Ranchi, Feb. 23: Move over long and harrowing queues. BSNL Jharkhand circle is all set to roll out electronic clearing scheme (ECS) for subscribers from April. Bills of landline, cellular phones, WLL, broadband or any other service can be paid through the scheme.

Besides saving time and energy to pay up their bills, the subscribers will also be entitled to a one per cent rebate on the bill amount and an extended disconnection immunity period.

Besides, BSNL has also entered into an agreement with banks to accept payments through credit cards.

Three credit card counters will start operating at Bariatu, Shaheed Chowk and Hinoo exchanges by April where subscribers can themselves swipe their cards and enter the amount in the electronic device for card processing (EDC). Else, they can take the help of operators.

Ranchi general manager S.K. Mishra said subscribers merely need to fill a form to allow the BSNL to collect bills of a certain amount, which will be debited directly from their bank accounts. BSNL will send a copy of the bill to the subscriber only for his information. If the bill exceeds the amount, it will be sent directly to the subscriber, he added.

Banks will shell out the amount on the last date of payment and subscribers choosing to pay through the ECS will enjoy a longer disconnection immunity.

If the subscriber finds the billing amount unreasonable, despite it keeping within the amount specified, he can immediately ask his bank to stop payment.

Mishra further said they have also entered into an agreement with ICICI Bank to accept bills through credit cards. There will be three counters for credit cards and, though BSNL is ready, the bank needs some time to install the system. Hopefully, it will be ready by April, he added.

At present, BSNL has only 15 counters to accept bills, where serpentine queues have become a common feature. BSNL also has arrangements with 119 post offices and banks in Ranchi that also accept bills before the last date of payment. After the last date, payment is collected only at the BSNL counters with computer uplink facility.

The state is yet to launch a scheme where a subscriber can clear his bills over the Internet through credit cards. Mishra said the state BSNL circle office is working on the plan and is planning to launch it soon.

With one of their long-standing aspirations about to be realised from April, the subscribers do have a reason to hold on to their hopes.