Let’s chat…Lottery

As a regular exhibitor to The Lotteries Council Annual Conference and with over 15 years experience in the collection and management of Direct Debit payments, we would love to chat to delegates of the conference on the current challenges and if we can help in anyway.

If you are attending and interested in finding out more on how you can automate the online sign-up process, discuss Standing Order conversions or how we can help with all matters relating to Direct Debit, why not come and chat to us.

We look forward to meeting you there.

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Bacs launch new Service User Mircosite

Bacs has created a fantastic new microsite to allow Direct Debit and Direct Credit Service Users to have access to key information and resources when operating under these payment methods. It is easy to register, just click here.

Last week, an update to the new Service User Guide was published and can be easily downloaded from the Bacs website. Version 3.8 of the Direct Debit Scheme rules contained clarity of the rules in section 7 relating to individual Direct Debits over £20 million.

As a Bacs Approved Bureau, Rapidata will always keep up to date with changes to the Service User’s Guide and Rules and will advise our clients of any impact the changes may have. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by emailing info@rapidata.co.uk or calling 01293 601111.

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Important change you must make to your Gift Aid declaration for Rapidata online donations

** Special notice for our Artez and charity eDirectDebit clients **

We want to make you aware of an important change you must make to your Gift Aid declaration wording following new HM Revenue & Customs guidelines.

This applies to all online donations that Rapidata processes on your behalf, either eDirectDebits and/or Artez credit card donations, including sponsorship donations.New HMRC guidelines stipulate that donors must now confirm that they will pay enough tax to cover all donations they intend to make that year. Before now, they were required only to confirm that they would pay enough tax to cover the gift referred to on the form.

For your convenience, we have updated the default Gift Aid declaration wording as follows:

Please treat as Gift Aid donations all qualifying gifts of money made today, in the past 4 years and in the future.

I confirm I have paid or will pay an amount of UK Income Tax and/or Capital Gains Tax for each tax year that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or community amateur sports clubs that I donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p of tax on every £1 that I given.

[ ] Please tick this box to join the Gift Aid scheme

This new wording will automatically be applied to your eDirectDebit forms and all new Artez donations forms, unless you have already provided us with custom wording. You will need to update copy on any and all of your existing Artez donation forms.

You may apply your own custom wording for your online Gift Aid declaration, but please ensure that it is approved by HMRC prior to use. For additional information on HMRC guidelines for electronic declarations, please visit the HMRC website. HMRC has confirmed it will continue to accept Gift Aid claims on donations made using the old declaration until 31 December 2012; however we advise you to please incorporate the changes required under the new guidance to all your Rapidata donation forms as soon as possible.

Please note, whilst Rapidata has updated the templates, Rapidata takes no responsibility for the Gift Aid declaration, so it is vital you check to make sure it meets your requirements and that of HMRC.

If you have any questions regarding this information, please do not hesitate to contact our dedicated Client Support Team. They are available to answer your questions Monday-Friday, 9am to 5.30pm, and on modified hours during the festive period. Just phone 01293 601110 or send an email to support@rapidata.co.uk

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Understanding AUDDIS

As a Bacs Bureau, we use the word AUDDIS on a daily basis and was one of the first Bureaux to implement the scheme but what does it mean and why have it?

AUDDIS stands for the Automated Direct Debit Instruction Service. Put quite simple, rather than sending paper Direct Debit mandates to the payer’s bank, these are sent electronically. It makes the processing of the Direct Debit Instructions easier, faster, more efficient and cost-effective.

So what are the benefits?

• No postage costs for setting up Direct Debits. Now with the recent increase in postage rates, why pay to send an Instruction when you can do so electronically!
• provides faster identification of invalid bank account details. This means you can follow up with the payer quickly to resolve and reduces your unpaid items, which in turn results in less bank charges.
• reduces the lodgement time, so you can collect sooner.
• you provide a better service through reduced processing delays and fewer manual steps
• minimises paperwork and manual input
• reduces the potential for error
• Saves time
• Ability to add Paperless Direct Debit. Only when you have AUDDIS can you accept Direct Debits online or via the phone

When we are all looking to save costs and improve processes, if you are currently processing Direct Debits but not under AUDDIS, why not consider migrating to AUDDIS now? Rapidata is able to provide a no obligation quote or alternatively you can find out more information by contacting your Sponsoring Bank.

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Payments Council – ensure your systems are up to date

Payments Council takes action to support businesses and charities who accept Direct Debits or make Direct Credit payments

Last month Payments Council contacted more than 50,000 UK businesses and charities to notify them, that from 1st January 2012, they need to make sure whatever system they use to check a new customer’s sort code is correct and is updated at least monthly, preferably weekly.  By doing this they will be best protecting their business or charity from the risk of an automated payment failing.

This important change has come about because new sort codes are being issued far more frequently as more new financial institutions and products emerge. Out-of-date sort code reference information could result in a new customer’s sort code being wrongly rejected, leading to customer complaints and potentially lost business or donations.

Businesses and charities usually check sort codes using a reference information database, which is likely to be updated in downloads from the organisation’s payment solutions supplier. Customers, supporters or suppliers provide their bank account number and six digit sort code if they want to pay by Direct Debit or be paid by Bacs Direct Credit.

Hilary Plattern, Director of Strategy, Payments Council says:
“Whether you are a satellite TV supplier or a small charity, if you accept automated payments from customers it is critical that the system you use to check a new customer’s sort code is correct and is kept bang up-to-date. If it isn’t and a sort code is wrongly rejected, a customer’s patience can be tested and their business can quickly be lost.  This is why we are trying to make contact with every business and charity who could be impacted.

“Anyone wanting to find out more can contact their bank, commercial provider or alternatively VocaLink if they purchase the Industry Sort Code Directory direct from them.”

The Payments Council is also reminding businesses and charities that front-line staff in call centres and their websites all need access to, and need to be using, up-to-date sort code reference data.

As part of this change Bacs Payment Scheme Rules will require businesses and charities – that are payment originators – to ensure that their Bacstel-IP related software and other payments-related databases and applications are up-dated with fresh sort code data at least monthly.  Previously the requirement was at least quarterly.

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January 2012 – New change to the Service User Guide & Rules

Bacs has recently sent out a notice informing all Service Users of a change in the Service User’s Guide and Rules to the Direct Debit Scheme. This change takes effect from the 1 January 2012.

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Reduce costs – sign-up now to pay us by Direct Debit

As you would expect from a Direct Debit Bureau, Rapidata has offered its clients the choice of payment options which includes Direct Debit. Most of our clients pay us by Bacs transfer or Direct Debit however we are today writing to all those clients that send us in a cheque in settlement of their invoice, to sign-up to Direct Debit.

Why do this?

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Download Rapidata’s Charity Direct Debit Tracking Report 2011

The third annual benchmarking report from Rapidata, a Bacs Approved Bureau, is now available to download for free.  Don’t miss crucial research findings that can support ALL not-for-profit organisations collecting Direct Debit payments.

To download your FREE copy, CLICK HERE

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eDirectDebit Membership Site Update

Today we released an update to our ‘Membership’ eDirectDebit site that removes the ‘Select’ button allowing the page to auto refresh when a membership category is chosen. This change only effects the single page format.

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