Switching to GoCardless - transferring your SEPA mandates

This article will cover the requirements for bulk changing SEPA mandates from your existing Direct Debit provider to GoCardless.

To request a bulk change to GoCardless, please email our Support team on help@gocardless.com.

Process

Merchants should advise their current provider that they wish to bulk change away from them, marking the beginning of the process.

At the point in which mandates are transferred to GoCardless (on the date agreed by all parties concerned), GoCardless will amend the mandates with their new details. These details include any new references, and a change to the Creditor Identifier (CID) if applicable.

Communications

Merchants are required to notify customers of the change in SEPA Direct Debit provider, as well as any changes to their mandate reference, along with confirmation of the old and new CID. The letter should also detail the date from which the change will take place.

Please note, if you are not joining GoCardless on our Pro package, you will only know your customers' mandate references once set up with GoCardless. Merchants using our Pro package are able to set their own preferred custom mandate references. If this is something that you are interested in, please contact our Support team with this request. 

Customers are not required to approve or give consent for their new SEPA Direct Debit mandate to be set up within our system. The authorisation given to the merchant under the existing mandate is sufficient.

Example email template to notify customers:

Dear [Customer name],

[Merchant name] has moved Direct Debit providers and you will now see [unique mandate reference] and [creditor identifier] on your bank statement moving forward. No action is required from you to continue paying by Direct Debit, and this change will not affect the service you are receiving.

If you have any questions about this change, please don't hesitate to contact us on [merchant contact details].

Yours sincerely,

[Merchant name]