card, electronic check, and even cash at authorized payment locations.

However, National Fuel now accepts major credit cards for online bill payments through their updated online bill pay portal. This means you can use a Visa Mastercard, American Express Discover, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, or Venmo account to pay your National Fuel gas bill and earn rewards.

Paying by credit card allows you to:

• Earn cash back, points, miles, or other rewards on your gas utility payments
• Enjoy extended repayment periods
• Track expenses easily with your credit card statement
• Take advantage of credit card benefits like purchase protection, extended warranties, etc.
• Avoid late fees by automating payments
• Improve credit through on-time payments

Below, we’ll go through the step-by-step process for paying your National Fuel bill by credit card online.

How To Pay National Fuel Bill Online With a Credit Card

Paying your National Fuel gas bill with a credit or debit card online is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps:

Step 1: Log In To Your National Fuel Account

First, visit the National Fuel website and log into your online account. If you don’t have an online account, you’ll need to set one up with your account number before proceeding.

Step 2: Select “Make a Payment”

Once logged in, find and click on the “Make a Payment” link at the top of the page. This will take you to the payment portal.

Step 3: Enter Payment Details

On the payment page, enter your credit/debit card information including the card number, expiration date, and CVV security code. Make sure the cardholder name matches your National Fuel account name.

You can also choose to use a digital wallet like Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, or Venmo by selecting the appropriate icon. Simply login to authenticate the payment.

Step 4: Confirm Payment Method

Carefully review the payment details including the card type, account name, payment amount, and payment processing date. Then check the box to authorize the payment.

Step 5: Receive Payment Confirmation

You will receive an on-screen payment confirmation with a reference number once the transaction is complete. Your credit card statement will reflect the National Fuel payment.

And that’s it! The online process makes it seamless to pay your National Fuel gas bill with the convenience of a credit or debit card.

Credit Cards Accepted By National Fuel

National Fuel now accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay, PayPal, and Venmo for online bill payments.

Using a rewards credit card like the Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Gold Card allows you to maximize points or cashback earned on your utility bill. Aim for cards that offer bonus rewards for gas purchases or bills paid directly with the card.

While debit cards and prepaid cards issued under Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover (like gift cards) will also work, you won’t earn rewards on the payment.

Note that National Fuel does not accept store credit cards, business credit cards, or Visa/MC-branded consumer debit cards for online payments. Payments made in person at authorized walk-in locations may allow wider payment options.

Always make sure your credit card does not charge cash advance fees or a higher interest rate for paying bills before using it for utilities. Set up autopay with your rewards card to maximize savings effortlessly each month.

Payment Fees, Limits, and Processing Timelines

There are no National Fuel processing fees for paying your gas bill by credit or debit card online. However, some credit card companies may treat utility bill payments as a cash advance or charge a transaction fee, so check your credit card terms.

In most cases, National Fuel will post the credit card payment to your account the same day if submitted before 3 PM ET on business days. Payments made after 3 PM or on weekends/holidays are posted the next business day.

Processing times can take 1-2 business days after the payment post date. Avoid late fees by scheduling online payments a few days before your bill’s due date.

National Fuel does not appear to enforce a credit card payment maximum. However, your individual credit limit and available balance will impact the maximum bill amount you can pay.

Autopay and Reminders for National Fuel Bills

Enrolling in National Fuel autopay through the online account dashboard is a convenient way to go paperless and ensure your bill gets paid on time each month.

When setting up autopay, you can select your credit card as the default payment method. Your bill will be automatically paid each month on the due date using the credit card details on file.

You can also opt to receive bill reminders by email, text, and calendar alerts so you never miss a payment. Add these reminders when logged into your National Fuel account.

Automating payments with autopay, along with reminders, provides peace of mind that your utility bills will be paid on time without hassle.

Can I Earn Credit Card Points and Rewards?

Yes, paying your National Fuel gas bill with a credit card allows you to earn points, miles, cash back, or other rewards just like any other credit card purchase. However, you’ll want to use the right card to maximize rewards.

For instance, the Bank of America Cash Rewards credit card earns 3% cash back on gas utility bill payments. The Chase Freedom cards offer 5% back on quarterly rotating categories that sometimes include gas stations or utility bills.

Check your credit card’s reward category bonuses to see if gas, utilities, bills paid directly with the card, or similar categories qualify for extra rewards.

I put my National Fuel payments on my Amex Gold Card since it earns 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. gas stations. Over a year, the points earned can add up, offsetting some of your gas bill costs.

Note that debit card or pay apps like PayPal typically do not offer rewards on payments. Make sure to use a eligible credit card if you want to earn perks on your National Fuel payment.

Pros of Paying With a Credit Card

Beyond earning rewards, here are some of the biggest benefits of paying your National Fuel bill with a credit card:

• Convenience: Pay your bill securely 24/7 online without mailing checks
• Efficiency: Make payments and track expenses easily from a single card statement
• Rewards: Certain credit cards offer bonus rewards for gas and utility payments
• Cash Flow: Enjoy the float — using your card provides a short-term loan until you pay off the statement
• Protections: Cardholder policies like extended warranty, price protection, etc. may apply on eligible utility bills
• Credit Score: Making consistent on-time payments can improve your overall credit history

As long as you make payments on time and avoid interest charges, using a credit card is an efficient way to gain convenience and maximize rewards on recurring monthly gas bills.

Potential Risks and Downsides

However, there are some potential cons to weigh when deciding if paying National Fuel by credit card makes sense:

• Interest Charges: You’ll incur costly credit card interest if you carry a balance and don’t pay the full bill monthly.
• Cash Advance Fees: Some cards charge this fee for payments to utility companies. Verify if your card issuer treats utility bills as cash advances.
• Late Fees: Making late credit card payments can result in fees and penalty APRs. Set up autopay to avoid issues.
• Credit Limit: Large utility bills may get declined if they exceed your available credit limit.
• Credit Inquiries: Applying for rewards cards can result in hard inquiries that temporarily lower your credit scores.

As long as you avoid interest charges, pay your bill on time each month, and stay under your credit limit, using a credit card to pay National Fuel bills can make sense for the convenience and rewards. But carry a balance, miss payments, or max out your card and you could end up worse off.

Credit Card Tips for National Fuel Customers

If you want to earn rewards on your National Fuel bill payments, here are some tips to maximize value:

• Put your National Fuel bill payments on a card that earns bonus rewards for gas, bills paid directly on the card, or utilities – like the US Bank Cash+ Visa which lets you choose two 5% cashback categories each quarter or the Citi Custom Cash Card that automatically earns 5% back on your top eligible spend category