> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.clickpesa.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CRDB Direct Debit Overview

> Collect recurring payments from customers' CRDB bank accounts with mandate-based Direct Debit

**CRDB Direct Debit** lets you collect scheduled payments from a customer's CRDB bank account after they approve a mandate. Once the mandate is active, installments are collected automatically according to the schedule you set.

Use it through the **Merchant Dashboard** with [Payment Plans](/crdb-direct-debit/payment-plans), or through the **[CRDB Direct Debit API](/crdb-direct-debit/api-overview)** for full control in your own systems.

<Tip>
  Direct Debit collections appear in your [Merchant Dashboard](https://merchant.clickpesa.com) payments list with channel **CRDB DIRECT DEBIT MANDATE**, and can trigger [webhook notifications](/home/webhooks) when payments succeed or fail.
</Tip>

## When To Use It

* **Installment collections:** School fees, loans, rent, or other payments spread over time
* **Subscriptions and memberships:** Recurring charges on a daily, weekly, monthly, or yearly schedule
* **Customer agreements:** Collect from a named customer after they approve the debit on their CRDB account
* **Automated collection:** Reduce manual follow-up once the mandate is active

## How It Works

1. **Activate** — Enable CRDB Direct Debit in your Merchant Dashboard under **Settings → Collection** (KYC and activation fee required).
2. **Request mandate approval** — Create a Payment Plan in the dashboard, or call the API with the customer's CRDB account, SimBanking phone number, schedule, and installment amount.
3. **Customer approves** — The customer confirms the mandate through CRDB. You receive a status update when it becomes **ACTIVE** or **REJECTED**.
4. **Installments collect** — While the mandate is active, scheduled debits run automatically. Successful and failed collections are recorded as payments.
5. **Optional cancel** — You can cancel an **ACTIVE** mandate (and the linked payment plan) from the dashboard or via the API.

<Warning>
  A CRDB account can only have **one mandate at a time**. Cancel or complete any existing mandate on that debit account before requesting a new one.
</Warning>

## Mandate statuses

| Status        | Meaning                                                     |
| ------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| **REQUESTED** | Mandate submitted; waiting for customer / bank confirmation |
| **ACTIVE**    | Mandate approved; scheduled collections can run             |
| **REJECTED**  | Mandate was not approved; no installments will collect      |
| **CANCELLED** | Mandate revoked; further scheduled collections stop         |

## In the Merchant Dashboard

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Set Up Direct Debit" icon="gear" href="/crdb-direct-debit/setup">
    Activate CRDB Direct Debit in Collection settings.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Payment Plans" icon="calendar" href="/crdb-direct-debit/payment-plans">
    Create and manage installment plans and mandates.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Customers" icon="users" href="/dashboard/customers">
    View a customer's payment plans from their customer profile.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Payment Transactions" icon="list" href="/dashboard/transactions/payments">
    Track Direct Debit installment payments.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## For Developers

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="API Overview" icon="code" href="/crdb-direct-debit/api-overview">
    Request, query, and cancel mandates with the Collection API.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Webhooks" icon="webhook" href="/home/webhooks">
    Receive payment events and mandate status callbacks.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>