What is the difference between a Standing Order and a Direct Debit?

With Standing Orders, you are giving your bank or building society an instruction to pay a certain individual / institution's bank account a set sum at regular intervals - usually monthly, but can also be weekly, quarterly or annually

A Direct Debit is an authorisation from a customer to allow a particular institution to collect sums from his/her bank account, provided that institution gives advance notice of the collection times and amounts. In most cases the date and the sum will be regular and unchanging, but unlike a Standing Order this is subject to change.

You’re protected under the Direct Debit Guarantee Scheme, so if any money is debited in error, you’ll be fully refunded.

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