--- title: "Setting up PayTo direct debit in Qualy" description: "How customers authorise a PayTo agreement so Qualy can collect payments automatically from their bank account." lastModified: "2026-07-17" lang: "en" wordCount: 1097 url: https://qualyhq.com/training/payments/setting-up-payto-direct-debit --- ## Site navigation - [For schools](/international-education/for-schools.md) — For international education schools - [For agents](/international-education/for-education-agents.md) — For international education agents - [Explore](/training.md) — Watch videos on how to use Qualy - [About](/about.md) — Learn about Qualy's mission and values - [Pricing](/pricing) - [5-min demo](/demo.md) - [Login](https://dashboard.qualyhq.com) # Setting up PayTo direct debit in Qualy > Let customers approve a direct debit in their banking app so instalments collect themselves. ## At a glance - **Intended for:** Everyone - **Available in:** All plans - **Reading time:** 4 minutes - **Last updated:** 31st May 2026 ## Quick summary PayTo is a real-time Australian direct debit. You send the customer a direct-debit request (a link or QR code); they choose PayTo, enter their PayID or bank account, and approve the agreement in their online bank. Once active, Qualy collects each payment automatically. You can request a debit for all future payments or a specific payment. ## Overview **PayTo** is a modern, real-time direct debit in Australia. Once a customer approves a PayTo agreement in their online banking, Qualy can collect payments directly from their bank account automatically—perfect for instalment plans where you don't want to chase each payment. ## Step 1 – Send a direct debit request From the dashboard, send the customer a **direct debit request**. You can: - Share a **Direct Debit request link**, or - Show a **QR code** for them to scan ("Scan to setup direct debit") When you create the request you'll **choose the direct debit method** (PayTo) and the **payment type**. ### All future payments The agreement covers every future payment for that customer—set it once and forget it. Ideal for an ongoing plan. ### A specific payment The agreement covers a single selected payment. Useful for one-off or one-instalment authorisations. ## Step 2 – The customer chooses PayTo On the payment page the customer selects **PayTo direct debit** and enters their **PayID** (email or phone number) or **BSB/account** details. ## Step 3 – The customer approves in their bank Qualy shows an **authorisation summary**: the amount to be charged now (if any), the per-payment amount, the list of payments covered, and the start and end dates. The customer then approves the agreement **in their own online banking app** and returns to confirm with **"I've approved on my online bank."** The agreement only becomes active once the customer approves it in their bank. If they don't approve, no payments will be collected. ## Step 4 – Qualy collects automatically Once the agreement is **active**, Qualy collects each payment on its due date—no further action from the customer. You can see and manage active agreements in the **Direct debits** area. **A confirmation tap isn't proof of payment.** When a customer taps "I've approved on my online bank" or "I've made the transfer," that only records what they've *told* us—it doesn't mean the money has landed yet. The payment moves to **paid** on its own once the funds actually clear. **"Money left my account but Qualy says processing" is normal.** A first bank transfer or PayID can take a few hours to settle—occasionally up to about a day—so there's a gap between the customer's side and Qualy confirming receipt. A **declined card** also often falls back to a **direct debit that's still processing**. In all these cases, wait for it to clear rather than charging the customer again; the status updates automatically. Combine PayTo with a payment plan so every instalment is collected automatically. The customer approves once, and the whole schedule runs itself. ## Managing agreements Both you and the customer can manage the agreement. The customer can cancel it from their bank or portal; you can review and manage agreements from **Direct debits**. See the managing direct debit authorisations guide for details. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is PayTo? PayTo is a real-time, account-to-account direct debit in Australia. The customer approves an agreement in their online banking, and from then on Qualy can collect payments directly from their bank account—supporting PayID emails, phone numbers, and BSB/account. ### How does the customer set it up? You send them a direct debit request—a link, or a QR code they scan. They choose PayTo, enter their PayID or bank account details, review the agreement (the amounts and the payments it covers), and approve it in their banking app. ### Can I set up direct debit for all future payments or just one? Both. When you request a direct debit you choose the payment type: all future payments for that customer, or a specific payment. ### What does the customer approve exactly? An agreement that shows the amount to be charged now (if any), the per-payment amounts, and the list of payments it covers, along with the start and end dates. They confirm by approving it in their own online bank. ### What happens after the agreement is active? Qualy collects each payment automatically on its due date. The customer doesn't need to do anything further, and you can see active agreements in the Direct debits area. ### Can an agreement be cancelled? Yes. The customer can cancel a PayTo agreement from their bank or portal, and you can manage agreements from the Direct debits area in the dashboard. ### How is PayTo different from BECS direct debit? PayTo is real-time and approved in the banking app, supporting PayID. BECS is the traditional direct debit captured automatically once authorised. Both are Australia-only. ### The customer tapped 'I've made the transfer'—does that mean it's paid? Not by itself. A confirmation screen or an 'I've made the transfer' tap just records that the customer says they've acted—it isn't proof the money has actually moved. The payment is only paid once the funds clear, which the dashboard updates automatically. So treat that tap as 'on its way,' not 'done.' ### Money has left the customer's account but Qualy still shows it as processing—why? That gap is normal for direct debit and bank transfers. A first bank transfer or PayID can take a few hours to settle—sometimes up to about a day—and a card that's declined often falls back to a direct debit that's still processing. The money leaving the customer's side and Qualy confirming receipt don't happen at the same instant. It'll move to paid on its own once the funds clear; no need to take it again. ### A customer's card was declined but they were still charged—what happened? When a card is declined, the payment can fall back to a direct debit from the same account, which then takes a little time to process. So the customer can see something pending on their side while Qualy shows it as still processing. Wait for it to clear rather than asking them to pay again—charging twice is the thing to avoid. ## Prefer doing this via the Qualy API? Head over to our developer docs for everything you need—endpoints, examples, and simple how-tos. 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