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How to enable one-time direct debit (SEPA) as a payment method

Nolwenn Launay

Reduce your DSO and the time you spend doing cash collection by offering your customers to pay by one-time debit directly from their dedicated Customer portal, and create a better and easier payment experience!

Include this information in all your communication workflows and allow your customers to pay their overdue invoices in 1-click!

Important:

  • You must have a Stripe account to activate this feature.

👉 If you do not have a Stripe account yet, here’s how to create one in a few clicks.

  • SEPA payments are only for EUR (€) payments

  • The transaction limit is €10,000 per transaction

How to set up SEPA payments?

Step 1 - Set up this payment method

First, we invite you to activate the SEPA direct debit in your Stripe Account and personalize your SEPA Creditor Identifier if you have one.

Please note that you can configure this feature without having a SEPA Creditor Identifier**.

In your Upflow Settings, add SEPA debit as a payment method by connecting to Stripe (or just activating it if your Stripe account is already connected). You can then set up this payment method as Default if you want all your customers to be able to use it.

Step 2 - Activate this option at a customer level

One-time direct debit payments are now activated on your Upflow platform! If you set it up as Default, it will appear on all your customers’ pages.

You will be able to manually enable/disable it at the customer level if necessary, directly from your customer’s page:

Step 3 - Let your customers know that this option is available!

Update the content of your email templates to include this new payment method, so that your customers can benefit from it. Go in your Settings > Workflow > add this information in your emails templates:

How does it work for your customers?

Your customers will be able to initiate a one-time SEPA debit initiation from their dedicated portal.

Once the payment has been initiated, your customers will receive a confirmation email with their signed mandate.

👉 We recommend that you disable the confirmation email from your Stripe account, to avoid your customers receiving a double payment confirmation.

What's a Creditor Identifier?

A merchant must have a creditor identifier to collect SEPA Direct Debit from payers. A creditor identifier is a unique reference which identifies each SEPA Direct Debit originator.

How to get a Creditor Identifier?
To get a creditor identifier, contact your bank to start the process. They will be responsible for its generation. You may need to meet certain criteria set by the bank.

By default, Stripe allows the use of a Stripe Creditor Identifier (i.e. not specific to your company) - so the functionality can be activated without a creditor identifier in your name via Stripe.

However, it is recommended that you use a creditor identifier in your company's name (and therefore request one) as this allows you to :

  • limit possible disputes - because the creditor (the one who takes the payment) is clearly identified;

  • improve the customer experience - the Stripe payments mention will no longer appear on the payer's bank statement and will be replaced by your company name.

FAQ:

  • Are your customers' bank details saved?

No. We do not save banking information yet, your customers will need to enter it for each payment.

  • How do these payments appear in my Stripe account?

Your customer's invoices will immediately be noted as PAID.

  • Can I use this feature with a Stripe US account to pay a EUR invoice?

Yes, however Stripe fees might be applied.

Any question? Get in touch!

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