{"release":{"id":"a4f2a0495fe55b47323883f82977a9b34ab66171ec9623e39925d3a7045b6c81","published":"2026-11-01T16:41:30Z","pinned":false},"limits":{"coverage":{"history":"current_only","held_since":"2023-01-06","gaps":[],"covered":["EBA Q&A 2020_5534 — Q&A — Bill-payment via postal service [Final Q&A] L3"],"not_covered":["national guidance","court decisions"]},"freshness":{"release_id":"a4f2a0495fe55b47323883f82977a9b34ab66171ec9623e39925d3a7045b6c81","release_published":"2026-11-01T16:41:30Z","checked_at":"2026-10-26","checked_against":"the EBA publication"},"truncation":null,"failures":[],"incomplete":[]},"page":{"path":"/psd2/level-3/q-and-a/eba/eba-qa-2020-5534-bill-payment-via-postal-service","url":"https://www.headlesslaw.com/psd2/level-3/q-and-a/eba/eba-qa-2020-5534-bill-payment-via-postal-service","title":"EBA Q&A 2020_5534 — Q&A — Bill-payment via postal service [Final Q&A]","family":"l3","work_id":"spaces/psd2/level-3/q-and-a/eba/eba-qa-2020-5534-bill-payment-via-postal-service","status":"final q&a","force_status":null,"date_state":"current","requested_date":null,"as_of":"2026-11-02","applies_from":null,"application":null,"version_label":"EBA Q&A register, 6 January 2023","check":{"against":"the EBA publication","on":"2026-10-26"},"check_result":"matched","official_url":"https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5534","valid_from":"0001-01-01","valid_until":null,"revision":1,"content_id":"25c512203ef9fb77","change_date":null,"nearest_versions":["2023-01-06"],"first_text_date":null,"correction_applies":false,"versions":["2023-01-06"],"version_url":"https://www.headlesslaw.com/psd2/level-3/q-and-a/eba/eba-qa-2020-5534-bill-payment-via-postal-service/versions/2023-01-06","revision_url":"https://www.headlesslaw.com/psd2/level-3/q-and-a/eba/eba-qa-2020-5534-bill-payment-via-postal-service/versions/2023-01-06/rev/25c512203ef9fb77","versions_url":"https://www.headlesslaw.com/psd2/level-3/q-and-a/eba/eba-qa-2020-5534-bill-payment-via-postal-service/versions","relations_url":"https://www.headlesslaw.com/psd2/level-3/q-and-a/eba/eba-qa-2020-5534-bill-payment-via-postal-service/relations","source_line":"Answer prepared by the European Commission, published in the EBA Q&A tool · not legislation · published 6 Jan 2023 [Final Q&A]","attribution":{"prepared_by":"European Commission","published_by":"EBA","published_in":"EBA Single Rulebook Q&A tool","document_type":"qa_answer","legal_nature":"not_legislation","addressees":"not stated in the document","dates":{"published_on":"2023-01-06","question_submitted_on":"2020-10-06","locators":{"published_on":"EBA Q&A register entry 2020_5534, field 'Final publishing date'","question_submitted_on":"EBA Q&A register entry 2020_5534, field 'Submission date'"}},"adoption":null}},"provenance":{"official_url":"https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5534","check":{"result":"matched","checked_at":"2026-10-26","against":"the EBA publication"},"repo_path":"spaces/psd2/level-3/q-and-a/eba/eba-qa-2020-5534-bill-payment-via-postal-service.md","body_sha256":"c2eceec5679f8e501ed030291bd0a29becbeef6a6368f6dc76b8f744cb005274"},"units":[],"markdown":"---\ntitle: \"EBA Q&A 2020_5534 — Q&A — Bill-payment via postal service [Final Q&A]\"\nshortTitle: \"EBA Q&A 2020_5534 — Q&A — Bill-payment via postal service [Final Q&A]\"\nanswer_id: EBA_QA_2020_5534\nstatus: \"Final Q&A\"\ntype: qa\ninstrument_type: qa\nauthority: EBA\nbinding: false\nbinding_character: non_binding\nlegal_status: in_force\nregulation: \"PSD2\"\npsd2_level3: true\nmica_level2: false\nlegal_basis: \"Article 97(1) PSD2\"\ndate: 6 January 2023\nsource_link: https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5534\nlifecycle: \"Final Q&A\"\ntext_version: \"EBA Q&A register, 6 January 2023\"\nsource_url: \"https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5534\"\ncheck_status: matched\nverified: true\nlast_checked: 2026-10-26\nchecked_against: \"the EBA publication\"\nsource:\n  prepared_by: \"European Commission\"\n  published_by: \"EBA\"\n  published_in: \"EBA Single Rulebook Q&A tool\"\n  evidence:\n    prepared_by: \"Answer prepared by the European Commission because it is a matter of interpretation of Union law.