A Direct Debit is an instruction from a consumer or business (payer) to their bank, authorising a third party organisation (payee) to regularly collect money directly from the payer's account at intervals within a specified timescale. The authorisation is either provided as a paper Direct Debit Instruction (DDI) or, more commonly, electronically.
The payee (person being paid) may vary the amounts collected via the Direct Debit, but only if they have been given advance notice to the payer of the amount and the date the Direct Debit will be collected.
By setting up a Direct Debit, both the payer and the payee are able to automate the collection of funds, saving considerable time, money and effort on both sides.