The French version of this article has been updated since it was translated. Read the French version
Collect from your clients by SEPA Direct Debit
Ask your clients for a direct debit mandate, collect a validated invoice in two clicks and track the collections, the failures and the mandates.
With SEPA Direct Debit, your clients sign a mandate once, then you collect each validated invoice without waiting for a bank transfer. Mandates are signed with your payment provider: no bank details are entered in The Big One, and the money arrives in your account. Allow 2 minutes to request a mandate, and a few seconds to collect an invoice.
Before collecting, the invoice must be validated; it does not need to have been sent. To send it, see send or schedule an invoice. For clients without a mandate, prepare your reminders.
Request a mandate from a client
Step by step
- 1
Open the Finance › Payments received menu.
- 2
Read the banner at the top: it shows the connected provider and the number of active mandates, mandates awaiting signature and clients without a mandate.
- 3
In the "Client mandates" tab, find the client's row.
- 4
Click Request a mandate. The message "Signing link emailed to the client." is shown and the mandate changes to "Awaiting signature".
- The email did not go? The message becomes "Signing link created. Copy it and send it to the client.".
- 5
If needed, click Link to copy the signing link and send it yourself.
| Mandate status | What it means |
|---|---|
| None | The client has no mandate: request one |
| Awaiting signature | The link has gone, the client has not signed yet |
| Signed, being validated | The client has signed, the provider is activating the mandate |
| Active | The mandate is active: you can collect |
| Cancelled | The mandate was cancelled or revoked: request a new one |
Collect an invoice
Step by step
- 1
Open Finance › Reports and invoices.
- 2
Click the row of the invoice. Its record opens at the side.
- 3
In the "SEPA direct debit" block, click Collect. A small box opens.
- 4
Under "Collection date", choose a date, or leave it empty to collect as early as possible.
- 5
Click Confirm collection. The message "Collection sent to the provider." is shown and the status changes to "In progress".
The "SEPA direct debit" block only appears for a validated invoice, for a client who has a usable mandate.
Track the direct debits
Step by step
- 1
On the "Payments received" screen, click the "Direct debits" tab.
- 2
Read the four figures for the month: "Direct debits this month", "Sent", "Collected", "Failed / disputed".
- 3
Search for an invoice by its number or its reference, or filter by status.
| Direct debit status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Not collected | No direct debit started for this invoice |
| In progress | The direct debit has been sent to the provider |
| Collected | The money has arrived |
| Failed | The bank refused: the "Failure reason" is given in the table |
| Disputed | The client disputed the direct debit with their bank |
| Cancelled | You cancelled the direct debit before the account was debited |
In the list of invoices, the "Collected" step of the row becomes "Collection failed" or "Collection disputed" when there is a problem.
Cancel a direct debit in progress
Step by step
- 1
Open the invoice record, "SEPA direct debit" block.
- 2
Click Cancel payment. The "Cancel this payment?" window opens.
- 3
Click "Cancel payment" to confirm. The message "Collection cancelled: the client's account will not be debited." is shown.
Revoke a mandate
Step by step
- 1
In the "Client mandates" tab, find the client's row.
- 2
Click the bin icon "Revoke the mandate". The "Revoke this mandate?" window opens.
- 3
Confirm. The mandate changes to "Cancelled".
Frequently asked questions
Where are my clients' bank details entered?
With your payment provider, by the client themselves, at the time of signing. The Big One only shows a masked account.
Does the direct debit start by itself when the invoice is validated?
No. You start each direct debit from the invoice record, with the "Collect" button.
Why is the "Collect" button greyed out?
Hover over it: a tooltip gives the reason, for example a mandate awaiting signature or no collection account connected.
What should I do after a failed direct debit?
Read the "Failure reason" in the "Direct debits" tab, contact the client, then start a new direct debit from the invoice record.
Can I test without collecting any money?
Yes, if your provider account is in "Sandbox" mode: the label is shown in the banner and no money is actually collected.