Paying DEFT with Credit Card: 1st October 2026 Change Explained
If you’ve been paying your strata levies, body corporate fees, or other bills through DEFT by credit card, that option is going away. From 1 October 2026, DEFT is removing credit card payments entirely, which means anyone who’s relied on that method will need to find another way to pay.
This article explains what’s changing, why it matters, and how platforms like Pay & Earn can fill the gap while rewarding you for paying your bills.
What DEFT’s Credit Card Removal Means for You
DEFT has been a long-standing payment platform used by property managers, strata companies, and other billers across Australia. For many households, it’s been the default way to pay strata levies or body corporate fees, and credit card was a convenient option, especially for anyone trying to rack up frequent flyer or rewards points in the process.
From 1 October 2026, that convenience disappears. DEFT’s own website confirms the change: credit and debit card payments will no longer be accepted. The platform is moving to direct debit and bank transfer options only. If you currently have a credit card set up as your DEFT payment method, you’ll need to update your details or find an alternative before that date or
risk a missed payment.
The practical impact is real. People who’ve been earning credit card points on strata fees, body corporate contributions, or similar bills will lose that earning opportunity if they simply switch to a bank transfer through DEFT. It’s worth thinking about whether a smarter alternative
exists.
Why Paying Bills by Credit Card Has Always Made Sense
Paying household bills by credit card isn’t just about convenience. For anyone with a rewards-earning card, it’s one of the most straightforward ways to accumulate points on spending you’d be doing anyway. Rent, strata fees, electricity, insurance, school fees, council rates: these are bills that go out every month or quarter regardless. If you can earn points on them, you’re turning unavoidable expenses into something useful.
The challenge has always been that not every biller accepts credit cards, and some that do charge fees that can make the transaction less worthwhile. That’s a calculation worth doing, but the underlying logic is sound. Bills are large, recurring, and predictable, which makes them ideal for rewards earning if the payment method allows it.
When DEFT removes the card option, it’s a reminder of how much control individual billers have over how you can pay and what you can earn. Platforms that put that choice back in your hands are worth knowing about.
Better way to pay your DEFT
Pay & Earn is an Australian bill payment platform designed for everyday households. Once it launches, you’ll be able to pay a wide range of bills through a single account: rent, gas, electricity, insurance, council rates, school fees, childcare, internet, phone, and government bills. You choose whether to pay by credit card (Amex, Visa or Mastercard) or bank payment, including PayTo.
The key difference from most bill payment options is the rewards layer. When you pay through Pay & Earn, you can earn PAE Points on your payments. Those points can then be redeemed with a reward partner of your choice across categories including flights, hotel rewards, experiences, and gift cards. On top of that, if you pay by credit card, you still earn your full credit card’s reward points as well. So, you’re potentially earning in two places at once on the same bill.
Pay & Earn has three pricing tiers: Essential, Plus and Max. The rate at which you earn PAE Points varies by tier, with higher tiers earning at a higher rate. A platform fee applies per payment, varies by payment method, and is always shown clearly before you confirm. There are no monthly or subscription fees and joining is free.
It’s worth noting that the types of bills Pay & Earn covers go well beyond strata fees. If the DEFT change is prompting you to reconsider where and how you pay household bills generally, Pay & Earn is built to handle the full picture in one place.
From DEFT’s Credit Card Cutoff to Earning on Every Bill
The DEFT change is a nudge to look at the broader picture of how you pay your household bills. Losing a credit card option on one platform is frustrating, but it’s also an opportunity to find a setup that works harder for you across all your bills, not just the ones DEFT handles.
Pay & Earn is built around the idea that the bills you already must pay could be earning you something worthwhile. Flights, hotel stays, gift cards, experiences: the points you earn on everyday bills could contribute to any of those, depending on how you choose to redeem.
If you’re ready to explore a better way to pay household bills and earn along the way, join the Pay & Earn waitlist at payandearn.com.au. It’s free to join, and you’ll be among the first to know when payments go live.