How do SEPA direct debits work at Holvi?

A SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) is an automated payment method that allows a company you trust (the "biller") to collect funds directly from your Holvi account. Instead of manually sending payments, you authorise the biller to collect money directly from your Holvi account.

SEPA Direct Debit is commonly used for utility bills (electricity, internet, phone), subscription services (software, memberships), and payments like insurance premiums or taxes.

To set up a direct debit, the biller provides a mandate — an authorisation form (often digital) that you approve. This gives them permission to debit your account.

Jump to section

• Which types of SEPA Direct Debits does Holvi support?
• How to enable direct debits in Holvi
• How to request a refund for a direct debit
• Frequently asked questions

Which types of direct debits does Holvi support?

There are two main SEPA Direct Debit schemes. It’s important to know which one applies to your Holvi account:

✅ SEPA Core Direct Debits – Supported

Holvi support SEPA Core Direct Debits.

• Standard scheme used across Europe.
• Works between businesses, or between a business and an individual.
• This is the type most billers use (subscriptions, utilities, taxes, etc.).

❌ SEPA B2B Direct Debits – Not Supported

Holvi does not support SEPA B2B Direct Debits.

• Used only for payments between two registered businesses.
• Less common, with stricter rules.

If a biller requests a B2B Direct Debit, let them know your Holvi account only supports SEPA Core and ask them to adjust the mandate accordingly.

How do I enable direct debits in Holvi?

To activate direct debits, please contact our support team:

• Messaging: Log in at Holvi.com and start a conversation.
• Contact form: Submit a request here.

Once enabled, you can start giving mandates to trusted companies.

How to request a refund for a direct debit

One of the key advantages of SEPA Core Direct Debits is a strong refund policy. The rules depend on whether the payment was authorised.

For authorised payments ("No-questions-asked" rule)

If you authorised the payment with a valid mandate but still want a refund (e.g. if the amount was wrong or you cancelled a service):

• You have 8 weeks from the date the payment was taken to request a refund.
• You do not need to provide a reason.
• We’ll credit the full amount back to your account, typically within 10 business days.

For unauthorised payments

If a company takes a payment without your permission (i.e., without a valid mandate), the refund period is much longer.

• You have 13 months from the date the payment was taken to report it and request a refund.

👉 To request a refund, contact our support team via Messaging (log in on your browser first) or our contact form.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I have insufficient funds for a direct debit?

If your account balance is too low, the payment will fail immediately. We cannot automatically retry the payment after you add funds to your account.

• You will need to contact the biller to arrange a new payment or ask them to re-initiate the direct debit.

Can I use direct debits internationally?

Yes — SEPA Direct Debits work across all countries in the SEPA area.

How do I cancel a direct debit mandate?

To cancel your permission for a company to take payments, you should contact the biller directly.