Collections class · lesson 01
What is DebiCheck?
A debit order you approve electronically with your own bank, once, at the start of a contract. Your bank records exactly what you agreed to - and only lets collections through that match it.
Paying by DebiCheck? Start here.
Collecting? Skip to the business view.
The lesson · how a DebiCheck works
How does DebiCheck work?
You sign a contract.
A loan, a policy, a membership - and you agree to pay by DebiCheck debit order.
Your bank asks you directly.
The business sends a mandate request, and your own bank presents it to you - a banking-app prompt, USSD message, or at an ATM or branch.
You approve the exact terms.
Amount, date, frequency. Approve it on the spot in about two minutes, later the same day, or within about two days for batch requests, depending on the request type.
The bank remembers.
Your mandate is stored in a register at your bank - and every single collection is checked against it before it's paid. Wrong amount or wrong date? Rejected.
Collections go first in line.
DebiCheck collections run in the early-morning window, straight after salaries land. If the money isn't there yet, the collection can track the account for up to ten days and collect the moment funds arrive.
The comparison · three ways money gets collected
DebiCheck vs Registered Mandate vs debit order.
One axis drives everything else: who has verified the mandate. With DebiCheck, your bank heard it from you directly - so it defends it.
| DebiCheck | Registered Mandate | EFT debit order | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandate | Approved by you, held at your bank | Agreed with the business, registered at your bank, not authenticated by you there | Held by the business only |
| Each collection | Checked against the mandate by the bank | Validated against registered parameters | No bank-side check |
| Window | Early morning, first priority after salaries | Evening, before EFT debits | Evening, last in line |
| Tracking | Up to 10 days | Up to 10 days (noon-midnight daily) | None |
| Disputes | Disputable within 60 days; your bank holds the approved mandate as evidence | Disputable within 60 days; the registered mandate is evidence | Disputable within 60 days; the business must produce the mandate |
| Cost to collect | The premium stream | Cheaper than DebiCheck | Cheapest |
The pros · both sides of the desk
Why do businesses use DebiCheck?
For the business collecting
Report cardFor your customer
Counter-documentQuestion time · asked every single class
DebiCheck FAQ.
Is DebiCheck a card payment?
No. DebiCheck is a debit order collected from your bank account. One variant (TT3) uses your bank card and PIN at a device - but only to prove it's you. The payment always comes off your account, never your card.
How do I approve a DebiCheck mandate?
Through your own bank: banking app, internet banking, USSD, an ATM, or with help at a branch. Your bank prompts you when a request arrives.
How long do I have to approve it?
Real-time requests want an answer within about 120 seconds; delayed requests give you until end of day or the next business day. If the window lapses, the business simply sends a new request.
Can I reverse a DebiCheck debit order?
In PASA's words, you have the right to query any debit order collection that you believe was incorrectly debited against your account - but not all disputes will result in a reversal, and reversals are neither automatic nor guaranteed. A collection that matches the mandate you approved at your bank gives the business strong evidence. First approach the business that debited your account; if that doesn't resolve it, dispute it through your bank within 60 calendar days.
Can I cancel a DebiCheck?
You can suspend it at your bank so no future collections run. That doesn't cancel the contract behind it - cancel that with the business, or the debt remains owed.
What happens if I reject the mandate request?
No DebiCheck collection can run, but your contract is still valid. The business may send a new request or use another lawful collection stream, like a Registered Mandate.
Why did the money come off so early in the morning?
DebiCheck collections run in the early-morning window, straight after salary credits land - that's the design. Dates can also shift around weekends and public holidays.
What if I don't have money on the debit date?
The collection can track your account for up to ten days and collect as soon as sufficient funds arrive. What happens to a missed instalment after that depends on your contract.
Why is the "maximum amount" higher than my instalment?
That appears on usage-based mandates (like cellphone accounts) where the amount varies - the maximum is the ceiling you're approving, not what you'll necessarily pay.
Will the bank send me a link or ask for my PIN?
No. Your bank will never send you a link, call or message asking for your PIN, password or personal details as part of DebiCheck approval - treat any such request as fraud. The only time a PIN is used is TT3, where you enter it yourself on a card device in person.
How long do I have to dispute a debit order?
Since 13 April 2026, disputes on all three debit order streams (ordinary debit order, Registered Mandate and DebiCheck) must be lodged within 60 calendar days, counted from the day after the debit. PASA recommends first approaching the business that debited your account, and going to your bank only if that doesn't resolve it - so start early enough to lodge the dispute at your bank within those 60 days.
By the Click2Pay collections team · Updated 5 October 2026 · fact-checked against PASA's debit order guide, SARB Directive 1 of 2017, bank documentation and debicheck.co.za
The curriculum · lessons 01-04