FAQs for Booksellers

Yes. The free Batch Payments and Returns services are available to all booksellers, no matter which stock control system they use. 

You can open up each bookshop in separate tabs to view all your accounts. Click on 'My Sites' next to your name in the top right-hand corner, find the shop, right click on the 'Payments' button and select 'Open Link in New Tab'. You can then go back and forth between the accounts.

We have a user guide with step-by-step instructions that you can refer to. We would also be happy to set up a virtual training session. Please contact us on mail@batch.co.uk stating your bookshop name and 'Batch Payments training request' in the subject line. One of our team will then be in touch to arrange a call.

Note: applicable to non-direct debit users only. If there has been a shortfall in your payment from the previous period, this will show in the Balance Summary under the list of suppliers on your 'Current Period Summary'. The value will be in the first box on the left in RED.

In your 'Current Period Summary', you will see a Balance Summary under your suppliers. If there is a credit balance carried forward from a previous payment, this will show in the first box on the left in Green.

To go back to the previous page, click on the blue arrow at the top of the page. Clicking on your bookshop name will take you to your 'Current Period Summary'.

When you click on 'Claim' next to an invoice, you will be taken to the claims form. At the top you will see any claims that have already been raised for that invoice with the claim reference number.

You can see these invoices by selecting the 'Future' or 'Future by Month' option from the 'Period Summaries' tab on the yellow menu bar. To find a specific invoice, you can use the 'Advanced Search' option to select a supplier and choose a range of dates.

Yes, you can sort your list of transactions using any heading that is in blue. This enables you to see the lowest to highest value or the highest to lowest value invoice, for example.

Yes, when you click on the invoice or credit note in question you will see at the bottom of the page a box called 'Batch Status History'. Here you will see the date the transaction was changed, the status it was changed to and by whom.

Yes, an invoice dated in the future can be paid early. Go to the 'Future Period Summary' and find the invoice you want to bring forward. Click on the invoice number to show the invoice detail, then click on the clock symbol next to the due date. You will see a pop-up box asking you to confirm you want to change the period the invoice is in. Click OK if you are happy to proceed. Note that the due date for the transaction will not change, but the transaction will now be listed in the ‘Current Period Summary’ and will be included in the next clearance. You can bring multiple transactions forwards in this way.

Making claims via your Batch Payments account is a great way to inform suppliers of a problem with an invoice or delivery. Because claims are sent electronically, there is no need to phone or fax, and a permanent record is kept. Later on, if a credit controller wants to know why part of an invoice was unpaid, he or she can check on Batch and doesn’t need to call you. Using this function allows you to withhold payment on a line level but pay for everything else, which can avoid the supplier putting your account on stop. Note: most suppliers are processing queries via Batch, but there are a few suppliers who may contact you because they don't yet process queries via the claims function. 

When you log in to BatchOne, you will see a grey, 'More options' button. Click on this to see a list of options, including 'Supplier account number setup'. Select this to view the suppliers you are currently using and all those you are not yet set up with. Select the company you want to start paying via Batch, enter the account number you hold with them, and this will automatically notify the supplier. Once the supplier has set you up, you will start seeing their invoices on your Batch account. If the supplier is not on Batch, let us know so we can contact them about our services. (You can also tell them separately that you would like them to use Batch.)

The status 'Manual Adj' has been changed to 'Not paying through Batch'. You can easily change the status to 'Open' or 'Authorise' yourself. Choose the option 'O' for 'Open' or 'A' to authorise the transaction to be paid.

Invoices will show on Batch once the supplier has sent them to us. If you find a transaction is missing, please contact the supplier directly to get this uploaded. You can copy in mail@batch.co.uk when you contact the supplier.

Click on 'Period Summaries' in the yellow menu bar, select 'Past Remittances' and choose the period for which you want the remittance. When you come to that period, you will see a grey 'Download Remittance' button above each currency. Click on this to download a CSV file to your PC. This will hold all the details, including the VAT breakdown.

Log on to Batch Payments and use either the Quick Search option at the top of the page or the Advanced Search option. Entering the order number or delivery note number will display details of any invoices relating to those numbers.

Most definitely yes! Because you make just one monthly payment to Batch per currency each month no matter how many suppliers there are to pay, you will pay a single bank charge. Note: you should check with your bank or transfer service regarding these charges.

• Yes, Batch is multi-currency so payments in Sterling, Euros and US dollars are accepted. However, not all suppliers accept all three currencies through Batch. Look at the list of suppliers to check their individual status.
• Important: if the invoice has been raised in a particular currency, then the payment to Batch must be in that currency.

• If your business is based in the UK, Batch will take a Direct Debit from you on the last working day of the month for the amount that has been authorised.
• If you are based in Eire, Batch can take a Direct Debit for Sterling payments on the last working day of the month, provided you have a UK bank account. If not, the payment will need to be sent by bank transfer to arrive no later than the closing date for authorisation.
• Booksellers in the rest of the world must pay by a monthly bank transfer. For more information please follow this link.

