Use this list of Fast Facts to answer questions your internal staff might have about Direct Payment. These facts can also be used to inform and promote the use of Direct Payment to your individual customers and business clients:

• Direct Payment is a smart way for individuals to make payments and for businesses to receive them. It can be used for recurring payments of all kinds, including loan and insurance payments, newspaper subscriptions, health club membership dues, utility and cable bills, and charitable contributions.
• Direct Payment goes by many names, including automatic bill payment, automatic debit, electronic bill payment or direct debit. As you know, the process is the same; reduce confusion by consistently using the term Direct Payment when speaking to your customers.
• Research shows that Direct Payment helps consumers save and invest more each month, reduce late payment fees and donate to charitable organizations more regularly. Be sure to mention this when helping your individual customers with their financial planning efforts.
• Direct Payment improves cash flow, saves time, and enhances customer service and donor loyalty for companies of all sizes, including non-profit organizations and charitable institutions.
• Problems with Direct Payment are rare. If a problem ever does occur, it is easy to resolve.
• More than half of all U.S. households use Direct Payment for at least one recurring payment and four of five consumers who use it say they are very satisfied with it.
• Individual customers can rest assured that when making payments electronically, their account information is protected by the federal government. Inform your customers that the Federal Reserve Board's Regulation E requires you to investigate any ACH transaction that your individual customers believe to be in error, provided that they notify you.