If a customer wants to set up a Direct Debit but is unsure whether their bank supports Direct Debits, the best advice is for them to contact their bank directly.
Their bank will be able to confirm whether Direct Debits are permitted on their account. Customers may also find this information through online banking or in the documents they received when they first opened the account, which usually outline permitted payment types.
Most high‑street and online banks allow Direct Debits. However, not all account types support them. For example, a customer may be able to set up a Direct Debit with an online‑only bank but this may not be possible if they only have a savings account.
Another useful way to check whether the customer’s bank details are valid is by using an online bank‑validation tool.