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Glossary

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a

Account Validation (Validation Process)

Albany runs checks on the account details of payment files, if any errors are found these are reported.

Advance Payments

You may forward date payments by up to 31 days this important feature of Bacs payments allows you to work around public holidays etc. and to ensure payments are always completed in a timely fashion.

Albany Bureau Service (ABS)

The Bacs approved service used by Albany ePAY onLINE to facilitate payment instructions from customers. See also bureau)

ARUCS - Automated Return of Unapplied Credit

A reporting mechanism by which banks return unapplied credits to you as the originator via the Bacs service. The ARUCS report is generated with a reason as to why the funds are being returned, such as account closed or beneficiary deceased. A notification will be emailed when the report is available to be viewed and downloaded from the Bacs web channel.

ASM - Alternative Security Method

A contact ID and password is issued by Bacs to allow customers secure access to the Bacs payment services web channel.

AWACS - Advice of Wrong Account for Automated Credits Service

AWACS is an automated report to advise you as the originator that the bank account details you used for a payment have changed and need to be updated. A notification will be emailed when the report is available to be viewed and downloaded from the Bacs web channel.

b

Bacs

Bacs Payment Schemes Limited is the membership-based industry body which promotes best practice amongst those companies who offer automated payment services and is responsible for the associated payment clearing and settlement.

Bacs Web channel

A secure area where Bacs users can view submission history, access reports and maintain contact details. Each Bacs user is allocated with a unique user name and password in order to maintain security and privacy (ASM).

Bureau

The role of the Bureau is to deliver payments via the payment services at VocaLink (commonly referred to as Bacs) on behalf of its customers.

A Bureau is accredited by Bacs, undergoing rigorous inspections at regular intervals. Covering five key areas; Organisation, security, operations, applications and processing. Without the high level of approval granted to Albany Bureau Services by Bacs it would not be able to provide payment services.

d

Date Bumping

An automatic process that changes an incorrect file date to the next valid date so that the file will process correctly.

Destination Account

The bank account of the company (supplier) you are paying.

e

Entry Date

Is the date in which the payment is paid into the relevant account via Bacs. Payments may be sent up to 31 days in advance of entry date. Also known as the Payment Date.

i

Indirect Submitter

A service user who may originate payments, but does not transmit them directly to Bacs, instead the payment is sent via a Bureau.

Input Report

A report which confirms the processing of a payment file. A notification will be emailed when the report is available to be viewed and downloaded from the Bacs web channel.

Input Day

The day the payment data is sent to Bacs.

m

Microsoft Certified Gold Partner

Albany is a prestigious Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, with recognised ISV/Software Solutions, customer development solutions and Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS) competencies.

p

Payment Date

The day on which the funds are paid, also known as the entry date.

Processing Cycle (Bacs)

The minimum time taken (3 working days) for payment data to be processed by Bacs and presented for payment at the destination account. There are 3 stages to the cycle;

• Input - day 1 - This is when the payment data is sent to Bacs (you will receive a submission report at this stage)
• Processing - day 2 - When the data is processed by the paying and receiving banks (you will receive an input report to confirm this stage)
• Entry - day 3 - When the funds are paid (also referred to as the Payment Date)

r

Registration Form

A registration form is required at sign up and verifys the customer information to Albany.

s

Service User

An organisation that has been sponsored by their bank to use the Bacs service to make payments.

Service User Number (SUN)

A unique 6 digit number allocated to a service user to enable use of Bacs Payment Schemes.

Sponsor / sponsoring bank

A Bacs member who authorises organisations, including Bureaux, to submit payment data by granting sponsorship. The term sponsoring bank refers to both banks and building societies.

Sponsorship

Sponsorship is granted by your bank, as long as they are a Bacs scheme member, if not your bank will advise and direct you to an appropriate member. Your Business Banking Relationship Manager is your best point of reference in relation to obtaining sponsorship

Submission Reports

The submission report provides a summary of the payment file received by Bacs. The submission report is available to view and download from the Bacs website on the day the file is input.

SUN Application Form

A form which is completed by the user and submitted to the Sponsoring bank in order to be granted Bacs sponsorship and a Service User Number (SUN).

SUN Association Form

A form which is completed by the user and submitted to the Sponsoring bank, instructing them to associate the SUN with the relevant Bureau.

v

Validation Process

See Account Validation

VocaLink

VocaLink Limited (formerly Bacs Ltd) is the commercial company that physically processes the payment data.

w

Withdrawal Report

Generated following the request to withdraw a payment file. Should a payment file be submitted in error, a request to withdraw may be made via the Sponsor before the processing day. When the extraction is made the report is generated confirming the details of the withdrawal. A notification will be emailed when the report is available to be viewed and downloaded from the Bacs web channel.