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Payments

How to use instant payments in your business.

Navdeep Yadav

By Natalie Davies and 1 other

• 15 articles

How to use Atoa for payments

How Atoa payments help your business Atoa lets customers pay your business directly from their UK bank app. It's fast, secure, and much cheaper than accepting card payments. How customers pay you using Atoa Scan a QR code from your device or stand - Customers scan the Atoa QR stand or code on their device with their smartphone and are redirected to their bank app. - They confirm the payment with a quick face or fingerprint scan. - Your business receives money from the customer's payment, instantly. Click a payment link or invoice - Send the customer a secure payment link by text, WhatsApp, email or on an invoice. - The customer taps the link which opens the payment in their browser. - They're redirected to their bank app to confirm payment with a face or fingerprint scan. - Your business gets funds within seconds. Why choose Atoa over a bank transfer Atoa processes payments in seconds from your customer’s UK bank app, which can dramatically improve your business cash flow. If you’ve ever had customers send money to the wrong bank account, you’ll know how stressful it is. Atoa uses open banking powered account-to-account payments, so your money always reaches the correct account. No more waiting around or chasing finance for payment statuses, as Atoa sends you a real-time notification whenever customers pay. Most of all, accepting payments on Atoa is easy and convenient. Forget filling out complicated forms or triple-checking account details. Customers can pay securely with just a tap of a link or a scan of a QR code. Plus, it’s GDPR-compliant, with no sensitive data to store. Oh, and did we mention you’ll save up to 70% on card processing fees?

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

How QR code receipt payments work

What is a QR code receipt? A QR code receipt is an easy way for bars or restaurants to accept payments from customers when you hand them the bill. Your guests scan to pay quickly without waiting for a member of staff to bring the card machine, which can save your business valuable time and resources. How do I use QR code receipts on Atoa? 1. Connect Atoa with your point of sale system. Scroll down the pricing page to see which POS providers we work with. All of our integrations are straightforward and only take a few minutes to complete. 2. When you accept a payment in your POS, choose Atoa and print the QR on your customer’s receipt. 3. Let them scan the QR code with their smartphone. A payment will start in their phone browser, which asks them to choose their bank app. 4. They are redirected to their bank app to complete the payment with a face or fingerprint scan. 5. The payment is instant, so your business gets funds right away. Plus, the transaction is cashed off on your POS. How does this help my business? Beyond saving you money with lower fees and faster payouts, QR code receipts can also improve service, give customers the option to pay and leave as soon as they’re eaten and help you reduce costs on front-of-house staff. 💡 If you can’t see your POS provider on our integrations page then contact us at hello@paywithatoa.co.uk and let us know who you use. We’ll try our best to make it happen!

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

How payment links work

What are payment links? SMS payment links are shareable links that let customers make payments from their devices. They make remote payments more manageable for businesses and offer convenience to customers. Why are payment links good for my business? Atoa payment links help your business get paid faster! Funds arrive as soon as your customer pays the link. You can track paid or unpaid links at a glance. Plus, you can send polite payment reminders to customers using the Atoa Business app or dashboard. How do I send a payment link using Atoa? - Log into the Atoa Business Dashboard or Atoa Business app. - Go to the "Links" icon and open "Payment Links". - Click "New Link" or "Create payment link". - Enter the amount and add an optional note (e.g., what the payment is for, customer name, reference number). Share the link with your customer using text, email, social media, or whatever works best. Adding notes to payment links When you create a payment link, there's a space to add notes below the transaction amount, which customers will see when they make the payment. Once the payment is successful, the business can easily view the payment details and your notes within their transaction history. Adding notes to your payment links is a great way to manage and reference your transactions. How can I see if my links have been paid? You can toggle between "paid" and "unpaid" links to see their status. You will also receive a notification when payment has been received. If you've got overdue payments, use the app to send friendly reminders to your customers. Find out more about using payment links on the Atoa blog.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

How invoice payments work

Connect your accountancy software to Atoa and let clients pay invoices instantly from their bank app. Save up to 60% on payment fees and receive funds instantly. Perfect for accountancy firms or B2B payments. How to connect Atoa with your accountancy software First up you need to connect Atoa to your accountancy software. Right now we support Xero, with QuickBooks and Sage coming very soon. To start accepting instant payments, the business creates an Atoa account, links a bank account and connects Xero. They create an invoice and a ‘Pay now’ button appears which clients click to pay from their bank account using Atoa. The customer clicks the button from their phone or laptop, which takes them to a secure payment page. How customers pay invoices with their smartphone Customers scan the QR code which opens a webpage on their phone screen. Here, they select their bank and confirm the payment from their personal or business banking app using a fingerprint scan or face ID. The funds are transferred to the business’s bank account in seconds. How customers pay invoices on their computer Customers click the “Continue on this Device” button, select their bank and confirm the payment from their personal or business internet banking. The funds are instantly transferred to the business’s bank account.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

Can I refund customers who paid using Atoa?

