Paying with a Direct Debit

Keep in control of FlexPay with a regular Direct Debit

The best way for you to make a regular payment on your FlexPay account,  and maintain an instalment plan is with a Direct Debit- here’s what you need to know.

What is a Direct Debit?

A Direct Debit is an instruction you set up, which collects payments automatically from your bank or building society account when they’re due.

How can I set up a Direct Debit for my FlexPay account?

You can set up a Direct Debit to make automatic Black Horse FlexPay payments each month, by logging into your Online Account Manager or your app.

From the Online Account Manager:

• Click the Direct Debit button from the payments section of the account summary once you have logged in OR
• Select “Payments & Transfers” from the top menu option and select Direct Debit.

From the app:

• Click Pay from the bottom menu bar on your app.
• Select Direct Debit

We will set up your Direct Debit and tell you via an email and/or SMS alert as well as a letter which will confirm when the first payment will be taken.

Until then, please use another method of payment.

For more help, see the How to make a payment when you don’t use a Direct Debit? section below.

Make sure when you pay that your payment will reach us before your payment due date.

What are the different types of payments can I set up in my Direct Debit?

You could set up your Direct Debit in the following ways:

1. Your scheduled payment

This will pay your contractual minimum payment and payments due under any instalment plans you have each month.

2. Your main balance plus instalments due

This will pay the full main balance and any monthly payments due under your instalment plans each month.

3. Fixed payment

This will pay a fixed amount every month by Direct Debit. If the fixed amount you set is not enough to pay the scheduled payment i.e. contractual minimum payment and payments due under any instalment plans you have, the amount collected by Direct Debit will be increased to cover those payments.

It’s important you choose the payment which suits your needs in the best way.

Paying your scheduled payment helps you retain your instalment plans and keeps your account up to date, however you will still be paying interest on your main balance (if any).

Paying your full main balance plus monthly instalment amount due ensures you are not only retaining your instalment plans but also minimising any interest due on your main balance. This option means you pay the least interest.

Making a fixed payment may help you manage your budget but will only be beneficial for saving interest or paying off your balances earlier if your fixed payment is always greater than your scheduled payment.

Please remember:

Make sure you have enough money in your account when we take your Direct Debit payment each month.
If there isn’t enough money in your account, your Direct Debit will fail and, you could pay extra fees and charges, and this could have an adverse effect on your credit file.

Why would my Direct Debit change?

If your Direct Debit’s fixed amount doesn’t cover the scheduled payment, we may increase your Direct Debit. Please refer to your monthly statement for details of your scheduled payment

If you make any extra payments made during the month, this will usually reduce your Direct Debit amount. We may also reduce your Direct Debit payment if the amount is too high, and your account is going into credit.

If a Direct Debit isn’t taken for 37 months, it will become dormant. If this happens, you’ll need to set up a new one.

How can I change my Direct Debit date, or cancel it?

You can change or cancel your Direct Debit at any time using Online Account Manager or the app. Alternatively, you can call our Customer Services team.

You could also change your payment due date to a more convenient one, up to twice a year, by calling Customer Services.

Can I change my Direct Debit type or amount?

Yes, you can change your Direct Debit type or amount. It can take us up to 3 working days to update your Direct Debit. If your payment date is within the next 3 working days, the change won't be applied until your next statement date.

How long will my Direct Debit take to set up?

Once we have set up your Direct Debit, we will send you an email or text the next working day to let you know that your Advance Notice document and Direct Debit guarantee are available in your FlexPay account.

These documents give you more information about the Direct Debit you have set up.

Do I need to update my Direct Debit after setting up my instalment plan?

No, unless your Direct Debit is set at a fixed amount, the amount that will be collected will increase automatically to cover what you need to pay .

If your Direct Debit is set at a fixed amount and you want to pay more, you can change the amount.

You can change your Direct Debit settings at any time. It can take up to 3 working days for our systems to update once you make your changes.

What happens to my Direct Debit payment when I cancel my instalment plan?

If your Direct Debit is set to pay the scheduled payment or the main balance plus instalments due, then the Direct Debit payment will be lower because the cancelled instalment plan will be moved to your main balance, and there will no longer be an instalment plan payment.

But if you cancel your instalment plan within 3 working days of your next payment due date, then your Direct Debit payment will not be adjusted until your next statement is issued. We will confirm the amount in your next statement.

Nothing will happen to your Direct Debit if it's set to pay a fixed amount.

If I amend my current account details for my Direct Debit, what will happen?

If you change your current account details more than 5 working days before your next payment due date, we'll use the new current account details.

If your payment due date is within the next 5 working days, the change won't be applied until your next payment due date.

You can change these details within your FlexPay Online Account Manager or contact us on 0345 2680 831 or 01268 653744 if you're outside the UK. Our phone lines are open 8am - 8pm Monday to Sunday.

How do additional payments affect my Direct Debit?

If you make an additional payment 3 or more working days before your payment due date, your Direct Debit amount will reduce by the amount you have paid. We’ll send you an alert to let you know if your payments have changed your Direct Debit amount.