\"\n    locator: \"EBA Q&A register entry 2020_5534, field 'Answer prepared by'\"\ndocument_type: \"qa_answer\"\nlegal_nature: \"not_legislation\"\naddressees: \"not stated in the document\"\ndates:\n  published_on: \"2023-01-06\"\n  question_submitted_on: \"2020-10-06\"\n  locators:\n    published_on: \"EBA Q&A register entry 2020_5534, field 'Final publishing date'\"\n    question_submitted_on: \"EBA Q&A register entry 2020_5534, field 'Submission date'\"\nlifecycle_label: \"Final Q&A\"\n---\n\n**Answer prepared by the European Commission, published in the EBA Q&A tool · not legislation · published 6 Jan 2023 [Final Q&A]**\n\n*Final Q&A · EBA Q&A register, 6 January 2023 · Checked against the EBA publication on 26 Oct 2026 · [Official source](https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5534)*\n\n| | |\n|---|---|\n| **Full title** | EBA Q&A 2020_5534 — Q&A — Bill-payment via postal service \\[Final Q&A\\] |\n| **Prepared by** | European Commission |\n| **Published by** | EBA, in the EBA Single Rulebook Q&A tool |\n| **Reference** | EBA_QA_2020_5534 |\n| **Document type** | Q&A |\n| **Legal nature** | Not legislation |\n| **Addressees** | Not stated in the document |\n| **Dates** | Published 6 January 2023; question submitted 6 October 2020 |\n| **Legal basis** | Article 97(1) PSD2 |\n| **Related instruments** | None recorded |\n| **Text on this page** | Word for word — the full text of the EBA publication |\n\n**Bill-payment via postal service**\n\n### Question\n\nDoes bill-payment via snail-mail (postal service) fall into the definition of Article 97 1(c) and thus are subject to strong customer authentication (SCA) requirements?\n\n### Background\n\nMany banks in Member State A permit \"bill payment via postal service\" where you send in the bills to be paid in a envelope, along with a \"cover sheet\". In the cover sheet you write the total amount to be paid, so nobody can add bills into the envelope secretly.\n\nMostly ederly people use this service, as it is a service that originates pre internet.\n\nThe problem with the service, is that it does not provide any security against fraud, if the pad with the serialized \"cover sheet\" (where you tear off a cover sheet when you are going to pay your bills) gets stolen. There is no authentication, PIN code, verification or anything that prevents a unauthorized individual from using someone else's cover sheet.\n\nNote that even if you sign the cover sheet with your physical signature, there is no verification, the signature is just there for auditing and traceability. Since the envelope can be put in any postal box on the street, there is also no ID check during submission.\n\nThe only security that is provided by the bank, is that if you lose your pad with cover sheets, you can call in and block them (report them stolen) so the serial numbers become blacklisted and cannot be used for bill payment.\n\nIf there would be a ID check during submission, for example if there was a requirement to give the envelope to the postal services clerk desk, and then show ID card, and then they write the social security number on the envelope along with a stamp that ID check has been done - then it would be somewhat secure with regards to today's security standards.\n\n***\n\n### Answer\n\nThis question is related to several other Q&As: 4058, 4788, 5124, and 6315.\n\nUnder Article 97(1)(b) of Directive (EU) 2366/2015 (PSD2), payment services providers shall carry out strong customer authentication where the payer initiates an electronic payment transaction.\n\nThe services of “bill payment via postal services” however, as prescribed by the questioner, do not fall under the requirements as set out in Article 97(1)(b) PSD2.\n\nAs described by the questioner, the payee provides its payment services provider with the bill, together with a “cover sheet” with the total amount to be paid in an envelope, and sends this to its payment service provider via a postal service. When the payment service provider receives the envelope, it will settle the bill. This appears to be similar as a Mail-Order payment.\n\nIn accordance with Recital 95 PSD2, payment transactions initiated and executed outside electronic platforms or electronic devices, such as mail orders or telephone orders do not seem to necessitate the same level of guarantees regarding safe authentication as electronic payments.\n\nAccordingly, a payment transaction initiated through the described postal service is not initiated and executed electronically and thus can be considered as outside the scope of the SCA requirement.\n\n***\n\n**Source:** [EBA original document](https://www.eba.europa.eu/single-rule-book-qa/qna/view/publicId/2020_5534)\n\n## Related Level 1 articles\n\n- [Article 97 — Authentication](../../../articles/97.md)\n"}