Set up a GoCardless Direct Debit mandate on mobile

This article explains how to set up a GoCardless Direct Debit mandate with a customer using the FreeAgent mobile app.

You can also request one-off instant bank payments for invoices using GoCardless, without the need for a mandate.

Setting up a new Direct Debit mandate

Before you invite a customer to set up a Direct Debit mandate, you may want to talk it through with them first. After this, you’re ready to set up the mandate.

Tap the ‘☰’ (mobile app navigation menu) button and select 'Contacts'.

Select the contact that you’d like to set up the mandate with from the list.

Select the three dots in the top-right and select ‘Request GoCardless Direct Debit mandate’ from the menu.

Complete the information for the Direct Debit mandate request form. Remember that the mandate covers all payments for this customer, rather than one project in particular. When you’ve completed all the details, select ‘Send request’.

The customer will then receive an email with the details of the Direct Debit mandate, which they can then authorise. Please note that the mandate link will expire once it has been clicked, so the customer will need to action the mandate at the time the link is used. It can take up to three working days for the mandate to be fully set up.

While you wait for the customer to respond, FreeAgent will display a ‘GoCardless mandate pending’ status in the Direct Debit panel of the customer’s profile in the Contacts area.

Setting up a Direct Debit mandate for multiple signatories

Some customers may require more than one person to authorise a Direct Debit mandate on their bank account. If this is the case, the customer should follow the link on the email they receive with details of the Direct Debit mandate and then untick the ‘I can authorise Direct Debits on this account myself’ option and select 'Set up this Direct Debit'.

The customer will then receive an email that includes a mandate document that they can print and sign. Once all necessary signatories have signed the mandate, the customer will then need to upload the mandate document via the link provided in the email to complete the Direct Debit authorisation.

Please note that the mandate will not be submitted to the customer’s bank until the customer has completed and uploaded the paper mandate document.

Once the mandate has been set up, you can take invoice payments using the Direct Debit mandate.