A payment link asks a customer for a specific amount. They open it, choose their bank, and approve the payment in their own banking app. Nothing for them to type, no card details, no account to create.
Takes under a minute. Works on phone, tablet or laptop. Your business checks need to be complete first.
Step 1. Start a payment
There are three ways in, whichever page you are on:
Create payment in the left sidebar. Available from every page. This is the one to use.
Create payment on the Payments page, top right beside Export CSV.
New payment on a customer's page, top right. This one prefills the customer so you can skip step 3.
The sidebar also has Add customer if you want to set someone up before taking a payment from them.
Step 2. Choose the payment type
For a single deposit, balance or invoice, choose One time payment. The other two are for ongoing or staged work.
One time payment. One amount, one link. Deposits, final balances, one off invoices.
Recurring payment. The same amount on a schedule, collected by Direct Debit.
Split payment. One total collected in instalments, each with its own due date.
Step 3. Pick or add the customer
Open the Customer field. Search to filter your existing customers, or use the add row pinned above the list.
An existing customer
Each row shows how that customer is set up to pay, for example "Direct Debit active" or "Instant Bank Pay". Select a name and their details fill in automatically.
A new customer
The inline panel has an Individual and Company toggle, then full name and email, which are required, plus phone, company name and company number, which are optional.
The Add customer button stays greyed out until the full name and email are filled in. Switch the toggle to Company and the company fields move to the top of the form. Your new customer is selected on the payment automatically once added.
With Instant bank pay, adding a customer creates a profile straight away. No mandate, no invite email, they just pay the link. With Direct Debit selected the same panel is titled Invite customer, the button reads Send invite, and your customer gets an email to approve a Direct Debit mandate before you can collect.
If your customer list is empty, the add row sits above the list so you can create your first customer without leaving the payment.
Step 4. Add the description and amount
The description is what your customer sees on the payment page, so write it the way they would recognise it. For example: Kitchen fit, final balance.
Type the amount, or tap one of the quick amounts you use most.
Step 5. Choose how you collect it
Instant bank pay. Your customer opens the link and approves the payment in their bank. Use this for deposits and balances you want settled now. Instant Bank Pay payments are paid out the same business day, subject to bank processing and checks. Payments made late in the day, at weekends or on bank holidays are paid out the next business day.
Direct Debit. Your customer gets an email to approve a mandate before you can collect. Once the mandate is active, the amount is collected on the due date. Use this when the money is not due today.
Direct Debit is not currently being switched on for new accounts. There is a waiting list, and the wait is typically 4 to 8 weeks. Email [email protected] if you would like to be added. Instant bank pay is live now and unaffected, so you can start collecting today.
Select Create payment when you are done.
Step 6. Share the link
Your link is live as soon as it is created. Copy it, send it through one of the share buttons, or switch to the QR code if your customer is standing in front of you.
All the ways to share it
Every method opens the same link, so you can use more than one. The payment can only be made once.
Copy. Puts the URL on your clipboard so you can paste it anywhere, including your own invoice, a quote, or a booking confirmation.
WhatsApp. Opens WhatsApp with a short message and the link already written. Pick the chat and send. Best when you are already messaging the customer.
Email. Sends the request with your business name, the amount and the description. Best for invoices and remote customers. Needs an email address on the customer.
Text. Opens a text message with the link ready to send. Best for customers who do not use WhatsApp or email. Needs a mobile number on the customer.
QR code. Shows a code on your screen for the customer to scan with their phone camera. Best on site: hold up your phone or tablet and they pay before you leave.
What your customer sees
Three screens, whichever way you shared the link.
1. They open the link and see your business, the amount and the description.
2. They choose their bank from the supported list.
3. They approve in their banking app and the payment is sent.
Your payee name, account details and the reference are all supplied by the link, so there is nothing for your customer to type or copy across.
Common questions
Does my customer need an NRTH account?
No. They only need online or mobile banking with a supported UK bank.
Can I send the same link twice?
Yes. Share it as many times and as many ways as you like. It can only be paid once.
When does the money reach me?
Instant Bank Pay payments are paid out the same business day, subject to bank processing and checks. Payments made late in the day, at weekends or on bank holidays are paid out the next business day. You can follow the status on the Payments page.
What does it cost?
1% + 20p, capped at £5 up to £2,000, plus 0.3% on anything above £2,000. No monthly fee. All fees are plus VAT.
My customer list is empty.
The add row sits above the list, so you can create your first customer without leaving the payment.
Still stuck?
Email [email protected] or message us on the chat and we will look at the payment with you.