At 13:22 -0500 3/1/09, Thomas Dalton wrote:
Direct debits certainly aren't free, though the majority of the costs are set-up and annual ones, rather than proportional to the level of donations, so once we're larger it will be relatively cheaper. However it's by the by at the moment since the Co-Op require you to have had an account with them for a year before they'll let you set-up direct debits (out of other people's accounts).
And other banks have similar rules, I believe. You need to prove you are trustworthy before you can start taking money out of people's accounts.
Standing orders work well for regular giving and membership fees, since the amounts do not need to vary.
Gordo