A Direct Debit payment is a type of electronic payment that is authorized by the payer and is initiated by the payee. Direct Debits are typically used to pay regular bills, such as utility bills, mortgage payments, and insurance premiums.

To set up a Direct Debit payment, the payee (e.g. a utility company) will provide the payer (e.g. a customer) with a Direct Debit mandate, which is a form that authorizes the payee to initiate payments from the payer's account. The payer must then complete and return the mandate to the payee, along with the necessary bank account details.

Once the mandate has been completed and returned, the payee can initiate Direct Debit payments from the payer's account according to the agreed-upon schedule. Direct Debits are a convenient and efficient way for payers to make regular payments and for payees to collect payments, as they eliminate the need for the payer to manually make each payment.