Direct debit - validation/verification of bank routing and account numbers as/before transaction is submitted?

Greg Rubenstein

We'd like to deploy direct debit as a payment option when a visitor to our website wants to make a donation, or purchase an event registration.

However, there is no validation for either the user's bank routing number, or account number -- so if the user incorrectly enters either (or both) numbers, the transaction goes through as far as the user knows, but no funds are transferred to our bank.

This seems like a basic feature to have included, but I've verified via BB support, there is no native functionality to validate the account/account number/bank routing number.

There are third-party providers who offer validation of direct debit transactions, but I haven't yet researched if any are compatible with BB/OE (we use OnlineExpress forms), and I'm hoping someone in the community has already solved this? If so, who are you using?

TIA!

Faith Murray

@Greg Rubenstein, the only suggestion I can offer is to download and run all NEW direct debit gifts in their own batch with a “pre-authorization” setting, before actually committing the batch. Then reach out to donors that have errors, just as you reach out to failed credit card donors. Running a pre-auth is possible if you process direct debits directly through your bank, rather than through BBMS. (It's a lot cheaper, too, as there are no processing fees.) I am unaware of any way to integrate a third party double-check into OLX/BBMS forms.