
EPC invites Directory Service Providers to collaborate on VoP scheme
0
Payment service providers will have to offer VoP IBAN/name matching services to their customers for their Sepa transactions from October.
As part of the scheme, the EPC contracted Swift to develop the EPC Directory Service (EDS), a centralised platform storing all EPC scheme participants' information needed to securely identify and authorise them, and to secure reachability and interoperability at the VoP scheme level.
Now the Council is issuing a public 'call for interest' to Directory Service Providers that own directories of BICs, official national identifiers and/or IBAN ranges, and allowing retrieval of BICs from customer account numbers.
These providers are being invited to collaborate with the EPC with the goal of checking routing algorithms that may be used by VoP scheme participants when issuing VOP Requests.
The EPC wants to work with them to verify the availability of the required dataset (Account Holding BICs) to support correct configuration of the EDS in line with EPC specifications, and to test options for implementing the IBAN-to-BIC mapping algorithm.
Interested parties have until 18 July to respond via email.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Times
3 days ago
- Times
We want to sell our listed house — do we need an EPC?
Q. We want to sell our listed house. The estate agents say we may not need an energy performance certificate (EPC) but should get one anyway. Do we need an EPC for a listed house? A. EPCs record the energy efficiency of buildings, rated from A to G. It is a common misconception that they are not needed for listed properties. It is far more complicated than that. The basic requirements are set out in part 2 of the Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) (England and Wales) Regulations 2007. Regulation 6 requires a valid EPC to be available whenever a building is to be sold. The maximum penalty for marketing or selling a property without a valid EPC is £5,000, although prosecutions are rare. • Read more expert advice on property, interiors and home improvement Under regulation 5, certain properties are exempt from these requirements, including 'buildings officially protected as part of a designated environment or because of their special architectural or historical merit'. Although this potentially exempts listed buildings and houses in conservation areas, they are only excluded if 'compliance with certain minimum energy performance requirements would unacceptably alter their character or appearance'. For example, government guidance notes that many typical EPC recommendations — such as double glazing, new doors and windows, external wall insulation and external boiler flues — would probably cause unacceptable changes in most historic buildings. This presents a problem in that listed building owners are unlikely to know whether they will need an EPC without first asking an EPC assessor to advise on what energy efficiency measures are needed. Owners may also need to consult with their listed buildings officer to anticipate queries from potential buyers about any advice set out in the EPC. In addition, in December 2024, the government launched a consultation about reforms to the regime, which include proposals to bring all listed buildings within the EPC net. It is probably best to commission an EPC before marketing a listed house, even if it turns out that a valid certificate is not required by legislation. Mark Loveday is a barrister with Tanfield Chambers. Email your questions to

Finextra
6 days ago
- Finextra
Papaya secures direct Sepa access
European fintech company Papaya Ltd. has officially become one of the first Electronic Money Institutions (EMIs) in Europe to secure direct access to SEPA, including both SEPA Credit Transfers (SCT) and SEPA Instant (SCT Inst). 0 This content is provided by an external author without editing by Finextra. It expresses the views and opinions of the author. As of today, Papaya Ltd. is listed in the European Payments Council's official register of SEPA participants. This move places Papaya at the forefront of European payments innovation, eliminating reliance on intermediary banks and unlocking full control over euro transactions — both standard and instant — directly from its own infrastructure. 'Becoming a direct SEPA participant is no small feat. It's not just about ticking regulatory boxes — it requires a rare mix of operational maturity, compliance strength, and technical readiness,' said Igor Tsybolyuk, CEO of Papaya Ltd. 'We're proud to lead this transformation and show that EMIs can operate on the same level as banks when it comes to payments infrastructure.' A New Chapter for Fintech Until recently, only credit institutions — mainly banks — could participate in SEPA directly. EMIs, even those with full European licensing, were forced to rely on correspondent banks to process payments. But the challenge wasn't malicious exclusion — it was practical. Banks were expected to take responsibility for payments and clients they didn't onboard, monitor, or fully understand. For many, that wasn't worth the risk or operational burden. Papaya, however, invested in building the infrastructure, procedures, and controls needed to take on that responsibility itself — and meet the strict participation criteria set by the European Payments Council and central banking systems. What Makes It Possible To qualify as a direct SEPA participant, Papaya successfully implemented one of the most advanced infrastructures in the EMI sector: A compliant safeguarding model using both insurance and segregated accounts, aligned with EU regulations; Successful technical integration with the Latvian Central Bank and full ISO 20022 and ISO 27001 compatibility; Strong AML, risk management, and compliance systems developed to banking-level standards; Support for both SEPA Credit Transfers and SEPA Instant, available for live client use starting September 10, 2025. Papaya's milestone signals a broader shift: EMIs that invest in real infrastructure, not just wrappers, can take control of their core systems — and unlock payment freedom for the clients they serve.


Belfast Telegraph
09-08-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Five home improvements that could add £10,000 to your asking price
'We're seeing more and more buyers enquiring about solar panels, heat pumps and EPC ratings,' explains Ryan Willdig, sustainability expert at Heatforce. 'It's great, as it's showing that awareness is spreading among homebuyers with regard to future-proofing their home, how much money they can save someone in the long run, and how much better these changes are for the environment.' Here are five home improvements that Heatforce suggests making to increase your property's appeal and value. Solar panels 'Solar panels can be off-putting because of the upfront cost, but they're something to celebrate in your house listing. Solar panels can cost anywhere from £5,000 to £10,000, depending on the size of a property, but research has shown that you can add 10-14% to your asking price, and it's appealing to those that are planning to move into your property as their forever home. The return often greatly outweighs the outlay.' Improved insulation 'There are lots of different types of insulation to install in your home, everything from loft insulation to underfloor options. Improving the thermal performance of your home is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to boost efficiency, which then translates into buyer confidence.' News Catch Up - Friday 8th August Battery storage 'By pairing solar panels with battery storage, you're maximising energy efficiency and can save more money on your monthly bills. 'This is what will be appealing to potential buyers, being able to save on the monthly electricity bills, especially with more people working from home and utilising electricity during the day. Likewise, it gives you a sense of independence — independence from the sort of price-gouging we saw during the pandemic and an opportunity to generate and keep more of your energy. 'During the day, your solar panels often produce more electricity than your home may need. This is where batteries come in; they can store your unused energy for you to use at a later date.' EV charging point 'With new research stating that around 20% of people in the UK own an electric or hybrid car, it makes sense to fit an EV charging point to appeal to an extra one in five potential buyers. 'With this number rising year on year, more and more people will be looking for EV charging ports so that they can charge their cars overnight. 'With initial costs starting from around £900, it's not the biggest cost that your home could face when you know it could help you sell your home quicker, and for more money.' EPC rating 'There are so many small switches that you can make to boost your EPC rating. Some of these may just be sealing up some draughts, adding thermostatic radiator valves or switching to LED lighting. These three things alone can change your rating and potentially add value to your property price.'