---
title: "Introducing Direct Debit Payments"
url: "https://support-hub.bookteq.com/en/article/introducing-direct-debit-payments"
language: "en"
last_updated: "2025-09-30T12:19:52.957Z"
---

# Introducing Direct Debit Payments

Bookteq now supports Direct Debit as a new online payment method for repeat bookings—providing your hirers with more flexibility when it comes to payment plans.

### **💡 Why Use Direct Debit?**

With this new option, hirers making repeat bookings can now choose between:

-   **Direct Debit (BACS DD)**
-   **Card Payments**

This gives them greater control and more convenient options for managing recurring payments via payment plans.

### **⚙️ How It Works**

**Online Payments for Repeat Bookings**

When hirers create a new repeat booking, or pay for a repeat booking added by a staff member they’ll now be able to select **Direct Debit** as their preferred payment method at checkout.

All Direct Debit payments are processed through **Stripe**, which means:

Payment statuses update automatically in Bookteq ✅

No manual reconciliation is required ✅

### **🔍 Key Differences for Card vs Direct Debit is the Processing Time**

💡 Please note that unlike card payments, **BACS Direct Debit is not instant**. Standard processing time: **4–7 working days** (per Stripe’s settings) and during this period, the **payment status will display as “Processing”** in Bookteq. The first booking(s) in a repeat order may occur **before the payment is fully processed**. The payment method will be displayed as **“BACS Direct Debit”** in the booking system.

### **📌 Edge Cases**

**Weekly Payment Plans**

To prevent debt build-up or bookings showing as unpaid if a **weekly payment plan** is selected, the **2nd payment will be skipped**. The skipped payment will be **taken together with the 3rd payment**, allowing time for the first instalment of the Direct Debit to clear.

**Booking Approval and Refunds**

Direct Debit payments differ from card payments in their approval logic. **Payments will proceed** regardless of whether a booking request is approved or rejected. However, **if the request is rejected**, a **refund is automatically issued**.

**Watch our tutorial video below on how this can be done via the widget calendar:**

[Embedded content](https://www.youtube.com/embed/g2CVzrasRDM)

* * *

If you have further questions or need support with setting up Direct Debit in your Bookteq system:

1️⃣ Please have a look at Stripe's Help Centre [**here**](https://support.stripe.com/search?q=Direct%20Debit) to research Direct Debit payments.

2️⃣ You can contact our support team: **support@bookteq.com**.