Publishers Clearing House, or PCH, is known for its popular sweepstakes and prize giveaways. But PCH also operates a robust mail order and magazine subscription business. If you’ve placed orders with PCH or subscribe to any of their publications, you’ll receive periodic bills that need to be paid promptly. This article outlines the easy ways to pay your PCH bill online, by phone, or by mail.
Overview of Payment Options
PCH offers customers multiple convenient payment options
- Pay online via credit/debit card, electronic check, PayPal, Venmo, Apple Pay, or Google Pay
- Pay by phone 24/7 using automated system or live agent
- Pay by mail with check or money order
Paying online is fast, secure, and free Customers can also setup recurring payments and access billing history Paying by phone allows you to speak with a customer service agent during business hours or use the automated system anytime.
Below we’ll explore these options in more detail, along with tips for avoiding late fees and keeping your PCH account in good standing.
How to Pay Your PCH Bill Online
Online payment is the best and easiest way to pay your PCH bill. To get started, you’ll need to have an online PCH account. To get one, go to the PCH website and click “Sign In” if you don’t already have one.
Here are the steps to pay online once your account is setup:
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Go to https://myaccount.pch.com and login to your account
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Click on “Make a Payment”
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Enter your payment amount and select a payment method
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Provide your payment details and submit
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The payment will process immediately and you’ll receive a confirmation
PCH offers several payment methods when paying online:
- Credit or Debit Card – Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Discover
- Electronic Check – Use your routing and account number
- PayPal – Instantly pay from your PayPal balance or linked accounts
- Venmo – Pay directly from your Venmo account
- Apple Pay – For iOS devices and browsers
- Google Pay – For Android devices and Chrome
Online payments are fast, convenient, and posted to your account right away. You can pay as soon as you receive your bill to avoid any late fees.
Setup Recurring Payments
For hands-free convenience, you can enroll in recurring automatic payments from your online PCH account. This automatically charges your selected payment method each month to pay your balance in full.
With autopay enabled, you don’t have to remember due dates or manually make payments. Your account stays current automatically.
To begin, choose “Recurring Payments” from the payments page in your online account. Pick your payment details and frequency, review, and confirm your enrollment. It’s that quick and easy!
Paying Your PCH Bill by Phone
If you prefer to pay your bill over the phone, PCH offers a few options:
Automated Pay by Phone
PCH’s automated phone payment system allows you to pay your bill 24/7 by calling toll-free 1-800-645-9242. Just follow the voice prompts to enter your account details and payment information using your phone keypad.
The automated system is available anytime and processes payments immediately. Keep your account number handy to access your account.
Customer Service Agents
For personal assistance, you can call PCH’s customer service line at 1-800-645-9242 and speak to a live agent during business hours. The agents can take a payment over the phone or help troubleshoot any account issues.
Before you call, have your PCH account number, invoice details, and payment info ready for a quick experience. Agents are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 8pm Eastern.
Whether you prefer the self-service automated route or personalized help from an agent, paying by phone is fast and efficient. Your payment will be applied to your account right away.
Paying by Mail with Check or Money Order
If you prefer not to pay online or over the phone, sending a physical check or money order by mail is an option. Here’s how it works:
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Write your PCH account number on the payment
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Make check or money order out to “Publishers Clearing House”
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Include your remittance stub or invoice if possible
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Mail payment to:
Publishers Clearing House
PO Box 6001
Harlan, IA 51593-1841
Be sure to allow 5-7 business days for your mailed payment to reach PCH and avoid any late fees. We recommend paying at least 1 week before your due date. Tracking your mailed payment is also a good idea.
While slower than electronic payments, paying by traditional mail is a fine option for anyone not comfortable with online or phone payments.
Avoid Late Fees and Account Suspension
Like any company, PCH expects customers to pay their invoices fully and on time. If your account becomes past due, you may be charged late payment fees. If bills continue going unpaid, PCH may suspend your account privileges entirely.
To avoid penalties and keep your account active, be sure to pay your balance by the due date printed on your invoice. Online and phone payments post instantly, while mailed payments require extra time. Setting up autopay or payment reminders can help prevent missed payments.
If you anticipate having trouble paying on time, contact PCH customer service right away. They may be able to arrange a payment plan or special terms. Communication is key to resolving issues before accounts reach suspension.
Check Your Balance and Payment History
An important benefit of the PCH online account system is visibility into your billing details. You can check your up-to-date account balance anytime to see what’s due.
Your account also shows past statements and payment history, providing records of your financial transactions. It’s a useful reference if any billing questions ever arise.
On the payments page, you can view:
- Current account balance
- Recent payments and processing date
- Payment methods on file
- Statements and billing history
- Outstanding balances
Easy access to this information helps you stay on top of your account and ensure payments get applied properly. Monitoring your balance also lets you avoid any unwanted surprises or fees.
Changing Billing Frequency or Going Paperless
Beyond just making payments, customers can also manage billing preferences in their online accounts. For example, you can:
- Switch to quarterly or annual billing cycles rather than monthly
- Opt-out of mailed paper statements to go paperless
- Update personal and contact information
- Change default payment method
Less frequent billing cycles means fewer payments to remember. Going paperless reduces clutter and is environmentally friendly. Keeping your account details current ensures accurate communication.
Modifying these settings is easy in the account preferences section. Adjusting your preferences to suit your needs helps simplify bill management.
Get Support from PCH’s Customer Service
If any questions or issues arise while managing your PCH account and payments, the customer service team is available to help. Contact them at:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 1-800-645-9242
- Mail: Customer Service
300 Jericho Quadrangle, Suite 300
Jericho, NY 11753
PCH customer support can answer billing questions, take payments, update account details, and troubleshoot problems. They aim to provide friendly, efficient support via your preferred channel.
Most account management and payments can be handled yourself online. But for added help, the PCH customer service reps are standing by.
PCH Account Management Made Easy
Paying your PCH bill quickly, checking your balance, updating billing preferences, and getting support is now easier than ever through the online account portal and responsive customer service team.
Managing your account, making payments, and avoiding fees is simple with the convenience of paying online 24/7, via mobile, by phone, or traditional mail. Autopay and paperless billing further simplify the process.
PCH’s self-service tools and helpful customer service give customers control over their account. Keeping your PCH account current and in good standing is vital for those who enjoy regularly ordering merchandise, magazines, and sweepstakes entries from this iconic American brand.
Can antivirus protect against Publishers Clearing House scams?
Antivirus software is not specifically designed to protect against Publishers Clearing House scams, as these scams often involve social engineering and manipulation rather than traditional malware. However, antivirus software can help you identify and avoid malicious websites or dangerous links that would expose you to data breaches.
Scammers pose as PCH representatives on the phone
In some cases, scammers might also try to pass themselves off as one of the members of the Prize Patrol. You can sometimes see this tactic on social media, but it’s used more often on the phone, where it’s harder to verify the identity of the person you’re talking to. Over the phone, they might tell you that you won cash or a valuable prize and request credit card details so they can send your money or pay the taxes on your winnings.
Good to know: Advanced scammers may spoof the caller ID so the display shows that the call is coming from the Publishers Clearing House even though it’s not. That’s why it’s important to remember that PCH doesn’t call people to let them know when they’ve won money—this is always a Publishers Clearing House scam call.
PCH’s “Pay Your Bills” Sweepstakes
FAQ
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