Messenger is testing Split Payments – a new feature that will let users share bills among group chat members.
This week, Messenger is starting to test a new feature that will allow users with a U.S. debit card linked to Facebook Pay to easily split household costs, trip expenses, and group dinner bills with others.
As we all know, when it comes to splitting costs for a trip with a loved one, a dinner party with friends, or paying everyday bills with a flatmate, one person fronts the bill and does the legwork of figuring out who owes what. The new “Split Payments” feature aims to make sharing bills and expenses with friends and family simpler.
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As part of the test, Messenger will start letting some users select the Split Payments option within group chats, or do so within the Payments Hub in Messenger settings. From either of the two, users will be prompted to enter information about the expense that they are looking to split.
Then, they will need to set the total sum to be split and whether it is to be split evenly among all group members. During this process, they will also need to decide whether they need to be included in the count or not. Each contribution can be modified and manually adjusted to reflect circumstance – when each person doesn’t owe the same amount.
Before sending out a request to share the cost, users can also enter a personalized message explaining the matter. Still, they will also have the ability to turn on reminders, which will push a notification to specific members of the group if their payment has not been completed in 24 hours.
All payments will be processed via Facebook Pay, and anyone wishing to use Split Payments must have a linked U.S. debit card to send or receive money. According to Meta, the service is free to use.
Featured image: Meta / Messenger