We often get asked "what is the difference between a single payment and a bulk payment" and "when I use Comma, when do my payments become bulk payments"?

A bulk payment is any payment that is made to multiple payees and paid in one transaction with one bank authentication.

The payment shows as one line in your own bank statement per payee, and each payee gets one transaction for their total amount shown in their bank statement (regardless of whether they have multiple bills or one single bill within the payment run in Comma).

A single payment is any payment that is made to one payee and paid in one transaction with one bank authentication.

Similar to a bulk payment, the payment shows as one line in your own bank statement per payee and the payee gets one transaction for their total amount shown in their bank statement (regardless of whether they have multiple bills or one single bill within the payment run in Comma).

For example;

Single Payment:

This is a single payment, to one supplier. It consists of two payments (for two invoices) to one payee. This will be paid in one transaction, to one payee, with one authentication.

You and the payee will see a single payment line for the total amount of £4.16 in the bank account.

Bulk Payment:

This is a bulk payment. It consists of five payments, to separate suppliers. This will be paid in one transaction, to five payees, with one authentication.

Each bank differs regarding how the payments appear on the bank statement for bulk payments. Certain banks itemise by payment e.g. £2.08, £4,04, £2.40, £3.30, £1.09 and other banks show a single line for the bulk payment e.g. £12.91.