ClearDebit vs Debit Success

ClearDebit provides Direct Debit processing services, software, and training for businesses collecting payments through Bacs. Its Mosaic options address different levels of involvement: Mosaic Submit sends files to Bacs and returns reports with an audit trail, while Mosaic Managed supports the wider Direct Debit cycle, including advance notice letters and transaction codes before processing. Businesses can collect one-off, regular, or variable payments and manage payment timing and changes in the software. Mosaic reporting includes payer and payment details, customer and Bacs reports, historical data, and automatically applied Bacs messages. ClearDebit says its Bureau, Mosaic software, and training are Bacs Approved, and that its Bureau and software follow data-protection rules set out by the FCA and Bacs. For in-house software users, processed collections go directly to the business’s bank account; ClearDebit says it does not hold funds. Bureau integrations can use SFTP or an API to submit files and retrieve reports. The service requires a Service User Number (SUN), and ClearDebit says it cannot support businesses without one. Pricing is on request.

Debit Success provides recurring payment services for businesses and software providers. It collects authorized payments from customers’ credit cards or bank accounts, with schedules available weekly, fortnightly, every four weeks, monthly, quarterly or ad hoc. When a payment reverses, a three-phase follow-up can involve SMS, phone, email and letters, and payment catch-up arrangements are available. Clients can receive automated daily and weekly reports or use an online portal. Reporting covers reversal rates by day, payment type and frequency, as well as sales trends by day, week and month. The billing system integrates with Xplor Clubware, PerfectMind and Xplor Education. Its web service can connect to an application, software or website and supports one-off and recurring schedules, customer detail updates, payment suspension, real-time payments, and retrieval of account status, call notes and transaction history. Business owners can use a self-service portal to run reports, manage members and update payment and contact details. Debit Success states that it is Level I PCI DSS compliant, independently certified and externally audited. Pricing is available on request.