Yes! The business owner can refund any payment made using Atoa. Currently, refunds are only available through the Atoa Business app. To refund a customer, click on the payment you would like to refund on the Atoa Business app's Payments page. Select "Refund" at the bottom of the screen, input the customer's bank account number, and sort code. The business owner then sends a refund using Atoa's standard payment flow. You can give customers a full or partial refund. We don't charge for refunds and the customer will typically receive the funds back in seconds.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

A customer bank declined a payment through Atoa. What happens next?

This is an extremely rare case, but we understand that it can be inconvenient for you. A customer's bank may not allow a payment to be processed, which is unfortunately beyond our control. The next step is to ask your customer to get in touch with their bank, as they may need additional verification to approve the payment. Please note that a customer may be unable to make a payment because their banking app may be under maintenance or experiencing technical difficulties.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

Can I request a single payment limit over £15,000?

Atoa has a standard payment limit of £15,000 per transaction. This limit can be increased to £25,000 for approved businesses after providing additional verification. Not all banks support transactions over £15,000. Please check your customer's bank is compatible before processing larger payments. Payment limits help us protect our customers and ensure every payment on Atoa is secure. How to increase your payment limit Contact us: Email hello@paywithatoa.co.uk with the following information: Registered mobile number Business name Nature of your business Reason for needing a higher limit Verification: Provide basic details like name, nationality, and source of income. Approval: You'll be notified once your increased payment limit is approved.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

Is there a limit on how much I can receive for a single transaction?

Yes, the limit per transaction is £15,000 due to AML regulation. Anything more would require additional confirmation from the customer's bank, in order to confirm the payment. Merchants with a specific high-value transaction use case can request their limit per transaction to be increased to £25,000 by emailing hello@paywithatoa.co.uk.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

Can I make refunds with Atoa?

Yes! The business owner can make a refund on any payment. To refund a customer, simply find the particular payment on the transaction page of the Atoa, select "Refund" at the bottom of the screen and input the Customer's Bank Account Number and Sort Code. The business owner then initiates a refund using Atoa's standard payment flow. You can do partial and full amount refunds. We don't charge for refunds and the customer will typically receive the funds back within seconds.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

Are there any risk of chargebacks on Atoa?

Atoa does not allow chargebacks - every payment is final. Every Atoa payment is approved by the Customer's Bank App and verified using Face ID or Fingerprint Scan. This ensures that Atoa meets the highest standards of security and compliance while protecting our businesses against fraud. Disputes between merchants and consumers should be solved through mediation and dialogue.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

What if a customer has forgotten their mobile phone?

To pay with Atoa, the customer has to have their mobile phone and their mobile banking enabled. If the customers have forgotten their phone, an alternative solution will need to be offered.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

I need another QR Stand, how do I order one?

You can order a new QR stand in the Atoa Business app for free. Simply go into My Account; QR Code settings; and select 'Order Now' for free! Your new QR Stand will be posted to your business address. In the meantime, you are still able to take payments through the Atoa Business app and can send payment links to customers. Having issues ordering via the App? Don't worry, you can also email us at hello@paywithatoa.co.uk and share your Business Name, Delivery Address and the email address you registered with.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

How do I turn on my notifications for the Atoa Business dashboard?

In order to receive notifications, please enable them on your dashboard by following: My Account==>Settings==> press the toggle to enable notifications. After doing this, if you are still unable to receive notifications the issue will be your browser settings. 1. If you are on Windows can you please click on the Bell icon beside your browser and turn notifications to "on" or click "allow" if your browser asks you to "Show notifications". 2. If you are on Mac can you please click the dial icon to the left of the web address and turn the Notifications toggle to "on". After this has done, refresh your browser and log back into the dashboard.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

How do I view previous payments and analytics?

If you want to see how many payments your business has accepted with Atoa, head to My Account and then Analytics to view your transaction history. This section also displays the number of payments you have taken, how many customers you have served, and the average payment value.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024

Can I accept debit card payments on Atoa?

Not directly. With Atoa, we've made payments more straightforward and convenient. Instead of card payments, we use the open banking system, which requires customers and businesses to have a valid UK bank account to use for payments. This allows funds to be sent directly from the customer's bank account into the receiving business bank account. By using the Faster Payments System, a UK government-run system (frequently used for salaries and larger transactions) we can offer businesses significant cost and time savings when compared to traditional card payments. We call this "Instant Bank Pay" but it’s also known as an account-to-account (A2A) payment or pay by bank. Our payment process is designed with businesses in mind. Customers scan a QR code in-store or click on a payment link, select their bank from the provided list, and confirm the payment in their mobile banking app. The money is then instantly transferred into the business owner's linked account, skipping the 2-3 days delay in releasing funds and saving businesses up to 70% compared to card payments. We call this “Instant Bank Pay” but it’s also known as an account-to-account (A2A) payment or pay by bank. Faster Payments is entirely secure. Every payment is processed end-to-end by UK banks. Atoa has no access to customer or business funds, and the Financial Conduct Authority monitors everything we do. European banks are subject to regulations different from those of UK bank accounts, and there is no infrastructure or mandate to allow these banks to process payments using FPS. Therefore, we are currently only able to accept payments from banks in the UK.

Last updated on Sep 05, 2024