SEPA direct debit

Do you own a second property abroad? Or are your children studying at a foreign university in the SEPA-zone? In that case pay your telecom and energy invoices via a SEPA direct debit and save yourself a lot of trouble.

With a SEPA direct debit you are authorising your creditors to claim your invoice amounts directly from your bank.

How does a SEPA direct debit work?

To set up a SEPA direct debit your supplier will submit a payment instruction for a one off payment or for several payments. By signing the form you are authorising them to claim the invoice amount from your account on each due date. Your payments will consequently always be made on time and you don’t have to do anything.

How much does a SEPA direct debit cost?

Are you setting up a SEPA direct debit for one or more euro payments amounting to less than 50,000 euro? Then the cost will be the same as for a national payment.

Are you paying in a different currency? Remember to take the exchange charges into account.

How long does a SEPA direct debit take to complete?

Your bank needs to complete the transactions associated with your SEPA direct debit at the latest on the first working day following the due date of the corresponding invoice.

How do I cancel a SEPA direct debit?

Would you like to cancel a SEPA direct debit? Send a written request to your supplier and follow their instructions.

Contesting a SEPA direct debit?

Does your bank statement show an unusual payment? You can be safe in the knowledge that with a SEPA direct debit you are protected from suppliers who want to abuse your trust. You can request reimbursement from the bank

• up to eight weeks after the date on which the amount was taken from your account for a payment via an authorised SEPA direct debit;
• up to thirteen months after the date on which the amount was taken from your account for a payment via an unauthorised SEPA direct debit.

This will prevent unwelcome surprises.

• You are entitled to instruct your bank to stop some or all of your creditors from deducting money from your account.
• Another possibility is to set a maximum expenditure amount and/or adjust the regularity of the timing of the payments.

Paying someone without (access to their) bank account? This is not possible using a SEPA direct debit or bank transfer. In that case consider using a postal order or a money transfer service (but remember to be vigilant).