Vocalink

If you have a specific query on the EISCD, our comprehensive list of questions and answers should provide you with all the additional information that you require. If you have any questions about completing the online EISCD form please click here. 

Q. What is the EISCD?
A. The EISCD stands for Extended Industry Sort Code Directory.  This is a comprehensive database of payments-related information for UK banks and building societies participating in the UK clearing systems. These include: Bacs, Faster Payments, CHAPS Sterling, and Cheque and Credit Clearing.

Q. What is ISCD?
A. The ISCD stands for the Industry Sort Code Directory and is the same as the EISCD but does not include details about the Faster Payments Clearing. Please note that we no longer accept registrations for the ISCD .

Q. What details does the EISCD contain?
A. The EISCD contains the following information relating to bank offices or branches:

• Bank Office identifier (BIC/sort code)
• Branch/bank office title
• Contact details (Postal addresses/telephone numbers/email addresses)
• Details of which clearing systems each bank office participates in. 

Q. How can the EISCD benefit your business?

A. There are multiple benefits, which include

·    Improve the rate of straight through payment processing
·    Lower number of payment referrals which means reduced costs
·    Instant access to UK bank offices and branch details
·    Produced weekly ensuring reliable up to date data
·    Can be used for validation of data entry and customer queries
·    Can be used for quick and easy searches resulting in time saving activities
·    Different licenses available for purchase to suit your specific business needs.

Q. Who is the EISCD for?
A. The EISCD extract can be incorporated into computer systems to help automate payment processes. It is commonly used for:

• Checking account details in electronic payments, reducing the number of returned payments and the costly correction process

• Checking whether a particular bank office accepts specific types of Bacs transactions

• Accessing address and telephone number information of bank offices when dealing with customer queries

• Automatically pre-completing documentation, for example, Direct Debit Instructions, with address details

• Accessing BIC information for UK banks

Q. Can I move from ISCD to EISCD?
A. Yes you can.  It's really easy to do and now be completed online, by yourself, at no additional cost. If you would like to do this, just click here

 
Q. Why should I move?
A. The EISCD contains more details than the ISCD because it includes the Faster Payments Service.  We no longer issue licences for the ISCD because it is a database that will eventually become redundant, as per UK Payment's initiative.  There is no extra charge for making the upgrade to the EISCD.

Q. How often can I download the EISCD?
A. You can download the EISCD as often as you like at no additional expense. A new EISCD is produced on the last working day of the week, usually a Friday. You should download the EISCD at least once a month although UK Payments Council recommends downloading the EISCD each week to ensure that your systems have the most current information. Keeping this data up-to-date in your systems helps to ensure trouble-free processing for you and your customers, and ensures that you are not dealing with outdated information.  

Q. How much does the EISCD cost?
A. Charges for the EISCD apply on a quarterly basis and are based on the licence type. The EISCD can be downloaded as many times as required annual fee's are shown.
Single Site Licence - £1680 + VAT per annum
Distributor Licence - £6600 + VAT per annum
Master Distributor - £31,200 + VAT per annum

Q. What formats is the EISCD available in?
A. The EISCD is available as either a tab delimited file or an XML file

Q. How do I receive the EISCD?
A. The EISCD is available for download from a secure website - the Payment Services Website. As an EISCD subscriber you are set up to access Payment Services Website. 

Q. Are my details shared for any other purposes?
A. No. Your details are only used for EISCD purposes and we do not share your details with any other organisations

Q. Why set up a direct debit to pay for my EISCD liscence?
A. Direct Debit is a simple, safe and convenient way to make regular or occasional payments from your bank account. Here's how your business will benefit;

• BETTER FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT - a regular payment method that enables you to plan your cash flow accurately; you know exactly when the funds will leave your account

• YOU REMAIN IN CONTROL - you will always be given at least ten working days advance notice of the amount to be debited through your monthly statement, giving you plenty of time to query any payments

• REDUCED PAPAERWORK - with Direct Debit, there's only one piece of paper to sign and no cheques, saving you administrative time and cost

• PEACE OF MIND - GUARANTEED - Direct Debit is an efficient and above all secure method of payment.  Under the terms of the Direct Debit scheme, you are guaranteed an immediate refund in the unlikely event of an error.

Q. How else can I pay for this service?
A. We recommend that you pay by Direct Debit, but you can also pay by raising a purchase order and sending it us so that we can invoice you (you will be invoiced every quarter).  If you want to pay your subscription by invoice then the purchase order number must be provided as part of your registration process, and it must cover a year's worth of payments for us (i.e. four quarters).


Q. Why do you need a purchase order?
A. A purchase order is a written sales contract between you and VocaLink, detailing the service we are providing.  The creation of a purchase order creates a legally binding contract which cannot be changed without the consent of both parties. A purchase order allows us to track outstanding orders and accounts payable, ensuring that if anything does go wrong, you have a solid description of what it was that you ordered. People use a purchase order to substantiate that they always receive what they ordered from suppliers.

Q. What other ways are there to set up my subscription?
We will also be accepting credit and debit cards payments in the future.  This again is an easy and convenient way for you to pay for up to a whole year's subscription up front.

Have you still got a query on the EISCD that hasn't been answered here? If so, please do not hesitate to contact us on +44 (0870) 920 8959 or email info@vocalink.com, we'll be delighted to be of assistance.