Billing Requests
What is a Billing Request
Billing Request enables you to collect payments from your new or existing customers using the Billing Request Flow API (powered by Open Banking). There are three primary use cases for Billing Requests:
Taking instant one-off payments
Account top-ups, one-off charges for goods or services, easier and faster invoicing collection.
Creating mandates
Collect customers' bank details for future recurring payments.
Combining both actions
Taking a first-time instant payment (joining fee) with a mandate set up for subsequent payments.
✅ Instant confirmation - you will receive real-time confirmation that your customers can pay.
✅ Faster payouts (0 - 1 working days) - Billing Request uses Open Banking rails which means that it enables your business to collect one-time payments faster.
✅ Verified Mandates feature - reduces the chance of fraudulent customers by adding additional verification checks when the customers authorise their bank accounts. Available in the US (ACH) and Sweden (Autogiro).
✅ Low cost - GoCardless is focused on bank to bank payments, we are not routing payments through expensive card networks. See pricing.
Billing Request timings: Payment timeline (working days)
Day 0 | Payer completes Billing Request flow. | The Merchant receives confirmation of payment. |
Day 0 - 1 | Funds are paid out to the merchant. | Payments made before 11 am on business days will reach merchants' bank accounts on the same day. Payments made after 6 pm will be processed the following working day. |
Start integrating Billing Request API

Instant one-off payments
Collect a one time payment faster than the typical Direct Debit (6+ days) timeline.

Creating Mandates
Collect customers' bank details for future payments. Verified Mandates feature performs extra checks to ensure customers are genuine.

First instant payment and mandate set up
Take a first-time instant payment (i.e joining fee) with a mandate set up for subsequent payments.
How can Billing Requests work with your payment flow?
Taking instant one-off payments (ride-hailing example)
Ideal for businesses who require one-off payments - account top-ups, one-off charges for goods or services, easier and faster invoicing.
Taking instant one-off payments with rolling membership (gym example)
Ideal for businesses who require payment before goods or services are delivered, or for random one-off payments.
What’s next?
Take a one-off Instant bank payment
Get started
First instant payment with mandate Direct Debit set up
For partners
Go to Partner PortalTo learn more about technical and UX requirements