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What you can pay for
You can use Centrepay for a range of goods and services, regular bills and for ongoing expenses.
If you’re not sure if you can use Centrepay to pay for something ask the business.
Search and find a business that offers Centrepay as an option.
Court fines and infringements
Contact the Court Administrative Office in your state or territory if you want to use Centrepay for:
- court fines
- infringements.
What you can't pay for
There are some things you can’t use Centrepay for. These include:
- gift cards, vouchers
- payment plans such as for Christmas hampers
- alcohol and home brew products
- cigarettes
- pornography
- gambling
- firearms, accessories and bullets.
You can’t use Centrepay for the following either:
- paying cash or payday lenders, pawn brokers or debt collectors
- credit cards
- income protection, funeral or life insurance
- renting or leasing of household goods if the agreement is for less than 4 months or doesn’t have an end date
- any holiday accommodation
- car leasing, taxis and hire cars
- bottled water.
You also can’t use Centrepay for government housing payments to state or territory housing authorities. Contact your local housing authority to pay a different way. You may be able to use our Rent Deduction Scheme.
How to pay for household goods a better way
You may end up paying a lot more than you think if you rent or lease household goods.
Better value options include:
- Centrelink advance payments
- no and low interest loans from community organisations
- lay-by from stores
- saving up the money and buying the item outright.
For help to make the most of your Centrelink payment:
- read about how to manage your money
- use the Moneysmart rent vs buy calculator.