Pull Payment

A pull payment is initiated by the payee, who 'pulls' money from the payer's account after the payer grants permission (e.g., by saving a card or signing a direct debit mandate). Card payments, direct debits, and subscription charges all work this way.

Because the payer's bank can verify the mandate and reverse unauthorised or disputed pull payments, consumers have substantially stronger protections than with push payments. Chargebacks and direct debit indemnity claims allow consumers to reclaim money when something goes wrong.

Fraudsters who cannot get you to authorise a push payment may instead try to trick you into saving your card details with a fake merchant, enabling unauthorised pull charges. Always check subscriptions and recurring charges on your bank statement carefully.