OneVu

OneVu is an online service that enables consumers to view, track and pay bills online through their internet bank.

History and ownership

OneVu was wholly owned by VocaLink, which processes automated payments in the UK.OneVu closed in November 2014

The company was formed in 2003 as Electronic Bill Presentment & Payment Ltd (EBPP) and changed its name and identity to OneVu in 2004.

OneVu was in effect part of VocaLink’s strategy of continuous enhancement to the UK payments system through online bill payment and paperless billing.

Service principles

OneVu was a consolidated bill management service. It differed from aggregated services that ‘scrape’ data from other websites, by providing secure authentication which is only achievable via contractual relationships with participating organisations. Further; the OneVu service is housed within the secure infrastructure that ultimately pays 90% of UK salaries.

The service integrated with online banks’ websites, largely on a ‘white label’ basis. Consumers used OneVu as part of everyday online banking. They benefitted from the same security that is applied to their current or savings accounts.

Bill information was presented in a table and in chronological order. For each bill, the consumer can drill down to a bill summary and then, if available, to an Adobe Reader PDF version of the full bill. This information is served directly and securely from the biller’s website. The consumer does not need to remember or enter additional username or password details.

Using OneVu, it was possible for consumers to manage bills that are paid automatically by Direct Debit and those of a variable nature, such as credit cards. In most cases, consumers may pay bills through the bank’s secure payment service. OneVu automatically inserts bill payment reference information, making the process seamless and error-free.

For consumers who were not customers of currently participating banks, OneVu operated a stand-alone service called MyBillsOnline that provided bill management without a payment facility.

Current position

OneVu was available on the websites of four banks – Lloyds Bank, TSB, RBS and NatWest – and was accessible to almost nine million people who bank online. Around 300 million bills were under management.

The service was known as ‘Bill Manager’ on the Lloyds Bank and TSB online banking websites, and Bill Management on RBS and NatWest.

Around 25 billing organisation brands were part of the OneVu proposition and ranged from utilities to loyalty programmes. OneVu undertakook the task of integration with participating companies’ IT and billing systems, a process that typically took three to four months.

As may be expected, the service was promoted for its convenience and ease of use, lower cost for billers and the environmental advantages associated with reducing waste paper.

Future developments

The OneVu and My Bills Online service will be closed on 30 November 2014.

Awards

In 2007, the OneVu service was voted winner for faster payments in the ‘payments innovation’ category of The Banker Technology Awards and won the ‘most innovative retail or corporate payments service’ category in the EPCA/ECR (European Payments Consulting Association/European Card Review) Excellence in Payments Innovations Awards, 2007.

OneVu also was recognised as a Business Superbrand, together with Voca (VocaLink’s predecessor) in 2005.