When a debtor suspends a direct debit mandate, the debtor’s payment service provider will reject future collections submitted by the creditor (according to the debtor’s instructions). Debtors may instruct their payment service provider to suspend a direct debit mandate via ATM or home banking, or at a branch. Suspension of a mandate is reversible. Therefore, at any time, debtors may reactivate that mandate via the aforementioned channels. This service is available only in Portugal.

However, the suspension of the direct debit mandate does not affect the contractual relationship between the debtor and the creditor. As such, debtors must always address with creditors the termination of their contractual relationship.

To cancel a direct debit mandate, debtors must expressly instruct creditors in that respect. The cancellation of a direct debit mandate is irreversible.