Direct Debit Annual Amendments FAQs
Can the Effective Date be amended after File Export from the Client Portal?
No.
Can I change the Effective Date between Export and Import?
No. The Effective Date is now password protected and will display an error message if attempted.
Can I change the name of the original file name between export and import?
Yes.
Can my file name have a space between the words?
No. The filename must be all one string otherwise you will receive an error message.
If I add extra columns between the existing columns can the extract still be imported?
No. If you add extra columns between existing columns you will receive an error message.
TIP: Do not add any columns between existing columns (A-J).
If the extract has any blank rows where data has been deleted can I still import the file?
No. You cannot have blank rows, the entire row would need to be deleted from the extract.
If I add an extra tab to the existing tabs can the extract still be imported?
Yes, as long as neither of the existing two tabs are removed.
Can I remove or replace either of the existing two tabs on the file export and then still import it?
No. There must be two tabs visible otherwise you will receive an error message.
Can I delete the Effective Date tab and create a new one to change the Effective Date?
No. The Effective Date tab needs to be password protected with the correct password for it to be successfully imported. If you create a new Effective Date tab which is not password protected or is password protected with a different password, the import fails, and you will receive an error message. To change the Effective Date, you must complete a new export.
TIP: If the Effective Date is wrong after file export, create a new File Export from the Client Portal.
If the advance notice period has expired since doing the original export, can I still import this file?
No. You will receive an error message until you complete a brand-new file export via the Client Portal with a revised Effective Date.
Can I enter amounts in any format?
No. The amounts must be higher than Zero and can be up to two decimal places (e.g. 10.00).
What if the ‘Next Collection Date’ is shown as a non-working day?
The Next Collection date is just a guide as to when the next payment is scheduled to come out. Even though it may show as a non-working day, once imported the payment would automatically be pushed to fall on the next working day. There is no need to adjust this information.
Note: only that specific payment is pushed, subsequent payments will come out of the originally scheduled date.
Once we have exported the file from the DD Portal, can the Extract report be split into more than one file and imported as several individual files?
Yes, you can rename the original file as required (see question 3 and 4) and import as several files, if the format of the file is unchanged.
Can we have an effective date of 01st March?
Yes you can have the effective date as any date you like, you just need to ensure that you give the correct advance notice for import prior to the effective date.
Will the extract be categorised by frequencies such as monthly, weekly etc?
The extract will show all frequencies and because it is in an excel format you can sort/filter as you wish.
Can I export extra details such as address?
The extract will include the first line of the address & post code but if you would like a more detailed extract you can request one by emailing the DD team, however, it is worth bearing in mind that it will be a slightly different process for populating this extract.
How do I find out if the extract needs to be approved after submission?
You can check if the client code is set up for approval within the manage DD settings section on the portal, if you do not have the permissions for this you can speak to your superuser who can assist you.
How do we know the advance notice period?
You can check what advance notice the client code is set up for within the manage DD settings section on the portal, if you do not have the permissions for this you can speak to your superuser who can assist you.