Direct Debit Refunds

This document is a technical introduction to the DataCash Direct Debit Continuous Authority Service. Further detailed information to assist integration with the Service is available in the Developers Guide.

This Service enables you to quickly and easily return funds by Direct Credit, to any customers with Direct Debit Instructions held on your account in the DPG. The funds are credited back to the account details held on the DDI, even if the DDI has been cancelled.

Like the Direct Debit drawdowns, all Direct Debit Refunds are batched by the DPG each working day and are submitted to BACS for processing. This process takes three working days.

Requirements

Before you can go live with this service, you will need the following:

  • an account with DataCash configured for the Direct Debit Refunds Service
  • existing DDIs set up on the account with the Direct Debit Service
  • the ability to send XML transactions to the DPG
  • your OIN to be configured at your Sponsoring Bank for Direct Credit

Transaction Processing Models

Any existing DDI can be used to perform a Direct Debit Refund. If the DDI has already been revoked, it may still be used for refunds. It is also possible to cancel a Direct Debit Refund before settlement if required.

Refunding a Direct Debit

Situations in which you may wish to implement Direct Debit Refunds include:

  • Customer cancels DDI just after a payment has been settled
  • Payment value needs to be be adjusted
  • Payment taken in error
Transaction Type Effect Uses
ddrefund refunds a DDI Returns funds to the account

Cancelling a Refund

The cancel transaction prevents any unsettled ddrefund from being settled

Transaction Type Effect Uses
cancel Prevents settlement of a transaction Prevents an unsettled ddrefund from being submitted for settlement

Performing Transactions

Both transaction type requires specific information to be provided. In addition to those listed, each requires a client and password - these are security details which identify your account.

Refunding a Direct Debit

To perform a ddrefund, the following information needs to be submitted:

  • the value you wish to be refunded
  • the transaction type - ddrefund
  • the DataCash Reference of the DDI you wish to perform the refund against
  • a unique reference number generated by your system - to allow the transactions to be distinguished from each other

Cancelling a refund

To cancel a ddrefund prior to settlement, the following information is required:

  • the DataCash Reference of the ddrefund you wish to cancel
  • the transaction type - cancel

Response Codes

There are two basic Response types for all transactions.

  • Accepted
  • Errors

Accepted

A successful response indicates that the ddrefund will be sent to BACS for settlement, unless it is cancelled.

Errors

A complete list of Response Codes for this service is available here. The Support Centre also contains extensive examples for most error codes. Illustrations are given to demonstrate how they would appear in both Reporting and an XML Response. Suggestions are also given to help you prevent them from occurring.

Reporting

The ddrefunds are detailed in the Direct Debit section of the DataCash Reporting system, on the same pages as the drawdowns.

The Support Centre contains full hints and tips to help you get the most out of Reporting.