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SEPA Direct Debit (SDD) Collections let your organization collect payments directly from customers’ bank accounts. Before you can test collection flows in the Sandbox, you need to make the organization eligible for SDD and then complete the activation flow through the web app. This guide walks through both steps using the QA tool (https://qa-sandbox.staging.qonto.co).
This guide applies to the Sandbox environment only. The QA tool is not available in Production.

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Prerequisites

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Step 1 — Set the organization’s SDD eligibility

Once the organization is created, you need to initialise its eligibility via the QA tool.
1

Open the SDD eligibility form in the QA tool

In the QA tool, go to the Direct Debit Collections → Update DDC Organization Eligibility section and enter your organization’s ID.The direct link to that page is:
https://qa-sandbox.staging.qonto.co/direct_debit_collections/eligibilities
2

Fill in the eligibility parameters

Set the eligibility status to “eligible”Submit the form. The organization is now eligible for SDD Collections.

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Step 2 — Trigger the activation flow from the web app

With eligibility set, the organization can now start the activation flow.
1

Log in to the Sandbox web app

Open the Sandbox web app and log in with the organization’s credentials. See Accessing the Sandbox environment if you need help bypassing the OneLogin gate.
2

Navigate to Incoming direct debits

From the main menu, go to the Incoming direct debits section.
3

Click "Get started"

Click the Get started button to enter the SDD activation flow. Follow the on-screen steps to submit the required information.

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Step 3 — Complete the activation (country-specific)

The final activation step depends on the organization’s country.

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IT, NL, BE, and ES organizations

SDD Collections is automatically activated for organizations in these countries. The system generates a Creditor Identifier (CID) based on existing data. No additional manual step is required.
The organization must have a VAT number for automatic CID resolution to work. Check whether a VAT number is set and, if not, add it via the Org - Edit EU VAT number action in the QA tool before triggering the activation flow.

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DE organizations

German organizations must submit a valid CID during the activation flow. The CID is validated against the EPC262-08 standard:
  • Exactly 18 characters, starting with DE
  • Structure: DE + 2 check digits + 3-character creditor business code + 11-digit national identifier
  • Check digits are algorithmically validated
Example of a valid test CID: DE70CAR00002572895

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FR organizations

French organizations require an additional step involving the Creditor Identifier (CID). There are two activation paths depending on whether the organization submits an existing CID or requests a new one.
When a French organization submits their existing CID for validation during the activation flow, in the Sandbox, you can simulate the validation step using the QA tool.
1

Open the SDD activation management section in the QA tool

In the QA tool, navigate to Direct Debit Collections → Update DDC Organization Eligibility.
2

Find and accept the pending submission

Search for your organization by its ID. You should see CID Submitted before the organization details.Click on “Accept CID Submission” to simulate a successful CID approval.
The organization is now fully activated for SDD Collections. You can proceed to test collection mandates, payment requests, and collection transactions in the Sandbox.