standing order

Meaning

A standing order is an instruction a bank account holder gives to their bank to pay a fixed amount of money at regular intervals to another account. Unlike a direct debit, the customer controls the standing order and the payment amount is always the same. The tone is neutral and professional.

Examples

• I have a standing order to transfer fifty pounds into my savings account every payday.

  I have a standing order to transfer fifty pounds into my savings account every payday.

• Our monthly rent is paid via a standing order to the landlord's account.

  Our monthly rent is paid via a standing order to the landlord's account.

• You need to log into your account to change the amount of your standing order.

  You need to log into your account to change the amount of your standing order.

• She set up a standing order to donate to her favorite charity every month.

  She set up a standing order to donate to her favorite charity every month.

• The bank cancelled the standing order because there wasn't enough money in the account.

  The bank cancelled the standing order because there wasn't enough money in the account.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ I need to set a standing order for my variable electricity bill.

  ✓ I need to set up a direct debit for my variable electricity bill.

  Use standing order only for fixed payments that you control. Variable bills are paid via direct debit.

• ✗ I did a standing order to my friend yesterday.

  ✓ I set up a standing order to my friend.

  We set up or have a standing order; we do not do or make a standing order as a one-time action.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Since my rent is the exact same amount every month, I pay it via ___.

  💡 An instruction to pay a fixed amount regularly.

  Show answer

  standing order

• I need to cancel the ___ to my old gym since I no longer go there.

  💡 A fixed, regular payment set up by you.

  Show answer

  standing order