[SPE]

I am preparing to send out a note with next months bills to my customers adding internet payment as my preffered payment method (I will still be taking cheques).
I have opened a new current account to facilitate this and will be supplying them with account number and sort code. Then each friday I will check it online and record payments and transfer the money to my main account.

My main concern is people making the payment but not identifying themselves (has happened in the past with cheques- not written their address on back or I have not known their surname)

For others who do similar, whats the most foolproof way of setting this up ? do you give them a reference number to quote, first line of address, or name? does internet banking work the same way for all banks-only I've had some payments before where people have said they added their name but it only showed on my internet banking as an account number.

I'm wanting to simplify things for myself with less visits to the bank but dont want to spend hours on the computer trying to figure out whos paid what
Any advice appreciated  
thanks, Simon

[Blue Frog Systems]

I always ask for a refrence that is surname and first line of their address.

Problem i had with a personal account was that sometimes there wasnt a reference on there as some had said they couldnt do it.

I changed over to a business account and now i get a reference on all of them. You will need to chase some up as some people just forget. I send out a text to those who forget.

[SPE]

Problem i had with a personal account was that sometimes there wasnt a reference on there as some had said they couldnt do it.

this was my concern
I'm with nationwide, they dont do business accounts, they dont charge me for personal cheques and accept me paying them in 10 at a time but for how long  
I'd like to keep things simple and continue all my accounts with them - not open a business account elswhere.

Just realised since posting that george now has a ref number for each customer that you can search by, so ref number is probably the way to go

[Helen]

Why not put on your note going out next month, I now have available on line banking payment method. To switch to this method please e-mail me.........................(highlight it)When you get the e-mails through, e-mail back with your bank account details and their individual ref number. You then have a copy, they then have a copy

eg
"12-23-34 sort
017777777a/c
Your ref bbbbbyyyyy

Your ref should be used every time you make a payment.
Payment terms are within...... of clean.

Many thanks for choosing this payment option"

Now when you have late payers, which you will, you can e-mail them a reminder.