ClearDebit is a payment processing company that specialises in Bacs and Direct Debit services. They are a Bacs Approved Bureau, a Bacs Accredited Training provider, and an independent Bacs Consultancy.
ClearDebit has developed its expertise through working with Bacs, banks, software and CRM suppliers, and has been offering services in Direct Debit Scheme.
In 2018, ClearDebit became part of Clearcourse, a partnership of innovative technology companies that provide membership software to groups, organisations, and small businesses.
Sections
Prices/Fees
For businesses processing around 2500 transactions per month, ClearDebit offers two tiers: Bureau and Managed packages.
Bureau
The Bureau service has a set-up fee of £250 and a transaction fee of 20 pence. This service is submission-only, meaning you send your payment files to ClearDebit via a secure communication channel, and they will handle the submission to Bacs.
Managed
The Managed option has a higher set-up fee of £350 and a slightly higher transaction fee of 22 pence per transaction. With the Managed Package, ClearDebit manages your data and extracts Bacs payment submissions for you. They can also generate and send Bacs notifications and letters if required.
Both options don’t have a monthly fee or file charge.
Services
Bacs Bureau
Many companies prefer using a Bacs Approved Bureau as an indirect submitter to process their Direct Debit collections and Direct Credit payments, rather than submitting their files directly to Bacs through in-house software. This approach offers numerous benefits, including financial savings and access to expert support and advice.
ClearDebit provides Bacs Approved Bureau Services to companies in various market sectors. They offer secure and reliable processing for Direct Debit collections and Direct Credit payments.
Clients with their own Service User Number (SUN) — or those in the process of obtaining one — can benefit from ClearDebit’s cloud-based bureau.
Bacs Approved Software
ClearDebit offers Bacs Approved Software solutions, including BacscomIP and Bacscom Cloud. These services provide fast and secure payment solutions that integrate with accounting and payroll systems.
The software is easy to use, and ClearDebit takes pride in offering it at a fair price. Their staff performs full installation, provides training for using the software, and is available for support and assistance whenever needed.
Bacscom Cloud is a cloud-based software, which means it doesn’t require instalments of any software to any of your devices, and updates are applied automatically. Data is securely stored on ClearDebit’s servers and backed up onto another site.
Alternatively, BacscomIP is installed on-site, and users can download updates from the website. Data is stored on the client’s site.
Both BacscomIP and Bacscom Cloud are Bacs Approved and provide regular updates of the ISCD, modulus check performed on sort code and account combination, and secure use of 256-bit encryption.
Direct Debit Contingency
It’s important to have a contingency plan in place for Direct Debit processes — even if your company operates an in-house Direct Debit software and processes its own collections.
ClearDebit offers a backup contingency plan, reducing the likelihood of missed or failed collections.
Having a Bacs Approved Bureau also works as a backup option. This way, you can avoid the risk of disruptions in cash flow or supplier services due to payment errors. This backup option ensures that there is a reliable contingency plan in place in case the corporation is unable to process their collections themselves.
Moreover, ClearDebit recognises that reliance on one or two individuals to manage Direct Debit processes can make a corporation vulnerable to risks, such as those posed by illness, vacation, or leaving employment. To mitigate such risks, ClearDebit’s backup contingency support provides clients with a resilient process in the event of such disruptions.
By offering reliable and effective backup contingency support, ClearDebit demonstrates its commitment to ensuring the financial stability, reputation, and customer experience of their clients.
Direct Debit Management Software
ClearDebit offers a cost-effective Direct Debit solution: Mandate Express.
Mandate Express is Bacs Approved Software that generates advance notices, failure notices, and any custom letters, collects subscriptions, club fees, insurance premiums, or any other collections by Direct Debit. It also provides regular updates of the ISCD to validate sort codes, modulus checks performed on sort code and account combination, and secure use of 256-bit encryption.
With its user-friendly interface, you can control the timing of customer payments. It supports Paperless Direct Debits, and fully supports AUDDIS, ADDACS, ARUDD, and DDICA reports from Bacs. It also offers the ability to create custom letters, such as Advance Notice, Cancel Notice, and Fail Notice, a comprehensive audit trail, scalable functionality for hundreds of users, and variable security levels.
ClearDebit offers full installation and training on the use of the software, as well as testing required by the sponsoring bank to make clients a live Bacs submitter. They also provide assistance and support as needed.
For those who wish to integrate Mandate into their own applications or websites, ClearDebit offers an API.
Online Sign Up Screens
ClearDebit provides an online Direct Debit solution that allows customers to sign up to pay by Direct Debit. Customers can sign up via desktop, mobile, or other devices, 24 hours a day. All they need to do is to complete a simple Direct Debit authority online and choose their payment date. Then the payments are automatically collected.
ClearDebit’s online Direct Debit sign-up screens are fully customisable and can seamlessly integrate into clients’ existing websites. Clients can use their brand colours and logos, include relevant fields, and update with new products, services, or prices as required.
The online signup process reduces manual administration, eliminates re-keying of data, and provides real-time lookup and check on addresses. Data from the online signup screens is transferred securely through an API, and the database behind is securely hosted and automatically updated.
ClearDebit offers both full Direct Debit Managed Services or Submission only, depending on the client’s preferences.
They also do regular reviews on clients and offer assistance, not only on software, but the whole process from online Direct Debit sign-up to successful collection. The customer portal has reporting tools that you can use in case you need it.
Bank Account Validation Software
ClearDebit’s Bank Account Validation Software BankCheck ensures valid bank account numbers and sort codes at the point of data entry. By validating the data early, it helps to avoid costly errors or failed payments and collections for Direct Debits and Direct Credits.
BankCheck uses the latest ISCD to perform sort code validation and Modulus Checking rules defined by each bank to ensure the bank account and sort code combination are valid. For Paperless Direct Debit originators, it is mandatory to perform the validation at the point of data entry, and BankCheck makes it easy to validate bank sort codes and bank account numbers.
BankCheck is a web service that can be embedded into websites or other data collection applications. It is used in all ClearDebit’s tools and solutions, such as BacscomIP and Bacscom Cloud, and is available as a Windows application or API for website or application integrations.
File Conversion Software
Creating Bank Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) files when your accounting or payroll application doesn’t support the required file format is a problem. Without a file conversion solution, the only option you have is to manually enter the data into the bank’s EFT application, which can be both time-consuming and prone to errors.
ClearDebit employs FileMaker, a third-party software, to provide a solution to this, which supports a wide range of file formats and can convert accounting or payroll file formats into the format required by your bank’s EFT application.
ClearDebit has developed templates for dozens of bank file formats, including Bacs, Winbits, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland (Royline), and Barclays Business Master.
Direct Debit Training
ClearDebit also offers Bacs Accredited Training in the UK, Europe, and other places as well as online. Their training is delivered to a range of market sectors, including charities, not-for-profits, retailers, education providers, and banks. They also offer bespoke training if you are facing more complex problems, in which case they tailor the content to address your company’s specific needs.
User Reviews
ClearDebit hasn’t garnered a significant amount of user reviews online.
- Trustpilot – 4.7 / 5 (based on 86 reviews)
The limited number of reviews might not be sufficient to offer insights into the experiences of those who have used the payment company.
ClearDebit User Reviews
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