Business On Line SEPA Instant and Verification of Payee (VOP)

Verification of Payee (VOP) bulk payments

Perform a Verification of Payee (VOP) check on bulk payment files, before you submit them for payment.

VOP will check if the name of the person or business matches the name associated with the IBAN, for each payment in your bulk payment file. You should enter the full name (first name, surname, or legal name if an entity) of the payee to ensure the service is carried out effectively. If the payee name provided is a close match, the service will provide the exact account name.

The VOP service should only be used when creating a payee and making payments. It should not be used for any other purpose.

You can opt out of VOP for bulk payment files if you want to. If you have opted out of VOP by not using the service, and make a bulk file payment, and the payment reaches the wrong payee, we may not be able to recover the money. And we will not be liable to you for any losses.

Invitation to VOP

Bulk payment file submitters will receive an email invitation to Verification of Payee (VOP). This email will contain details of how to register for VOP.

Once you have registered your own account on VOP, you can invite additional users to the service. We recommend that you have at least one additional user registered for VOP.

Steps to set up VOP for bulk files

• Step 1

  Register for VOP

• Step 2

  Log on to VOP

• Step 3

  Check file format

• Step 4

  Complete the VOP check

• Step 5

  Review results

• Step 1: Register for VOP

  • Step 1

    Invitation

  • Step 2

    Password

  • Step 3

    Authentication

  • Step 4

    QR code

  • Step 5

    App code

  • Step 6

    Link expired

  Step 1. Invitation

  Click the “ACCEPT INVITATION” button in your VOP invite email.

  Step 2. Password

  Choose a password and click Continue.

  Step 3. Authentication

  Add extra authentication using an authenticator app. You can use the HID Approve app, by tapping the “Add Service” icon in your Approve app. Or you can use an existing Google or Microsoft authenticator app.

  Step 4. QR code

  Scan the QR code with your chosen authentication app. You may need to set an additional PIN for your authentication app.

  Step 5. App code

  Enter a code from your chosen authentication app to complete the setup.

  Step 6. Link expired

  Ask a colleague who is already using VOP to invite you (see below), or contact the Business On Line Helpdesk for support.

• Step 2. Log on to VOP

  1. First, go to the VOP homepage – you can click the link on the BOL or BOL Payments Plus homepages.

  

   

  

   

  2. Enter your email address and password chosen during registration, and click ‘Continue’.

  

  3. Enter a code from your authentication app and click ‘Continue’.

  4. Optionally, tick “Remember this device for 30 days” to make future log on quicker.

  5. You are now ready to perform VOP checks for SEPA bulk payment files.

   

  How to add additional users to VOP

  1. Log on to VOP, using the steps outlined above.

  2. Click your Profile at the top right corner of the portal and select “Invite New Members”.

  

   

  3. Enter the email address of the new user, and tick the boxes to indicate the role of this new user:

  1. “File check” will allow the new user to perform VOP checks on Bulk Payment files (PAIN.001), CSV files or Excel files.
  2. “Admin” will allow the new user to manage existing users of the Verification of Payee portal, and to invite additional users.

  4. Click “Create user”, and the email invitation will be sent.

  5. The new user has seven days to accept the invitation and follow the “How to Register for VOP” steps outlined above.

• Step 3. Check file format

  Business On Line File Gateway and Business On Line Payments Plus

  If you send your bulk payments as PAIN.001 files through BOL File Gateway and BOL Payments Plus, you can use VOP to upload your PAIN.001 and immediately check the results. You can then proceed to upload and verify your file through BOL File Gateway and BOL Payments Plus as usual. We recommend that you perform a VOP check of your bulk payment file, before you send the file in BOL File Gateway.

   

  Business On Line Import (STD18) and Manual EFT

  If you send your bulk payments as Import (STD18) files or by manually entering payment details using the “Make a Bulk Payment” feature in Business On Line, you can use VOP to upload a CSV or Excel file containing a list of your payee names and IBAN details.

  Create a list of payee names and IBANs in a CSV or Excel file, using the payee details from your STD18 file or the payee details in the Make a Bulk Payment (manual) screen.

  • You can download a sample CSV or Excel file in the “File Check” tab, by clicking on the “Download a CSV or Excel example” link. You can enter a list of payee names and IBANs into this template.
  • If you need to convert an account number and NSC to IBAN, use the Bank of Ireland IBAN calculator or the official IBAN calculator provided by the payees bank. Always refer to the bank’s official website when calculating or verifying an IBAN.
• Step 4. Complete the VOP check

  Checking bulk payees

  • Once logged into VOP, click the “File Check” tab at the top of the screen.
  • Drag and drop your PAIN.001 SEPA bulk payment file / CSV / Excel file, or click “browse” to find the PAIN.001 SEPA bulk payment file / CSV / Excel file on your computer

  Note: you cannot upload a STD18 formatted file that contains account numbers and NSC – you must upload a file containing IBANs only

  • Click the “Download Result” button to download your VOP check report. The CSV file can be opened in Excel and for each payee in your report you will see an Identifier number, the IBAN and payee name you provided, and the result of the VOP check

  Checking individual payees

  If you also use Business On Line to send individual SEPA or SEPA Instant payments, a VOP check is automatically carried out. This happens whenever you add a new SEPA Payee and also before you perform final authorisation of a SEPA or SEPA Instant payment.

  If you want to carry out a VOP check for a single payee before adding it to Business On Line or to your accounts software, you can use the “Single Check” feature in VOP.

