Lastschriftmandat

Lastschriftmandat, or direct debit mandate, is an authorization given by a payer to a creditor to collect payments from the payer’s bank account by means of a direct debit. It is commonly used in Germany and across the SEPA area. A mandate can cover a single payment (Einmalmandat) or recurring payments (Dauerlastschriftmandat), such as subscriptions or regular bills. In SEPA, the direct debit can be executed as SEPA Core Direct Debit or SEPA B2B Direct Debit.

The mandate normally requires identifying both parties and their bank accounts. Typical data include the debtor’s name and address and IBAN (and optionally BIC), the creditor’s name and address, and the creditor identifier (Gläubiger-Identifikationsnummer). The agreement is usually signed by the debtor and may be stored electronically. The creditor is authorized to initiate debits on the dates provided in the mandate, and in many cases must provide advance notification of upcoming debits.

Rights and obligations are defined to protect both sides. The debtor can revoke a standing mandate, terminating the authorization or contract. In SEPA Core Direct Debit, the debtor has a right to a refund within eight weeks after the debit date for unauthorized or incorrect debits; for SEPA B2B Direct Debit, refunds are more restricted. The creditor also bears obligations to ensure the mandate is valid and to maintain records for verification.

Practical use of a Lastschriftmandat includes automatic payments for utilities, memberships, and other regular services. It is a convenient method for regular billing but requires careful management to prevent unauthorized or erroneous debits.