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Paying the utility bills in English (advanced)
Advanced English for paying the utility bills. Key line: “Hi, could I settle my water and electricity bills here?”
Full script
Lin
Hi, could I settle my water and electricity bills here?
Them
Sure—do you have the account numbers, or should I look them up?
Lin
I've got them, though my gas bill keeps showing up like an uninvited guest.
Them
No worries, we can bundle them if you want to clear everything today.
Lin
Yeah, let's do that—I'd rather sort it all out in one go.
Them
All right, the total comes to eighty-four, and the gas one is late again.
Lin
Of course it is—my heater has been acting like it's training for winter.
Them
Then paying it now is smart; your heater clearly has big plans.
Key phrases
The lines worth keeping. Read them once before you go out.
Paying
✓ settle my billsPay the bills in full
More formal than pay
Check
✓ look them upFind them in the system
them = bills or accounts
Pay off
✓ clear everythingPay everything off
often all debt at once
At once
✓ in one goFinish it all at once
not separately or in parts
Quick answers
Paying: what to say in English
Say “settle my bills” — pay the bills in full. More formal than pay.
Check: what to say in English
Say “look them up” — find them in the system. them = bills or accounts.
Pay off: what to say in English
Say “clear everything” — pay everything off. often all debt at once.
At once: what to say in English
Say “in one go” — finish it all at once. not separately or in parts.