  1. First, log on to VOP.

  2. Use your username, password and a code from your authentication app.

  3. Click the “Single Check” tab at the top of the screen.

  

   

  4. Enter the IBAN and Name of the payee to be checked, and click the “Check” button.

  5. The result will appear on screen.

  6. Optionally, you may click the “Download Result” button to download a PDF summary of your single VOP check.

• Step 5. Review results

  Bulk VOP results

  VOP result	Explanation
  MTCH – Match	The payee name provided is an exact match to the account details.
  CMTC – Close Match	The payee name provided is a close match but not exactly the same as the name on the account. The CSV file will provide the exact payee name, so that you can update your records.
  NMTC – No Match	The payee name provided is not the same as the name on the account.
  NOAP – Unable to check account details	The details may be correct but they cannot be confirmed at this time.

  Important: If you do not get a match when using VOP, only send money if you trust the payee and you’re happy that it’s not a scam. If you make this payment, it might be paid to the wrong person. You risk losing your money. We will not be responsible if that happens.

  Individual Payee VOP results

  VOP result	Explanation
  Match	The payee name provided is an exact match to the account details.
  Close Match	The payee name provided is a close match but not exactly the same as the name on the account. The exact payee name will be displayed on screen.
  No Match	The payee name provided is not the same as the name on the account.
  Cannot be checked at the time	The details may be correct but they cannot be confirmed at this time.

  Important: If you do not get a match when using VOP, only send money if you trust the payee and you’re happy that it’s not a scam. If you make this payment, it might be paid to the wrong person. You risk losing your money. We will not be responsible if that happens.

VOP bulk payment FAQs

Please check this page for future updates.

• What is Verification of Payee (VOP)?

  VOP is a new security step in the payment process for all SEPA payments and SEPA Instant payments. VOP will check with the receiving bank that the name you enter matches the name of the person or business associated with the IBAN. It will do this when you add a payee or make a payment. This will help you to avoid paying the wrong person or business.

• What happens if the name and IBAN match?

  If the name and IBAN match, you’ll see a message on screen confirming this.

• What happens if the name and IBAN do not match?

  If the name you enter does not match the IBAN, you will see a message that says, ‘Payee name does not match’.

  If this happens, check the correct name with the payee before going ahead.

  If you proceed with a payment where the payee name does not match, it may reach an incorrect payee. We may not be able to recover the money and Bank of Ireland will not be liable for any loss.

• What happens if the name and IBAN are a close match?

  If the name you typed in is a close match to the one on the account, but not exactly the same, you’ll see a ‘Payee Name does not match exactly’ screen and the correct name associated with the account. If you are adding a payee you can change the details and update the name to match the one returned.

  We advise you to check the name with the payee before continuing with the payee or payment.

  If you proceed with a payment where the payee name does not match, it may reach an incorrect payee. We may not be able to recover the money and Bank of Ireland will not be liable for any loss.

• What happens if Bank of Ireland cannot confirm that the details match?

  If for any reason we’re unable to confirm that the name and account details match, you’ll see an ‘Unable to check Payee Name’ message on screen.

  We advise you to check the name with the payee before continuing with the payee creation or payment. If you proceed with a payment where we are unable to confirm that the details match, it may reach an incorrect payee. We may not be able to recover the money and Bank of Ireland may not be liable for any loss.

• What happens if I make a payment to the wrong account?

  If you proceed with a payment and the name you enter does not match the name associated with the IBAN, we may not be able to recover the money. And we will not be liable to you for any losses.

• Making a payment to a joint account

  If you’re making a payment to a joint account, VOP will tell you if the name you enter matches at least one of the account holders. We advise you to check the name with the payee, before continuing with the payee or payment.

• Receiving SEPA Payments

  When providing your bank details for receiving SEPA payments, always provide your full and correct name (not a nickname) or the legal or trading name of your business.

• Is it mandatory to complete Verification of Payee (VOP)?

  You can opt out of VOP for bulk payment files if you want to. If you have opted out of VOP by not using the service, and make a bulk file payment, and the payment reaches the wrong payee, we may not be able to recover the money. And we will not be liable to you for any losses.

• Will VOP be completed for bulk file payments?

  Yes. You can perform a VOP check on bulk payment files, before you submit them for payment.

  If you use the bulk file service, you will be able to opt out of VOP (for bulk files only), if you want to. If you have opted out of VOP by not using the service, and make a bulk file payment, and the payment reaches the wrong payee, we may not be able to recover the money. And we will not be liable to you for any losses.

• When can I submit a Verification of Payee (VOP) request?

  When you add a payee or make a SEPA payment or SEPA Instant payment, we will check that the name of the payee you have entered matches the IBAN you have included, before you authorise the payment. You can use the Business On Line VOP solution to check the names of payees in a bulk payment file, or to check multiple payees at a time.

• Is it important that people have my correct account details?

  Yes. This means the correct IBAN and your full and correct name (not a nickname) or the legal or trading name of your business. Remember to let payers know if your details change.

• Is it important that I have the correct account details for people I want to pay?

  Yes. This means the correct IBAN, and the full and correct name (not a nickname) or the legal or trading name of the business. Check that the request for payment is genuine. Confirm the details directly with someone you know and trust.

• What are some of the telltale signs of fraud?

  Some telltale signs of fraud are:

  • Changes to account details
  • A sense of urgency to make a payment
  • Somebody advising you to accept a “close match” or “does not match” without verifying
  • A deal that sounds too good to be true.

  For more information, please visit Security Zone.