Your Glossary to Direct Debit Terms
To the uninitiated, the world of Direct Debits can be somewhat of a minefield. From a linguistic standpoint, many of the term associated with Direct Debit can themselves be somewhat of a turnoff. This guide is meant to help you through some of the terms that you may encounter.
ADDACS MESSAGES
Otherwise known as Automated Direct Debit Amendment and Cancellation messages. These messages are meant to notify Service Users of any customer amendments or cancellations.
ADVANCE NOTICE
The required notice given to customer of each payment or future payment before it leaves the account.
ARUDD MESSAGES
Otherwise known as Automated Return of Unpaid Direct Debits messages, these notify Service Users of any unpaid Direct Debits.
AUDDIS MESSAGES
Otherwise known as Automated Direct Debit Instruction Service messages, these notify Service Users of issues setting up or cancelling a Direct Debit Instruction.
Bacs
Otherwise known as Bankers’ Automated Clearing Services, this is the process through which ALL Direct Debit communications go through.
BacsTEL-IP
A secure service for communication between Service Users and Bacs. Internet-based and provided by Bacs.
BUREAU
Like London & Zurich, an organisation that submits Direct Debit requests on behalf of a third party, in this case our customers. This is regardless of whether the third party has their own Service User Number.
CHARGE BACK
A refunded payment made to the payer after claims made under the Direct Debit Guarantee. The refund is paid immediately.
COUNTER CLAIM
Used by Service Users to dispute charge backs from customers.
DDICA MESSAGES
Otherwise known as Direct Debit Instruction Cancellation and Amendment messages, these notify Service Users of charge back from their customers.
DIRECT DEBIT GUARANTEE
The overarching guarantee given on all Direct Debit payments.
DIRECT DEBIT INSTRUCTION
The authorisation needed by customers for you to collect future payments automatically.
DIRECT DEBIT INSTRUCTION FORM
The form that must be completed to authorise a Direct Debit Instruction.
DIRECT MANDATE
Another name for Direct Debit Instruction.
DUE DATE
Fairly self explanatory, the date a payment is expected to be debited from a payer’s account.
FACILITIES MANAGEMENT
When a Bureau submits payments to Bacs on your behalf under a Service User Number they own but lease to you.
IDEMNITY CLAIM
This claim is made by a paying bank to recover charged back payments from Service Users.
INPUT FILE
A standardised file, submitted to Bacs by Service Users to lodge new Instructions and payment requests.
INPUT REPORT
The report received when Service Users submit payments or DDIs to Bacs.
MANAGED ADMINISTRATION
This refers to a Bureau submitting payments to Bacs on your behalf, using your own Service Number.
PAPERLESS DIRECT DEBIT
Authorising a Direct Debit Instruction via phone or online, thus without the use of a paper form.
PAYING BANK
The bank or building society at which a customer’s DDI is located.
SEPA DIRECT DEBIT
A single Direct Debit Scheme applying across the whole Single European Payments Area.
SERVICE USER
An organisation approved by a sponsor bank to submit Direct Debit requests to Bacs.
SERVICE USER NUMBER
An individual number uniquely issued to every Service User.
SPONSOR BANK
The bank that allows you to begin on the Direct Debit Scheme and ultimately award you with your Service User Number.
UNPAID DIRECT DEBITS
Unpaid payments refer to payments which could not be collected from a customers account. This can be due to a number of mitigating circumstances, including lack of funds.
WORKING DAYS
Days of the week excluding weekends and bank holidays. Working days are the only days on which a Bacs submission can occur.
