Automating your Direct Debit collection service has never been easier

Nine in ten adults in Britain use Direct Debit to pay some or all of their regular bills. It's a payment process that people are familiar with and trust.

Offering your customers a trusted, well-known payment method is one of many benefits. Using a Direct Debit collection service, you can automate a large percentage of your payment process, leading to a considerable reduction in administration time for you and your employees.

There are several services to be aware of, and the right solution for your company will depend on varying factors. Direct Debit services were only readily available to big businesses in the past. Now, businesses of all sizes can reap the benefits of an automated Direct Debit collection service.

This blog post will explore some of the available options and their benefits.

• Why automate your payment collection service?
• Businesses with a Service User Number (SUN)
• Businesses without a Service User Number (SUN)

Why automate your payment collection service?

Ensuring your company has a consistent cash flow is crucial, but keeping on top of several payments can take precious time from your day.

Tracking payments across your customer base and chasing any failed or late payments can result in mammoth administration tasks for your employees when their time could be better spent on other responsibilities.

So, why automate? Automation makes payment processes more efficient by removing most of the need for manual, human interaction.

You'll know precisely when your payments will be processed, ensuring an expected, consistent cash flow, allowing for more accurate business growth plans. Plus, automation means your worries about customers paying you on time will be gone.

There'll be fewer errors thanks to removing human input, saving time and money, and improving relationships with customers or clients.

Businesses with a Service User Number (SUN)

If your business has a SUN but would rather outsource the administration involved in managing Direct Debit payments, our Bacs Approved Bureau services might be of interest.

A Bacs Approved Bureau is an organisation that has bank approval to submit payment instructions on another company's behalf. 

As your chosen Bacs Bureau, we'll help to remove the administrative hassle and expense of processing payment instructions. Internal processing is reduced, saving you time and money. Payments are also cleared directly into your bank account, allowing a more efficient and streamlined way of handling payments.

Businesses with a SUN also have another option: to purchase our Bacs software — either directly or on a SaaS model — and manage the service in-house. This option is ideal for companies with larger financial teams.

What are the benefits?

As well as a more efficient way of handling payments, our Bacs Approved Bureau service offers many benefits. 

Customised documentation design allows you to create professional Direct Debit instruction letters, and we'll ensure your website and Direct Debit documents conform to Bacs rules, meaning your entire payment process is always compliant.

We can also build securely hosted, Bacs-compliant web solutions, including online sign-up and account validation pages.

What's more, you'll be supported by a dedicated Bacs Bureau account manager and Bacs-trained processing team every step of the way.

As one of just 14 Bacs-approved software providers in the UK at the time of writing, our expert team can answer any questions you may have about your payment solution. Once set up, we'll assist with any issues you may encounter.

Many businesses often want a fast setup but experience issues later. With the dedicated, consistent support of Interbacs, we'll ensure a smooth payment process no matter how long you've had the system in place.

Businesses without a Service User Number (SUN)

Businesses without a SUN can benefit from our Direct Debit Facilities Management (DDFM) service, which allows you to make Direct Debit collections without the sponsorship of your bank.

You'll enjoy all the benefits of collecting Direct Debit payments without the hassle. That means on-time payments, automated systems and a simple process for your collection service.

DDFM means you'll be able to easily collect Direct Debit payments and display your company's name on customer statements, making them less likely to query where their money is going.

What are the benefits?

Flexible solutions and bespoke pricing plans mean your Direct Debit collection service can be tailored to your needs, making it an excellent option for businesses of all sizes.

We'll ensure your service consistently meets compliance regulations and offer you support for any issues once you're set up.

By choosing Interbacs, you can also benefit from added extras such as branded document design and expertly-written telephone sign-up scripts to maximise your solution's potential.

Not only this, but you’ll be provided with a Bacs-compliant subscription portal (sign-up page) that integrates with your website to smoothen the sign-up process for your customers.

Let's find the right solution for your business

The right solution for you will depend on your company's needs. We're confident we can offer the right Direct Debit collection service to any business, regardless of size.

With our 30-plus years of experience and several accreditations to our name, we're well-equipped to find the correct solution to streamline your payment process and ensure you enjoy all the benefits of an automated service.

Speak to one of our experts, and we'll help you discover the best solution for your business. Click below to get started.