Take payments by direct debit

Direct debit (Stripe calls it BECS Direct Debit) takes the payment straight from the client's bank account using their BSB and account number. It costs less than a card on most payments and never expires the way a card does. The catch is timing: a card is paid the moment the client finishes checkout, while a bank debit takes about 3 business days to clear.

You need Stripe connected first. See Connect Stripe to take payments.

Turn it on in Stripe

TrainerStack has no switch for this. It lives in your own Stripe account.

1. In TrainerStack, go to Settings → Integrations and click Open Stripe Dashboard under Payments.
2. In Stripe, go to Settings → Payments → Payment methods.
3. If the page asks which settings you are editing, with a choice between your own account and TrainerStack, pick TrainerStack. Those are the settings TrainerStack's payment links use.
4. Find BECS Direct Debit under bank debits and turn it on.

That is all. From then on every subscription, pack, program, casual session and store checkout offers a bank account beside cards. Links you copy or email from now on offer it, including Copy Link on plans that are still unpaid, and there is nothing to change in TrainerStack.

To check it worked, copy a payment link from any unpaid plan and open it. Stripe's page should show BECS Direct Debit as a choice next to Card.

What your client sees

1. They open your payment link and choose BECS Direct Debit instead of Card.
2. They enter their name, email, BSB and account number, and tick to accept Stripe's direct debit request. That agreement is what lets you debit the account each renewal.
3. They see "Your bank account payment has been submitted" with a note that bank debits take around 3 business days.

On your side the plan card shows Bank payment processing while the debit clears. The plan, pack or program goes Active on its own when it lands. Do not send a second link in the meantime, or you may be paid twice. If the client needs sessions before the money arrives, book them anyway, or ask them to pay by card this once.

Renewals are debited automatically each cycle, on the same day a card would be charged. Each one also takes about 3 business days to clear.

What it costs

Stripe charges 1% + $0.30 per bank debit, capped at $3.50, against 1.65% + $0.30 for a domestic card (both include GST). On a $300 monthly subscription that is $3.30 by bank instead of $5.25 by card. TrainerStack's 1% + GST applies the same way to both. See Connect Stripe to take payments for how fees are taken.

Move a card client onto direct debit

A client who already pays by card can switch their subscription to their bank account themselves. You do not need a new plan or a new link.

1. Open the client in My Clients and find Billing.
2. Click Email update link. The client gets a branded email titled "Update your payment details".
3. They click Update payment method, choose to add a bank account, enter their BSB and account number, and accept the direct debit request.
4. The bank account becomes their default payment method in Stripe.

Once a client has a bank account saved, Charge card on file on + Add Billing Plan and the one-off Charge card button both offer it, labelled "bank account ending 1234". Those charges take about 3 business days to clear too.

When a debit fails

A bank can return a debit, usually for insufficient funds or a closed account. You get a "Payment Failed" notification and the plan shows Payment failed. Copy Link or Email Link on the plan card gives the client a fresh link to try again, by bank or by card. A returned debit can arrive a few days after the plan first looked paid, so if a client is tight on funds, card is the safer choice.

Common problems

• The payment page only shows Card. BECS Direct Debit is not on yet, or it is on for your own account but not for TrainerStack. Go back to Settings → Payments → Payment methods in Stripe and check which settings you turned it on in.
• The client is not in Australia. BECS only works with Australian bank accounts in Australian dollars. Clients with overseas accounts pay by card.
• A plan has been on Bank payment processing for more than a week. Open the payment in Stripe to see where it is. If the bank returned it, the plan shows Payment failed and you can send a fresh link.
• The client wants to go back to card. Send Email update link again and they add a card the same way.