GoCardless & Direct Debit
GoCardless enables direct debit payments — ideal for long-term tenants with recurring rent. Once a guest sets up a direct debit mandate, payments are collected automatically on each billing cycle. This reduces missed payments and manual chasing.
Connecting GoCardless
Go to [Dashboard > Settings > Integrations](/dashboard/settings/integrations) and find the GoCardless card. You'll need an API access token from your GoCardless dashboard.
Getting Your Access Token
Log in to your GoCardless dashboard at manage.gocardless.com. Go to Developers > Create > Access Token. For sandbox testing, use manage-sandbox.gocardless.com instead. Copy the generated token — it's only shown once.
Entering Credentials
In the GoCardless card on the [integrations page](/dashboard/settings/integrations), enter your Access Token and select the Environment (Sandbox for testing, Live for production). Click Connect to save. Your token is encrypted at rest.
Testing the Connection
After connecting, click Test Connection to verify your credentials. LodgeKit will call the GoCardless API to confirm the token is valid. A green "Connection verified" message confirms everything is working.
Setting Up Mandates
A mandate is the guest's authorisation for you to debit their bank account. Send them a mandate request through LodgeKit — they'll receive an email with a secure link to enter their bank details. Once authorised, payments can be collected automatically.
Payment Scheduling
Understanding when direct debit payments are collected and settled.
Collection Timing
When LodgeKit generates an invoice for a guest with an active mandate, a direct debit collection is created automatically. Collections are submitted to GoCardless on the invoice date. GoCardless then submits the payment to the banking network on the next available banking day.
Settlement & Clearing
Direct debit payments typically take 3–5 business days to clear from the guest's bank account. Once confirmed, funds are paid out to your bank account on GoCardless's standard payout schedule (usually 2 business days after confirmation). You can see the exact timelines in your GoCardless dashboard.
Failed Collections
If a collection fails (insufficient funds, cancelled mandate, etc.), GoCardless notifies LodgeKit automatically. The invoice is flagged as unpaid and the guest is prompted to resolve the issue. You can retry failed collections or fall back to card/PayPal payment.
Automatic Collection
With a mandate in place, LodgeKit can collect payments automatically when invoices are generated. Configure this per booking or per guest. Payments typically take 3–5 business days to clear. Failed collections are flagged for follow-up.
Troubleshooting
Common issues and how to resolve them.
Test Connection Fails
If the test connection fails, check that your access token is correct and hasn't expired. Make sure you've selected the right environment — sandbox tokens won't work with the live environment and vice versa. Try disconnecting and re-entering your token. If the problem persists, generate a new token from the GoCardless dashboard.
Mandate Not Completing
If a guest's mandate setup isn't completing, check that the mandate request email was delivered. The guest needs to click the link and enter valid bank details. Mandates can take up to 3 business days to become active after submission. Check mandate status in your GoCardless dashboard.
Connection Shows Error
If the GoCardless integration shows an error status, click Test Connection on the [integrations page](/dashboard/settings/integrations) to diagnose. You may need to generate a new access token if the existing one was revoked or expired.
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