Since we started PeopleHub back in 2005, literally 1000s of businesses have used our system to manage their billing. As well as the usual features like sending payment reminders and SMS notifications, many of our customers have requested an invoicing function to link to their recurring payments.

After 6 months of development, we are proud to announce our integrated direct debit and invoicing function is now live. You can:

1. Link a payment plan and invoice,
2. Nominate the timing you want the invoice to be sent (either prior to the payment on the payment date), and
3. Nominate multiple line items on the invoice.

Based on our user feedback we are continuing to refine the invoicing system, but if you would like a sneak peak, please contact us to arrange a demo.

Visit any whirlpool forum and you will find 100′s of complaints regarding direct debit.  Given this, I’ll pose a question, is direct debit really that bad? Or is it the use of these facilities by the merchant that is at fault?  Is it a case of bill payers just not meeting their obligations?

Firstly, we should point out that direct debit is a growing billing method throughout Australia.  APCA’s historical figures indicate a 10% year on year growth in transaction volumes for the past decade.  So why are businesses continuing to look to direct debit as a favoured billing channel?  The answer is it’s cost.  Direct debit is an inexpensive and, in most cases, automated billing solution.  It is also a secure and proven billing channel used across multiple industries.

As well as these advantages, direct debit also provides an end point in the billing cycle.  Many billers issue an invoice and see a payment due date come and go without receiving payment.  This generally requires them to follow-up by issuing a payment reminder or a collection order to recover their fees.

With direct debit, a payment date comes and results in one of two events, the funds are paid

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PaymentHub has recently partnered with several security and monitoring companies to help them manage their cash flow. The entire process has been very enlightening.

Like most of our clients, these companies have an ongoing, service based relationship with their clients. They actively monitor the security alarms in houses and commercial properties and where required, run patrols and respond to these alarms. They also invoice their clients every month .

Over the last 12 months, the new clients we have assisted have carried between 50-100k worth of debtors past the due date of their invoices… sometimes until the next month’s billing cycle.  Our brief was simple, implement a system which would reduce the number outstanding debtors. Below are the steps we took to help our client:

1. We sent a letter to our client’s customers informing them that we were going to implement a new billing system to reduce the company’s administration (and thus keep their monitoring fees low)
2. We also sent a direct debit authority so we could begin billing the following month (none of our clients mandated direct debit as a payment option – they left it up to their clients to decide how they would pay)
3. We set up

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Over the past 6 months we have partnered with Peats Ridge Festival to deliver a lay-by ticketing programme for festival goers to pay their tickets off .  This has been a great example of how direct debit can be used to make a product more affordable.  While there have been a few hiccups along the way, the feedback from ticket holders has been extremely positive.   During our dealings with festival goers, we have been told numerous times that the direct debit payment plans offered through PaymentHub provided an affordable way for them to attend the festival.

The lay-by system worked as follows:

1. Working with Peats Ridge Festival, we determined what the payment plans would look like, the frequency clients would be billed and a maximum number of payments
2. Festival goers would sign up on a PaymentHub direct debit plan that suited their requirements
3. We wanted to make sure that the ticket buyers knew when the funds would be debited from their account so we issued both SMS and email reminders about upcoming payments
4. On completion of the payment plan, Peats would issue the tickets

A really simple approach that delivered positive benefits to both Peats Ridge Festival organisers and their clients!

Welcome to Direct-Debit.com.au! This site is designed to help you get the most out of your billing process in general, and direct debit in particular.

Here you will find lots of information to help you decide what is best for you, and what to look for in your billing partner. Use the menu on the right to check out the helpful articles on the topic

Please take the time to read this site now, because it will hopefully save you lots of time later on.