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What is SEPA Direct Debit? How euro direct debits work

By SendPay Business · · 2 min read

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SEPA Direct Debit lets a business collect euro payments straight from a customer's account anywhere in the Single Euro Payments Area, once the customer has agreed. It is widely used for bills, memberships and subscriptions paid in euros.

How a SEPA Direct Debit works

  • The customer signs a mandate that lets the business collect from their account.
  • The business tells the customer the amount and date before each collection.
  • The business sends the collection to its bank or payment provider.
  • The money is taken from the customer's account on the due date.
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Core vs B2B

The Core scheme is for consumers and businesses. The B2B scheme is only for business payers, gives them no right to an automatic refund for an authorised payment, and needs the payer's bank to hold the mandate details.

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Refund rights under Core

Under the Core scheme a payer can ask their bank for a refund of an authorised collection within eight weeks, with no reason needed. If a collection was never authorised, the time limit is much longer, up to 13 months.

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Where SendPay fits

SendPay platforms include EUR accounts, subscriptions, invoicing and payment links under your own brand, powered by licensed partners. SendPay tells you in writing which licences apply to your platform before you launch.

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How it works

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SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank. Accounts, cards and payments are powered by licensed partners.

Questions people ask

Is this IBAN valid?

Check an IBAN's format and check digits.

IBAN checker →
What is SEPA?

The euro payments area.

What is SEPA? →
What is a Direct Debit?

The UK version explained.

Direct Debits →
What is SEPA Instant?

Euro transfers in seconds.

SEPA Instant →

Read next

Spotted a mistake or something out of date? and we'll fix it. How our guides are made

This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. Other companies named in this guide are reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.