BACS gives contact centres fool-proof solution for Direct Debit training

BACS announces the publication of a new reference guide containing vital information for contact centres setting up Direct Debits.

[ClickPress, Thu Nov 23 2006] Contact centre managers looking to supplement in-house training programmes and educate call handling staff about setting up Direct Debits and managing associated processes now have a brand new tool at their disposal.

BACS, the company behind Direct Debit, has joined forces with John Wiley & Sons to create Direct Debit for Dummies - a free*, mini reference guide based on the publishing house’s bestselling format.

Designed to help contact centre staff get to grips with the practicalities of Direct Debit in less than ten minutes, Direct Debit for Dummies contains essential facts and figures about the UK’s most popular automated payment method including top tips for handling customer queries about Direct Debit plus information about the Direct Debit Guarantee.

Michael Chambers, managing director of BACS said: “Seventy-five per cent of adults in Great Britain now have at least one Direct Debit commitment. It is therefore vital that contact centre staff have information about Direct Debit to hand and can answer customer enquiries relating to the product swiftly and efficiently.

Continuing he said, “Sound product knowledge is key when it comes to delivering the highest standards of customer care and is particularly important in contact centres which can be exceptionally busy places. With an increasing number of consumers embracing Direct Debit as a convenient payment tool, we hope our Dummies guide will help contact centre professionals improve operational excellence when it comes to managing Direct Debit payments and enquiries.”

BACS has been at the forefront of delivering efficient, reliable and secure electronic funds transfer for almost 40 years. For more information about Direct Debit for Dummies and to find out how to obtain copies for use in your call centre, please contact: bacsacademy@bacsservices.co.uk or phone the BACS help desk on: 0870 1650018

*NB: Contact Centres interested in receiving a copy of BACS’ Direct Debit for Dummies Guide can obtain the first 100 copies free of charge. For larger orders, or to discuss a specific application for the guide, please contact the BACS team as above

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About BACS Payment Schemes Ltd (BACS):
BACS has been at the forefront of delivering efficient, reliable and secure electronic funds transfers between banks and businesses for almost 40 years.

As a membership-based 'not-for-profit' industry body, owned by some of the UK and Europe’s leading banks and building societies, BACS develops, enhances and promotes the use and integrity of automated payments and payment related services.

Through its two principal electronic payment services, Direct Debit and BACS Direct Credit, it is responsible for the processing of more than 5.1 billion financial transactions a year, with in excess of 75 million payments on a peak day.

BACS’ success is based on its ability to improve technology for the benefit of banks, businesses and consumers. Since 1 January, payment files are delivered via BACSTEL-IP, a new delivery channel developed in response to the rapidly growing demand for electronic payment services. It provides businesses with the highest level of security in payment submissions, even faster payment confirmation and the ability to track the status of payments online. For further information please visit www.bacs.co.uk .

More about Direct Debit:
Approximately 15,000 organisations currently choose Direct Debit as the simplest, safest and most cost effective way to collect regular or occasional payments from their customers - both business and consumers.

A Direct Debit is an instruction from a customer to their bank or building society authorising an organisation to collect varying amounts from their account, as long as the customer has been given advance notice of the collection amounts and dates. This can be used to ensure regular, safe and efficient payments of anything from household bills to charitable donations.

For further information please contact the BACS press office on 01223 557 601

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