# Glossary (/docs/direct-debit/glossary) ## A [#a] ### Abbreviated Name [#abbreviated-name] A short identifier (maximum 10 characters) that appears on customer bank statements to identify the merchant. Must be registered and approved by PASA. Example: `TESTMERCH1` ### Account Holder [#account-holder] The person or entity that owns a bank account. For debit orders, this is typically the customer (debtor) whose account will be debited. ### Account Type [#account-type] The classification of a bank account. Supported types: - `CURRENT` - Cheque/current account - `SAVINGS` - Savings account - `TRANSMISSION` - Transmission account ### Action Date [#action-date] The date on which a payment instruction is processed. The smallest unit is a day. Collections submitted after cut-off times will be processed on the next action date. ### Acquiring Bank [#acquiring-bank] See Sponsoring Bank. ### Adjustment Category [#adjustment-category] For DebiCheck mandates, defines how often the collection amount can be adjusted: - `NEVER` - No adjustments allowed - `QUARTERLY` - Every 3 months - `BIANNUALLY` - Every 6 months - `ANNUALLY` - Every year ### Adjustment Rate [#adjustment-rate] A percentage by which the authenticated DebiCheck amount can increase, depending on the adjustment category. Cannot be used together with Adjustment Amount. ### Authentication Reference [#authentication-reference] A unique identifier assigned to a DebiCheck mandate after successful authentication. Required for mandate amendments. ### Authentication Type [#authentication-type] The method used to authenticate a DebiCheck mandate: - `REALTIME` (TT1) - 120-second USSD/push response - `DELAYED` (TT1b) - Same-day approval until 20:00 - `BATCH` (TT2) - 48-hour approval window ### AVS-R (Account Verification Service - Real-time) [#avs-r-account-verification-service---real-time] A service that validates customer bank account details, including account existence, status, type, and ID number matching. ## B [#b] ### Bankserv [#bankserv] The South African automated clearing house that processes electronic payment instructions between banks. ### Batch Processing [#batch-processing] Processing multiple transactions together at scheduled intervals rather than in real-time. DebiCheck TT2 mandates use batch processing. ### Bearer Token [#bearer-token] An access token used for API authentication. Included in the Authorization header of API requests. ### Branch Code [#branch-code] A numeric code identifying a specific bank branch. Used in conjunction with account numbers for payment routing. ## C [#c] ### Callback [#callback] An HTTP request sent by Precium to a merchant's server when a transaction status changes. Also known as a webhook. ### Callback Type [#callback-type] The category of events for which callbacks are sent: - `EFT_COLLECTION` - `DEBICHECK_COLLECTION` - `DEBICHECK_MANDATE` - `EFT_PAYMENT` ### Clearing Participant [#clearing-participant] A bank that participates in the national payment system and can process clearing transactions. ### Client Credentials Flow [#client-credentials-flow] An OAuth 2.0 authentication flow where the client authenticates using a client ID and secret to obtain an access token. ### Collection [#collection] A debit order transaction that withdraws funds from a customer's (debtor's) account to the merchant's (creditor's) account. ### Collection Day [#collection-day] The day of the month (1-31) on which recurring collections are processed. ### Contract Reference [#contract-reference] A unique identifier (maximum 14 characters) linking a mandate to a specific customer contract. Appears on bank statements alongside the abbreviated name. ### Creditor [#creditor] The party receiving funds in a transaction. In debit orders, this is the merchant. In payments, this is the recipient. ### Cut-off Time [#cut-off-time] The deadline by which transactions must be submitted to be processed on a specific action date. ## D [#d] ### DebiCheck [#debicheck] An authenticated debit order system where customers electronically approve mandate details before collections can be processed. Provides reduced disputability and higher success rates. ### Debit Order [#debit-order] An instruction authorising a third party (merchant) to collect funds from a customer's bank account on specified dates. ### Debit Sequence [#debit-sequence] Indicates the position of a collection within a mandate's lifecycle: - `FRST` - First collection - `OOFF` - Once-off (single collection) - `RCUR` - Recurring collection - `RPRE` - Re-presented after failure - `FNAL` - Final collection ### Debtor [#debtor] The party from whom funds are collected. In debit orders, this is the customer whose account is debited. ### Delayed Authentication [#delayed-authentication] DebiCheck authentication (TT1b) where the customer has until 20:00 on the same day to approve, rather than the 120-second real-time window. ### Dispute [#dispute] A challenge raised by a customer against a debit order transaction, claiming it was unauthorised or incorrect. ## E [#e] ### EFT (Electronic Funds Transfer) [#eft-electronic-funds-transfer] Electronic transfer of funds between bank accounts. Includes both debits (collections) and credits (payments). ### EFT Credit [#eft-credit] An outbound payment from the merchant's account to another account. Also called EFT Payment. ### EFT Debit [#eft-debit] An inbound collection from a customer's account to the merchant's account. Also called standard debit order. ### Entry Class [#entry-class] A classification code for debit order transactions. Always `21` for Precium transactions. ### External Reference [#external-reference] An optional merchant-provided identifier for tracking transactions in external systems. Must be unique across all transactions. ## F [#f] ### Fallback Authentication [#fallback-authentication] An alternative authentication method used when the primary DebiCheck authentication fails. Example: `DELAYED_WITHOUT_AUTH` ### Frequency [#frequency] How often collections are processed against a mandate: - `WEEKLY` - `MONTHLY` - `QUARTERLY` - `BIANNUALLY` - `ANNUALLY` ## H [#h] ### Homing Fee [#homing-fee] A fee charged by the paying (issuing) bank to the acquiring bank for processing a debit order against their customer's account. ## I [#i] ### ID Number [#id-number] South African identity number used to identify account holders. Format: 13 digits (YYMMDD SSSS C A Z). ### Input File [#input-file] A file containing payment/collection instructions uploaded to the bank for processing. ### Instrument [#instrument] The payment method or channel used for a transaction: - `EFTSAMEDAY` - `EFTONEDAY` - `EFTTWODAY` - `DEBICHECK` ### Issuing Bank [#issuing-bank] See Paying Bank. ## M [#m] ### Mandate [#mandate] A formal authorisation from a customer (debtor) allowing a merchant (creditor) to debit their bank account. Can be paper, electronic, or voice-recorded. ### Mandate Reference Number [#mandate-reference-number] A unique identifier assigned to a mandate by the banking system after creation or authentication. ### Max Amount Cents [#max-amount-cents] The maximum amount that can be collected in a single transaction against a DebiCheck mandate. ### Merchant Profile [#merchant-profile] A configuration record containing the merchant's banking details, approved instruments, and processing settings. ## N [#n] ### Non-Processing Day [#non-processing-day] A day when banks do not process transactions, such as public holidays and bank holidays. ## O [#o] ### OAuth 2.0 [#oauth-20] An authorisation framework used by the Precium API for secure API access. ### Output File [#output-file] A file returned by the bank containing the status of each transaction from an input file. ## P [#p] ### PASA (Payments Association of South Africa) [#pasa-payments-association-of-south-africa] The regulatory body that manages payment systems in South Africa and sets rules for debit order processing. ### Paying Bank [#paying-bank] The bank that holds the customer's (debtor's) account and processes the debit instruction. Also called issuing bank. ### Payment [#payment] An outbound EFT credit transfer from the merchant's account to a recipient's account. ### Profile Code [#profile-code] A code assigned by the bank that links credit limits, account details, and pricing to a merchant. ### Profile Limit [#profile-limit] The maximum total value of transactions a merchant can process per instrument per month. ## R [#r] ### Real-Time Authentication [#real-time-authentication] DebiCheck authentication (TT1) requiring customer response within 120 seconds via USSD or push notification. ### Reconciliation [#reconciliation] The process of matching collection results to bank statement entries to confirm successful settlement. ### Release Date [#release-date] The date from which a mandate becomes active and collections can be processed. ### Reply File [#reply-file] A file from the bank acknowledging receipt and acceptance of an input file for processing. ### RMS (Registered Mandate Service) [#rms-registered-mandate-service] A service that stores authenticated DebiCheck mandates and enables tracking of customer accounts. ## S [#s] ### Service Type [#service-type] The processing speed for EFT transactions: - `SAMEDAY` - Same-day settlement - `ONEDAY` - Next business day settlement - `TWODAY` - Two business day settlement ### Settlement [#settlement] The process of transferring collected or paid funds to the appropriate bank accounts. ### SO (System Operator) [#so-system-operator] A non-bank entity that provides technology services for payment instructions. Funds settle directly to merchant's bank account. ### Sponsoring Bank [#sponsoring-bank] The bank that enables a merchant to collect funds via debit orders. Also called acquiring bank. ### Statement ID [#statement-id] An identifier linking a reconciled collection to a specific bank statement entry. ## T [#t] ### Tracking Period [#tracking-period] For DebiCheck, the number of days (0-10) the bank monitors a customer's account after a failed collection to retry when funds become available. ### TPPP (Third-Party Payment Provider) [#tppp-third-party-payment-provider] An entity that accepts funds from payers for on-payment to third parties. Must be registered with PASA. ### TPPP-Hybrid [#tppp-hybrid] A TPPP model in which collected funds are deposited into the merchant's bank account rather than the TPPP's account. ### TT1 (Transaction Type 1) [#tt1-transaction-type-1] Real-time DebiCheck authentication with a 120-second response window. ### TT1b [#tt1b] Delayed real-time DebiCheck authentication with a same-day response window until 20:00. ### TT2 (Transaction Type 2) [#tt2-transaction-type-2] Batch DebiCheck authentication with a 48-hour response window. ### TT3 (Transaction Type 3) [#tt3-transaction-type-3] DebiCheck authentication using a cheque card and PIN (not currently supported by Precium). ## U [#u] ### Ultimate Creditor [#ultimate-creditor] A secondary recipient in split payment scenarios who receives a portion of the collected funds. ### Unpaid [#unpaid] A collection status indicating the transaction failed, typically due to insufficient funds or account issues. ### USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) [#ussd-unstructured-supplementary-service-data] A mobile communication protocol used for DebiCheck real-time authentication on feature phones. ## V [#v] ### Value Type [#value-type] For DebiCheck mandates, determines collection amount flexibility: - `FIXED` - No amount variation allowed - `VARIABLE` - Amount can vary up to 1.5x the authenticated amount - `USAGEBASED` - Full flexibility within max amount ### Verify Account [#verify-account] A boolean flag to trigger bank account verification (AVS-R) during mandate creation. ## W [#w] ### Webhook [#webhook] See Callback. ## Z [#z] ### ZAR [#zar] South African Rand - the only currency supported by the Precium Debit Order API.