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Set Up Direct Debit (DDR) in Skillo Suppliers

What Direct Debit means in Skillo​

A Direct Debit (also called a Direct Debit Request, or DDR) authorises Skillo to collect your PREMIUM subscription and shift usage invoices automatically from your company's UK bank account through the Bacs scheme.

Without a Direct Debit mandate, invoices are sent to you for manual payment. With an active mandate, each invoice is submitted for collection automatically when it is issued.

Before you start​

To set up Direct Debit you need:

  • to be an ORGANISATIONAL ADMIN — only this role can open Settings > Subscription and manage payment details;
  • your company to be on the PREMIUM plan. Billing details are created when you upgrade to Premium;
  • a UK bank account that can pay by Bacs Direct Debit, and the authority to authorise debits on that account;
  • the sort code and account number for the account.

Set up Direct Debit during the upgrade​

Direct Debit is offered as an optional step when you upgrade to Premium:

  1. Open the upgrade page from Settings > Subscription.
  2. Complete the company and invoicing details, then upgrade to Premium.
  3. In Step 3: Set Up Direct Debit (optional), enter the account holder's UK sort code and account number.
  4. Read the Direct Debit Guarantee shown below the bank details.
  5. Click Set Up Direct Debit and confirm the mandate.
  6. Wait for the confirmation message. Your mandate is then registered and verified.

You can also click Skip for now and set up Direct Debit later from Settings > Subscription.

Set up Direct Debit from Settings​

If your company already has billing details and no active mandate:

  1. Sign in as an ORGANISATIONAL ADMIN.
  2. Go to Settings > Subscription.
  3. In the Direct Debit section, click Set up Direct Debit.
  4. Enter the UK sort code and account number in the secure bank details form. Full bank details are entered directly into Stripe; Skillo only stores the masked details used to display the mandate, such as the bank name, sort code and last four digits.
  5. Read the Direct Debit Guarantee.
  6. Click Authorise Direct Debit and confirm the mandate.
  7. Wait for the success message. If the mandate is still being verified, the Direct Debit section shows PENDING until Bacs confirms it.

What happens while the mandate is pending​

Bacs Direct Debit is not instant. A newly authorised mandate can take 2–3 business days to clear. During this time the status is PENDING and the mandate becomes ACTIVE automatically when it is confirmed.

After Direct Debit is active​

When the status is ACTIVE, the Direct Debit section shows the bank name, a masked sort code and account number, and the mandate reference. From then on:

  • each monthly invoice is collected automatically from your bank account;
  • Stripe sends a statutory advance notice email at least 3 business days before each debit, showing the amount and collection date;
  • Bacs clearing usually takes up to 3 business days after collection — an invoice can remain open or in progress during this time;
  • invoice PDFs, hosted invoice links and usage reports remain available in Skillo as before.

Direct Debit statuses​

StatusMeaning
ACTIVEThe mandate is confirmed and invoices are collected automatically.
PENDINGThe mandate has been submitted and is waiting for Bacs confirmation.
FAILEDThe setup did not complete. The reason is shown in Skillo, and you can retry the setup.
CANCELLEDThe mandate was cancelled at your bank. Future invoices must be paid manually.
NONENo mandate is set up, or you cancelled it in Skillo. Future invoices must be paid manually.

Change the bank account​

To collect from a different bank account, cancel the existing mandate and set up a new one:

  1. In Settings > Subscription > Direct Debit, click Cancel next to the active mandate and confirm.
  2. Click Set up Direct Debit.
  3. Enter the new sort code and account number and authorise the new mandate.

If an invoice is due while you are switching accounts, contact team@skillo.co.uk so the collection can be coordinated.

Cancel Direct Debit​

  1. Go to Settings > Subscription > Direct Debit.
  2. Click Cancel and confirm the prompt.

Future invoices will then be sent to you for manual payment. Cancelling Direct Debit does not cancel your Premium subscription.

You can also cancel a Direct Debit directly with your bank. Your bank notifies Skillo, and the status in Settings > Subscription changes to CANCELLED. If you cancel at your bank, tell us as well so future invoices can be handled correctly.

Failed collections and unpaid invoices​

If a Direct Debit collection fails — for example because of insufficient funds — Stripe retries the collection where the Bacs rules allow it. If the invoice remains unpaid, it can become overdue and a PREMIUM account can be suspended until the balance is settled.

If your bank details change, update the mandate as described in Change the bank account. If you need help with a failed collection, contact team@skillo.co.uk.

The Direct Debit Guarantee​

The full Direct Debit Guarantee is displayed before you authorise a mandate and can be viewed at any time from the Direct Debit section in Settings > Subscription. It explains your right to advance notice of changes, your right to a full and immediate refund if an error is made, and how to cancel a Direct Debit with your bank.