Direct Debit Terms & Availability

1. Overview

Art Licence Studio may offer Direct Debit as a payment method for UK customers through our payment partner, GoCardless Ltd after a separate launch review. Direct Debit payments are processed via the UK BACS (Bankers' Automated Clearing Services) system.

In the current private beta, Direct Debit mandates and live Direct Debit checkout are not available for production use. When the feature is approved, setting up a mandate will authorise Art Licence Studio Ltd to collect payments from your bank account for eligible purchases made on our platform.

2. Direct Debit Discount

Planned Direct Debit pricing remains a future commercial option. We do not offer a live Direct Debit discount during private beta, and no checkout should display one until the payment method is separately approved for production use.

If a Direct Debit discount is introduced later, the checkout will show the exact amount, eligibility rules, payment timing, and any effect on digital delivery before you commit.

3. The Direct Debit Guarantee

All Direct Debit payments are covered by the Direct Debit Guarantee, which protects you in the following ways:

• Advance notice: You will be notified of the amounts to be debited and the payment dates in advance.
• Immediate refund: If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit by Art Licence Studio or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank.
• Right to cancel: You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required.

If the amounts or dates change, you will be notified at least 3 working days before the payment is collected, or as otherwise agreed.

4. Setting Up a Mandate

When Direct Debit is approved, you must set up a mandate by providing:

• Your bank account number
• Your sort code
• Confirmation that you are the account holder or have authority to set up the mandate

The mandate setup is handled securely by GoCardless. Art Licence Studio does not store your full bank account details - we only receive a reference number to identify your mandate.

5. Payment Timing

Direct Debit payments typically take 3-5 working days to clear through the BACS system:

• Day 1: Payment instruction submitted
• Day 2-3: BACS processing
• Day 3-5: Funds cleared, order confirmed

For instant purchases (digital downloads), your order will be held until payment clears. For commission requests, the artist will be notified but work will not commence until payment is confirmed.

6. Failed Payments

If a Direct Debit payment fails (e.g., due to insufficient funds), we will:

• Notify you by email within 24 hours
• Attempt to collect the payment again after 3 working days
• If the second attempt fails, the order will be cancelled

Repeated payment failures may result in Direct Debit being disabled for your account. You will still be able to pay by card.

7. Cancelling Your Mandate

You can cancel your Direct Debit mandate at any time by:

• Contacting your bank directly
• Using your bank's online banking or app
• Contacting us at support@artlicencestudio.co.uk

Please note that cancelling your mandate will not cancel any pending orders. If you have orders in progress, please contact us to discuss your options.

8. Data Protection

Your bank details are processed by GoCardless in accordance with their Privacy Policy. GoCardless is authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) as an Authorised Payment Institution.

For more information on how we handle your data, please see our Privacy Policy and Sub-Processor List.

9. Contact

If you have any questions about Direct Debit payments, please contact us:

• Email: support@artlicencestudio.co.uk
• Address: Art Licence Studio Ltd, 5 Brayford Square, London, E1 0SG