SEPA Direct Debit
With SEPA Direct Debit, customers pay directly from their bank account. In Bookicorn, the direct debit runs via Stripe. It's not a separate payment method in Bookicorn, but a payment option within Stripe.
Switch on SEPA Direct Debit
You enable direct debit in your own Stripe account, not in Bookicorn:
- First connect Stripe under Manager → Settings → Payment methods. How this works is explained under Set up Stripe.
- On the Stripe card, open Open Stripe Dashboard.
- In your Stripe account, switch on SEPA Direct Debit as a payment method.
Bookicorn reads from your Stripe account whether direct debit is active there. There's no separate setting for it in Bookicorn.
Where customers can pay by direct debit
Direct debit appears in the Stripe payment window when Bookicorn leaves the choice of payment options to Stripe. This is the case for:
- Credit subscriptions that run via Stripe
- buying gift vouchers via Stripe
- paying for a spot from the waitlist via Stripe
For bookings and the one-off purchase of a prepaid card, the customer already chooses the payment option in Bookicorn, for example credit card, Klarna or PayPal. SEPA Direct Debit isn't offered there as a separate line.
Bookings and purchases are delivered immediately
A direct debit takes a few days at the bank until it's honoured. Bookicorn doesn't wait for that. When a customer pays by direct debit, Bookicorn delivers immediately, just like with a card payment:
- The booking is confirmed immediately.
- Credits bought are in the customer's account immediately.
- A gift voucher is sent immediately.
For a booking, the payment is listed under Manager → Transactions as Pending while the bank is still checking the direct debit. As soon as Stripe reports the payment as received, it changes to Paid.
A self-employed trainer's share is only transferred once the money has actually arrived at Stripe.
What happens when a direct debit bounces
If the bank returns a direct debit, for example because the account doesn't have sufficient funds, Bookicorn automatically takes back what has already been delivered:
| What was bought | What Bookicorn does |
|---|---|
| Booking | The booking is cancelled without a refund. The customer receives the cancellation email. If there was an invoice, a cancellation invoice is created. |
| Prepaid card | The card bought is locked; its credits can no longer be used. |
| Gift voucher | The voucher is locked and can no longer be redeemed. |
| First payment of a credit subscription | The subscription's starting credits are locked again. |
Under Transactions, a bounced booking or prepaid card is then listed as Failed, a locked voucher as Cancelled. You get a notification in the Manager, for example "Lastschrift nicht eingelöst" (German server text for "direct debit returned") with the number of cancelled bookings, or "Zahlung fehlgeschlagen" (German server text for "payment failed") for a prepaid card.
Renewals of credit subscriptions by direct debit
With the first payment of a credit subscription, the starting credits arrive immediately. With every later renewal, Bookicorn adds the new credits as soon as Stripe reports the payment for the new period as paid. With a direct debit, this can be a few days after the renewal date.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to switch on direct debit in Bookicorn? No. You enable it in your Stripe account. Bookicorn picks up whatever is active there.
My customer booked by direct debit and is already on the participant list. Is that right? Yes. Bookicorn confirms the booking immediately, even while the bank is still checking the direct debit. If it bounces later, Bookicorn cancels the booking automatically.
Why has a booking been "Pending" for days? That's normal with direct debits. The bank takes a few days to collect the money. After that, the status changes to Paid.
Can a customer pay for a booking by direct debit? When booking, the customer chooses between the payment options Bookicorn shows, for example credit card or Klarna. Direct debit isn't included there as a separate line. Customers pay by direct debit for credit subscriptions, gift vouchers and when paying for a spot from the waitlist.
Do I get notified when a direct debit bounces? Yes, as a notification in the Manager. Bookicorn already takes back the booking or purchase automatically.