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Switching to GoCardless - transferring your Bacs mandates

In order for merchants using Bacs, the UK’s Direct Debit scheme, to take payments from payers, each payer must complete an authorisation, known as a mandate.

When a merchant switches to GoCardless from another Direct Debit provider, we are required to transfer active payers' mandates over to us from the previous provider. The transfer process is known as a bulk change.

 

IMPORTANT: The bulk change process takes 4-6 weeks to complete. External restrictions mean that we are not able to speed up this timeframe.

 

There are 5 steps involved in the bulk change process

Before you begin this process, we recommend getting in touch with one of our Sales team on contactsales@gocardless.com, if you haven’t done so already.

 

1. Complete the bulk change deed 

 

2. Agree a bulk change date

  • The bulk change date will be finalised with your GoCardless contact according to your requirements, but will be scheduled between 4-6 weeks from the beginning of the process
  • On the bulk change date, your previous Direct Debit provider will cancel your existing customers' mandates, and the option will be enabled in your GoCardless account to upload your customers' details to the GoCardless system (see step 5).

 

3. Notify your customers that you’re moving to a new Direct Debit provider

  • You are required to inform your customers in writing of your change in provider in advance of your agreed bulk change date
  • Notice can be provided via post or email, and GoCardless will provide you with a template message to use

 

4. Confirm in writing to GoCardless that you’ve notified your customers

  • Email us to confirm that all customers have been notified

 

5. Upload your existing customers' details into your GoCardless account

  • You'll need to upload your customers' details into your GoCardless account
  • The CSV template you'll need for this can be provided by your GoCardless contact in advance of your bulk change date. You can also obtain it via your GoCardless dashboard (see support article mentioned in previous point).
  • Your bulk change deed must be completed and approved before you're able to begin this step

 

 

Further Information

FM (Facilities Management)

If you are bulk changing from an FM bureau where you do not own & maintain your own Service User Number (SUN), your current bureau needs to complete the bulk change deed. You should contact your bureau when your GoCardless representative advises you to do so. 

 
MA (Managed Administration)
 
If you are the Service User and you are bulk changing from a Service User Number (SUN) you own, you will need to complete the deed. You must contact your sponsoring bank for guidance on how to complete the bulk change deed. In most cases, the name on the bulk change deed (in sections 1.1 & 3.3) is the long name on the SUN which is registered with Bacs. The required date in section 1.1 on the deed is also provided by your sponsoring bank. We recommend that you contact your bank's Bacs team in order to obtain the most accurate information. 
 
GoCardless is unfortunately unable to confirm what the name on the deed should be and thus it is vital that you contact your incumbent Direct Debit bureau or your sponsoring bank in order to process the bulk change as quickly as possible and to reduce the need for a new deed.