Bacs payments are transactions you can make as a business or individual through UK banks. Bacs payments are controlled by Pay.UK, which operates Bacs and other essential payment systems. Bacs payments are essentially two types of transaction: Direct Debit and Direct Credit.
Are Bacs payments safe? Yes, it’s fair to say that Bacs payments are consistently safe and reliable. In fact, customers often prefer paying enterprises by Direct Debit due to the fact that the system is convenient and trustworthy. Bacs regulations and operations are in place to ensure that funds move securely and efficiently through our financial organisations.
Bacs is the most popular payment system in the UK, processing millions of transactions every day. Recent data shows that in Q4 of 2024, the average daily net value of Bacs payments in the UK was £5,172 million.
This demonstrates that many organisations and consumers believe Bacs is a secure and reliable payment system, for customers and businesses alike.
To explore whether a Bacs payment can be stopped, it's essential to understand the basics of Bacs payments. This knowledge provides businesses with clarity regarding transaction time frames and processes.
Contents
- What is a Bacs payment?
- How do Bacs payments work?
- Can a Bacs payment be stopped?
- Interbacs: your approved Bacs bureau.
What is a Bacs payment?
In the UK, we use Bacs payments for bank-to-bank transfers. Bacs payments come in two different forms:
- Bacs Direct Debit: a Direct Debit is when a customer gives an organisation permission to take an agreed amount out of their bank account for the use of goods or services.
- Bacs Direct Credit: this type of payment is delivered into your bank account by an organisation. Examples include a refund, salary or pension payment.
Bacs, which stands for Bankers' Automated Clearing System, is completed by electronic transfer. This payment method is the most common way for businesses to pay their employees or for customers to pay for a product from an organisation.
How do Bacs payments work?
Bacs payments follow a three-working-day cycle:
- Day 1 (Submission): Payment details are submitted to the Bacs system.
- Day 2 (Processing): The recipient's bank processes the payment.
- Day 3 (Settlement): Funds are credited to the recipient's account.
It's important to note that Bacs operates only on business days, excluding weekends and public holidays.
If your business wants to manage Bacs payments internally, you need a SUN (Service User Number) to process directly through Bacs.
Many organisations work with a Bacs-approved facilities management (FM) provider, like Interbacs. A Bacs-approved FM provider organises payments and shares their SUN with your business so you don’t need an individual identification number.
This means that you can collect Direct Debit payments from your customers in an easy, efficient and cost-effective manner.
Can a Bacs payment be stopped?
Once a Bacs payment (Direct Debit and Direct Credit) has been fully processed and the funds paid into the recipient's account, it can’t be easily reversed. Therefore, it's crucial to ensure all payment details are accurate before submission. However, if a Bacs payment is still in the processing stage, there may be an opportunity to cancel or amend it:
- Before Submission: a Direct Debit or Direct Credit can be cancelled or modified before it's submitted for processing.
- Before Settlement: If a recall request is made at least one working day before the payment is due, it may be possible to stop the payment. This requires prompt communication with the relevant bank, providing all payment details.
If the funds have already been paid, recovering them becomes more complex and typically requires the consent of the recipient: your business, for example. In cases of fraud or error, it's imperative to contact the bank completing the payment immediately to discuss potential remedies.
So can a Bacs payment be recalled? Timing is crucial when it comes to recalling a Bacs Payment.
With Bacs payments, there are a few specific situations where a Bacs payment can be Stopped:
Before processing
It’s possible to amend or cancel a scheduled Bacs payment, via your Direct Debit/Credit Management software, before the payment is submitted for processing.
Before payment
If you've already submitted the payment to Bacs, you are best contacting your bank right away to discuss your options. If caught early enough, the bank may be able to recall a single payment, or the whole file, which you can then remove the relevant payment(s) and resubmit the edited file.
If it's too late to stop the payment, then your bank can talk you through the next steps, for example with debit payments you could do a service user indemnity where you refund the customer, but it's important to follow the banks instructions so you are protected if the customer were also to initiate an indemnity on their side.
Interbacs: your Bacs payment services provider
As a Bacs-approved bureau and expert in Bacs payment services, we’re your ideal partner for secure payment processing. We offer a wide range of fully customised Bacs payment services, such as Direct Debit facilities management, tailored to businesses of all sizes.
Our expertise in Bacs-approved solutions ensures that your payment processes are efficient, secure, and compliant with industry standards. Plus, we take the hassle of Direct Debit payment organisation off your plate, so you can focus on your business goals.
Why not get in touch to talk through your business payment needs? Schedule your free 1-hour business payments consultation with our friendly team today.
Explore the solutions that could make all the difference to your business or get in touch for a chat so we can help you optimise your payments.
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