Take Direct Debit with GoCardless
Collect monthly Direct Debit for service contracts like boiler covers, alarm monitoring and garden maintenance. Lower fees than card, and no chargeback risk on standard Bacs collections.
What it does
GoCardless lets you take recurring Direct Debit payments for the work you bill monthly: boiler cover plans, alarm monitoring, regular garden maintenance, and similar service contracts.
It runs on Bacs, so fees are lower than card and standard collections carry no chargeback risk. The customer sets up a Direct Debit once and it collects on schedule.
Why it is worth setting up
Recurring work is only as reliable as the way you collect for it. Direct Debit turns "chase the customer every month" into income that lands on its own, which makes service plans worth selling in the first place.
Before you start
You will need:
- A TradeBooked account on the Pro or Autopilot plan
- A GoCardless account, or a few minutes to create one during the connect flow
- At least one service you bill on a recurring basis
Setup steps are in your dashboard
This is a Pro feature. Sign in on a Pro plan to see the step-by-step setup for your number.
Common questions
What is Direct Debit best for?
Recurring service contracts: boiler cover, alarm monitoring, regular garden maintenance, and anything else you bill monthly. For one-off card deposits at booking, use Stripe instead.
How is it cheaper than card?
It runs on Bacs, which has lower fees than card payments, and standard Bacs collections carry no chargeback risk.
How long does setup take?
Connecting is instant, but Bacs verification typically takes 1 to 3 working days. You can mark services as recurring while it verifies.
What happens if I disconnect?
New payments stop being reconciled in TradeBooked, but existing mandates and subscriptions keep running at GoCardless until you cancel them there.
What plan do I need?
Direct Debit via GoCardless is available on the Pro and Autopilot plans.
Related guides
Still stuck? Email support@tradebooked.co.uk.