Overview
Message Formats
PayGate can create messages, such as advance notice messages, to your individual payers using two different message formats:
A DDMS Group is assigned a default message type. By default payers created in a particular group will inherit the message format for that group. This can be overridden on a payer-by-payer basis, either when the payer is originally created or at any time after that. The message format for a payer can be changed as many times as necessary but you should be aware that if a message is already in the outbound queue when an operator changes the format, the queued message format will not be changed.
Message Types
First Collection Messages
The First Collection message is designed to be sent to a new payer. The message contains an overview of the payment schedule such as when the first payment is due to be collected and the value of the collection.
Advance Notice Messages
Advance notice messages are mandatory messages that you must send to your payers if either the payment amount or the collection date changes in each direct debit period. In general PayGate manages the automatic creation of advance notice messages and with the exception of word documents will automatically send them to the payer for you.
Word Documents
PayGate creates messages in .docx (Office Open XML) format suitable for reading in most modern word processors including Microsoft Word. If you wish to send your payers a physical letter in the post then you should choose this message format.
EMAIL Messages
PayGate DDMS can create payer messages as emails. PayGate can be connected to your corporate email system and PayGate will automatically send the emails to your payers.