Accepting payments on a web site - BACS security

Try:

How many cheques have been been used for payment over the years?

They basically consist of Sort Code and Account Number.

Apart from using credit cards to gain cashback and for protection, my preference is to pay by direct bank transfer.

I know that I have enough cash to cover the amount, I see the money go, I get instant confirmation that it has been received. There is a simple document trail if needed. It is free.

Lots of companies put Sort Code and Account number on their invoices and quotes.

The main downsides are that going through an intermediary gives you an instant link with the order and you will get a fully detailed list of receipts.

I don't know if there are any special risk the way the UK does this, but it is or was standard practice in Germany and I actually had to limit my choice of supplier, for something easier to obtain in Germany, because many would not accept cards, an the cost of doing bank transfer in EU was more than the value of the goods.

It probably isn't free to the business payers, and it may not be free to the recipient, although it is likely to be cheaper than alternative methods.

The main downside for the recipient is that people in the UK don't understand how to use the Reference field, but hopefully institutional payers will.

Yes, many savings accounts at banks accept incoming BACS but don't allow DDs or SOs.

Theo

That would seem to be an obvious approach, a separate account would make a lot of sense anyway to keep the income for this separate.