Direct Debit
Direct Debit collection services
Whether you’re an SME, enterprise business or public sector organisation, our Direct Debit collection services ensure regular payments are collected, easily, quickly and safely. Access PaySuite can take care of your recurring payments, giving you confidence in your cash flow, reducing your operating costs whilst offering payment flexibility and convenience to your customers. Read more about our bureau or facilities managed service.
We provide Direct Debit services to leading organisations and businesses
Reduce payment failures with Direct Debit Software
Our Direct Debit collection software means no more payment failures or chasing invoices. As a Direct Debit provider we retry failed payments so there's minimal loss or interruption to your income ensuring your cash flow is consistent and reliable, whether that’s from a monthly subscription or regular tenant payments.
Direct Debit collection system with paperless, flexible payments
Whether you use our Direct Debit portal, API or manually submit Bacs files, our Direct Debit collection service means your payments are taken on the dates and at the frequency that works for you. We can help you migrate to AUDDIS so you can set up paperless Direct Debit, and give your customers a choice on how they want to pay, whether they make online payments or by phone.
m+
transactions / year
+
customers
+
years experience
Full payment visibility with detailed reporting
Get comprehensive and in-depth data on Direct Debit collections with our comprehensive reporting suite, enabling you to reconcile payments, download reports for paids and unpaids and gain clear audit trails giving you complete visibility over transactions processed.
Connect to third party software
Our Direct Debit API integration means you can connect your Direct Debit payments solution to your business software, CRM, ERP, accounting system and more. Forget manual reconciliations, eliminate overheads and reduce lengthy reconciliations our Direct Debit system.
Simple, affordable pricing, with no set-up fee and transaction fees as low as 4p.
Switch on effortless Direct Credit payments
With our Direct Debit software you can enable our Bacs Direct Credit service. From payroll and refunds to pensions and to benefit allowances, our direct credit payment software streamlines your regular payouts to ensure your people are credited in an instant. Pay staff and business accounts without delays or hassle with one of the most secure and trusted payment methods.
Contingency for peace of mind
We’re passionate about providing a first class service, but we don’t stop there. Our contingency service can be set up in the background and customised to you, so you know your payments will meet audit and regulatory guidance and will always be collected no matter what happens.
Benefits of automating payment collections with Direct Debit software
Read our Direct Debit Services customer stories
Every payment made easy
As the experts, we’re on hand to help you manage your payments across our range of hassle-free solutions.
SEPA Direct Debit: Streamline European payments
Simplify cross-border transactions with our SEPA Direct Debit solution. Automate recurring payments, enhance cash flow, and reduce admin overhead. Offer customers a convenient, reliable payment method across 36 SEPA countries for increased loyalty.
Online Payments
Seamlessly integrate our online payments solution into your e-commerce platform. Offer your customers a secure and convenient way to make purchases, increasing conversion rates and customer loyalty.
On-Demand Pay
Enable your customers to make payments on their own terms with our on-demand payments solution. Whether it's for services, subscriptions, or purchases, our platform ensures a smooth and instant payment experience.
Multi-channel payments
Deliver a consistent payment experience across multiple channels with our omnichannel payments solution. Seamlessly integrate online, in-store, and mobile payments, providing your customers with flexibility and convenience.
Open Banking Payments
Embrace the future of banking with our open banking payments solution. Harness the power of APIs to securely connect with your customers' bank accounts, enabling fast and secure transactions.
Phone Payments
Embrace the future of banking with our open banking payments solution. Harness the power of APIs to securely connect with your customers' bank accounts, enabling fast and secure transactions.
Face to Face Payments
Simplify in-person transactions with our face-to-face payments solution. Whether it's through a traditional point-of-sale system or a mobile device, our platform ensures secure and efficient payment processing.
Direct Credit
Take full control and make your outgoing payment transfers accurately and efficiently, with one of the most secure and trusted payment methods.
Ready to set up fast and simple Direct Debit payments?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Direct Debit payment?
A Direct Debit is a simple, easy and safe way for your customers to set up and make regular and occasional payments to your business or organisation.
It works by a customer giving permission to a business or organisation to take money from their bank account by submitting their account number and sort code.
You’ll need to provide the customer with the amount they will be paying and when the money will be collected - before any payment is taken from their account.
Money is collected from their account automatically and if there are any changes to when it’s going to be collected or the amount, you will need to notify them before it happens.
Direct Debit is the most established payment in the UK for regular payments. Over 50% of bills are paid by Direct Debit and at least 9 out of 10 adults have at least one Direct Debit.
Learn more about what is a Direct Debit.
What is a Direct Debit service provider?
A Direct Debit service provider is an organisation that is a specialist in handling online payments & money transfers. Usually called a Direct Debit bureau, they are experts in optimising your Direct Debit payments, conversions and minimising any payment failures.
Like Access PaySuite, they take care of all the manual work involved in making submissions to Bacs on your behalf. They usually have APIs that allow Direct Debit payments to be connected to software to automate business processes to free up time within your finance teams.
How do I set up Direct Debit for my business?
For any business looking to offer Direct Debit payments to customers, you have to have access to the Direct Debit Scheme which is owned and operated by Pay.UK.
There are two ways to get set up on the Direct Debit Scheme, either doing it yourself or via a third-party Direct Debit bureau.
1. Managing Direct Debits in-house:
This is usually for larger organisations who want to manage it themselves entirely, i.e. direct access, also known as becoming a direct submitter.
The first step would be to obtain a Service User Number (SUN) from your bank. This involves completing a series of forms which then the bank evaluates if your business is eligible for the Direct Debit scheme.
It can take several weeks for your bank to approve you as a direct submitter. You then need to develop or purchase the software to make the Direct Debit payments; as well as have the in-house knowledge to provide the right information to Bacs so payments are made accurately and on time.
2. Direct Debit outsourcing
A Direct Debit bureau looks after the submissions of your Direct Debit payments to Bacs. Some bureaus, like Access PaySuite, provide you with a webpage that lets you set up Direct Debits online or over the phone, as well as via paper.
However in the main bureaus are there to remove the manual processes, as all payments are automatically collected and submitted to Bacs without you needing to be involved.
There are two options for managing your Direct Debits via a bureau:
- Your own assigned SUN: This means that your name will show up on your customer bank statements, reducing any unnecessary cancellations.
- Making use of the bureau’s SUN: Direct Debit payments can be set quickly, however, your customers will see the bureau’s name on their statements, rather than yours.
How do Direct Debit collections work?
To start collecting Direct Debit payments, your customer provides you with a Direct Debit Mandate or Direct Debit Instruction (DDI). This authorizes you to collect payments from them at any time.
For example, if your customers are agreeing to regular and fixed amount, such as a membership payment, there will be a specific payment that is taken at the same time.
To start taking Direct Debit payments, you just need to notify them via “Advance Notice” to let them know a payment is leaving their account. This is usually done in writing or by email and needs to be approved by your sponsoring bank.
The beauty of Direct Debit for fixed payments, there’s no need to keep notifying customers – an initial notification is enough before payment is collected.
However, for variable amounts, advance notice is needed before any change and must include the payment date and amount.
What is the difference between a bureau service and a facilities managed service?
A bureau service is for organisations who have or are planning to get their own Service User Number. Facilities managed services are typically for smaller businesses looking to get set up straight away and use a third-party’s SUN to set up Direct Debit payment.
Read more about our bureau services and facilities managed services
Learn more about Direct Debit Software
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