Hi there, BT1340.

I agree with, Rainflurry. Let me lay out the steps to record the customer payment.

First, set up a clearing account:

1. From the Lists menu, select Chart of Accounts.
2. Right click anywhere in the Chart of Accounts page, then select New.
3. In the Add New Account window, select the Bank radio button.
4. Click Continue.
5. You can enter Clearing Account as the Account Name.
6. Ensure that the opening balance is set to 0.
7. Hit Save & Close.

Second, pay the bill using the Clearing Account created earlier. Here's an article for the detailed steps in paying the bill: Pay bills in QuickBooks Desktop.

You can also pin this article for the complete list of Accounts Payable workflow: Accounts Payable workflows in QuickBooks Desktop.

Feel free to mention my name whenever you have concerns about recording bills.