Invoices and credits will be shown on Batch as soon as the suppliers send them. Batch only displays invoice and credit data provided by the suppliers, so if there are errors or items missing, you should contact the supplier directly. Note: if you are new to Batch, the supplier will only provide us with invoices raised after they have set up your account for Batch. Any transactions dated prior to this will not be uploaded.

The amount to be transferred is in the 'Amount to be Paid to Batch' column on the far right of the 'Current Period Summary' screen.

Non-direct debit customers: if you have a balance from the previous month, this will be visible in the Balance Summary below the suppliers listed on the Current Period page. The amount brought forward from the previous period will be displayed.

So, after all authorisations are done, the C/FWD (Carried Forward) column in the Balance Summary will show the amount that needs to be paid, including any outstanding balances from previous periods.

At about 7am on the morning following the closing date for authorisations, the amounts paid will be in 'Past Payment Status’ under the Reports tab.

Simply go to 'Period Summaries' menu, select 'Past Remittances' and choose the period you wish to look at. You can also see these details in the 'Payment Status' report.

Yes, any invoice can be downloaded as a CSV file directly from our website. On the system, you will find a complete record of all your transactions with each supplier. Simply find the invoice you want to download and click on the grey Download button above the line details of the invoice. Some suppliers now also submit copy invoices as PDFs for download – look out for the PDF icon on Batch.

Select the invoice and click on the 'N button ('Not paying'). Click on ‘Update’ at the bottom of the page and the transaction will be removed.

The list of publishers on Batch is updated daily, so first check the suppliers' list: https://batch.co.uk/web/tools/register-with-suppliers

If the supplier isn't there, email us and we will contact them to ask whether they would like to join Batch. We would also suggest that you tell the supplier that you would like to pay them via Batch.

Yes. Select the credit note or claim and click on the 'N' button ('Not paying'). Click on ’Update Status‘ at the top or bottom of the page and the transaction will be removed.

At about 7am on the morning following the closing date for authorisations, the amounts paid will be in 'Past Remittances' under the 'Period Summaries' tab in the yellow menu bar.

Booksellers can't bring credit notes forward from future clearances. These have usually been uploaded by the supplier in accordance with your payment terms with them, which are often thirty days for UK booksellers, so they'll appear at future dates on the system. We at Batch can move credits forwards for you, but only with the supplier's/publisher's permission. 

Important news will appear on the website and on the Booksellers' Network Facebook page. We also send out monthly reminders about the closing date for authorisations, so please ensure that we have your active email address.

A red flag indicates an overall credit against a supplier, which will be carried forward to the following month.

Make sure you access Batch directly from www.batch.co.uk and not from a bookmarked link. Check that your PC date and clock are accurate. If the problem persists, contact us at mail@batch.co.uk.

Batch Returns operates 24/7 and you will get your responses much faster than if you rely on contacting your rep or the supplier directly. Plus you will have an electronic record of all transactions. Visit our Returns page for more benefits.

There is no charge for booksellers to use Batch Returns.

All you need is an ADSL connection and web browser Google Chrome or Internet Explorer 8 or above (other browsers are not supported). The Batch website can also be accessed from an IOS or Android Smart phone.

Once the registration form has been completed, we will pass your details to the suppliers. It normally takes about 48 hours (excluding weekend and bank holidays) for them to get back to us. We will contact you by email as soon as your account has been enabled.

Let us know and we will contact them on your behalf. You can also speak to the supplier directly and encourage them to join Batch Returns.

A list of all suppliers on Batch Returns and Batch Payments can be found here.

Some suppliers only allow overstocks through Batch. You will need to contact the supplier directly if the return is for another reason.

Yes! Once approval has been given by the supplier, the actual quantity of products being returned must be confirmed. Quantities can only be adjusted downwards. If more books are returned than have been approved, then it is likely that a credit will only be raised for the approved number. A new request should be raised for any additional quantities to return.

From the 'Search' tab, search by 'Request#', 'Customer Reference' or 'RAN', to list any matching authorisations. Click on the required RAN in the Search Results to show the Confirmation screen from where the labels or a picking list can be printed.

It isn't possible to delete a Returns request once made on Batch. Any request that isn't actioned is moved to an archive folder after ninety days and so doesn't appear on your summary screen. If the Return is still required, it can be submitted again without issue.

If a reply hasn't been received within 24 hours, you should contact the supplier directly. Any technical issues involving Batch will be announced on our website and on Twitter @batch_services.

When the Authorisations come back from the supplier, confirm one of the Authorisations with all ‘Qty Confirmed’ values set to zero. Use the 'Set All Quantities to...' button to do this.

From the 'Search' tab, search by 'Supplier'. This will show all the requests for this supplier and their status. The list can be restricted further by selecting a 'Status' in the search criteria.

To resolve this, log out of Batch Returns and log back in again or press Ctrl F5 to refresh the browser and the labels should be available by searching for the required RAN and going to the Confirmation screen from where the labels or a picking list can be printed.

A request has been started for that supplier, but it hasn't been sent. You need to complete that request before starting another one for the same supplier.