Frequently asked questions

How can I use GoCardless?

There are three ways to use GoCardless:

• Our dashboards - Set up and manage Direct Debit payments with your customers using our simple online dashboard.
• Our account software partnerships - We work with a growing list of partners, so you can take payments within the online services you already use.
• Our clean, RESTful API - Integrate GoCardless into your website using our REST API.

Who is GoCardless for?

GoCardless is for anyone who wants to take payments directly from the bank account of customers in the UK, the Eurozone, Sweden, Denmark, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. It’s particularly suited for B2B (business-to-business) and recurring payments.

Our easy-to-use dashboards and powerful API make GoCardless a powerful platform for everyone from innovative start-ups to multi-national corporations.

In the UK, we’ve integrated with many of the most popular accounting packages to enable easy invoicing and payment reconciliation. Find out more here.

What can I not use GoCardless for?

GoCardless is great for many use cases. However, there are some limitations with our service. We aren’t able to:

• Let you take credit card payments - however you can use another payment provider alongside GoCardless.
• Let you accept instant payments - Direct Debit payments take 3-5 working days to clear, so they’re not ideal for goods that need to be shipped quickly.

We’re able to accept most kinds of customers but there are some exceptions - for full details, see our restricted activities page.

Are there any limits on the amount I can collect?

There are no limits on how many transactions you can make.

There is, however, a limit on the maximum amount that can be collected in a single transaction. These are:

• UK £5000 GBP (with a minimum transaction amount of £1)
• Australia $10,000 AUD
• New Zealand $10,000 NZD
• Canada $5,000 CAD
• Eurozone €5000 EUR
• Sweden 20M SEK
• Denmark kr.50,000 DKK

We may be able to increase these limits with additional verification checks.

How do I receive funds I have collected with GoCardless?

The funds collected are paid directly into your bank account.

With GoCardless, our fees are deducted automatically.

With GoCardless Pro, we’ll send you an invoice for your fees.

When do I receive my payment?

All payments are paid out 2 working days from when the payment was collected.

We don’t hold back any of your funds in reserve.

Do you take credit or debit cards?

No, GoCardless is a Direct Debit company.

Why is GoCardless better than the other options I’m considering?

Below are just some of the reasons why people choose us:

• Reduced administration - Collect recurring and one-off payments automatically, or at the click of a button. We manage everything else for you.
• Simple, low pricing - We charge 1% per transaction, and never more than £2. Scale pricing is available.
• Powerful tools that suit you - Everything you need to set up, collect and manage Direct Debit payments with our simple online tool or REST API.
• The personal touch - Our support team prides itself on being there to help whenever you need us.

Is GoCardless a Bacs-approved bureau?

Yes, GoCardless is a Bacs-approved bureau.