SmartDebit is the leading Direct Debit service provider in the UK, with the highest industry Trustpilot score. They provide timely and efficient payment processing for utilities, insurers, IT providers, schools and colleges, charities and a range of other subscription businesses.
However, they don’t just offer Direct Debit services, they also offer a range of payment processing solutions that can help your business process payments for less. We look at these below along with reviews from around the web.
SmartDebit Direct Debit Services
SmartDebit offers a few Direct Debit services.
Bureau Service
- For larger organisations who already have, or plan to obtain a Service User Number (SUN)
- Typically need a turnover in excess of £1m for a SUN.
- Automated Bacs submission via SmartDebit
- Full submission history
- Real time bank account validation
- Great security including token based data transfer
- Access to an online portal where you can submit or amend customer data, view Bacs reports and amend individual payments
- Branded and fully compliant sign-up form making it easy to register new Direct Debit customers online
- SmartDebit API
- Comprehensive customer support
Managed Direct Debit
- Suitable for organisations who are unable to obtain a Service User Number (SUN) from Bacs
- SmartDebit manages the whole process on your behalf
- Fully managed Bacs submissions
- All Direct Debit sign-up methods – including paper and paperless
- Full submission history
- A bank client account set-up in your own name
- Access to an online portal where you can submit or amend customer data and view Bacs reports
- Great security including token based data transfer
- All client accounts are individually ‘ring-fenced’ meaning funds are safeguarded at all times
- Only your name appears on your customers’ bank statements
- Branded and fully compliant sign-up form – making it easy to register new Direct Debit customers online
- Validation of bank accounts at sign-up
- SmartDebit API
- Comprehensive customer support
SEPA Direct Debit
- SEPA Direct Debit is suitable for anyone who wishes to collect regular recurring payments for products and services within Europe
- Includes Electronic signature
- Combine Direct Debit and card payment to further improve payment success
- Onboard your customers via web, mobile, phone or face-to-face with the same user experience
- 34 countries – checkout experience in English, French, Dutch, German, Spanish, Italian and all other languages
- Only 1.5% per transaction for less than 500 transactions per month, or even lower rates if you process more.
Other Payment Services Provided By SmartDebit
- Online Payments, no need for extensive integration work, and you don’t have to handle, transmit or store sensitive card details.
- Cheque Processing
- AUDDIS (Automated Direct Debit Instruction Service) Migrations
- Direct Debit Training
SmartDebit Pricing
Unlike many other payment service providers, SmartDebit has extremely clear pricing on its website. Currently it offers dynamic prices based on your organisation’s requirements. As you grow, your fees reduce.
Below are sample prices based on processing 3,000 transactions a month.
Bureau
- Only 20p per transaction
- £30 monthly fee
- £199 one-time set-up fee
- Free file submission
- No annual fee
Managed
- Only 29p per transaction
- £35 monthly fee
- £250 one-time set-up fee
- £5 file submission
- No annual fee
SmartDebit Company Background
SmartDebit was established in 1998 and currently handles £1.4 billion worth of Direct Debit payments each year which are made up of 1.6 million individual monthly payments.
They pride themselves on Advanced Technology, Oustanding Customer Service and being Fully Accredited following the comprehensive customer safeguarding requirements used in the banking world. And are ISO 27001:2013 certified.
You can find more about their products and services by visiting their website here.
Why Choose SmartDebit?
The reasons below are taken from both the SmartDebit website and online reviews.
- Excellent customer service
- Very simple to use product
- Helpful LiveChat
- Great account managers
- Dynamic fees based on transaction volumes
- Enterprise features as standard like a ring-fenced trust account, Your name appears on your customers’ bank statements, Paper to paperless sign-up and omnichannel support
SmartDebit Reviews
SmartDebit has achieved a rare feat in the payment world with top reviews on both Trustpilot (9.3 out of 10 based on 89 reviews) and ReviewCentre (5 out of 5 based on 1 review). Moreover, they also have wonderful Customer Stories and case studies.
That’s why:
Website: Click To Visit the The SmarDebit Website
Please note that we currently have an affiliate relationship with SmartDebit. This means if you sign-up for their services via one of our links we earn a commission. This in no way affects the rates you pay, but we feel you should know.