# Manual authentications

## DebiCheck authentications

Customers can be authenticated by sending a [USSD](../../../glossary/glossary-technical-terms#unstructured-supplementary-service-data-ussd) to their mobile phone. The recipient will be asked to approve the debit order request and review the DebiCheck mandate conditions. If the debtor accepts the conditions, a message containing the new DebiCheck authentication key will be sent back to the user via the debtor's preferred bank.&#x20;

The debtor is allowed **180 seconds** to accept or decline the request and a maximum of **three** authentication attempts is allowed on the same contract reference.&#x20;

#### Authentication was done elsewhere

If the authentication was not performed through BankTech, you can add the DebiCheck authentication key (which is the "industry mandate reference") to the mandate or an ad hoc DebiCheck collection.

## Authenticating a debtor

Within the **New mandate** form, select the **DebiCheck** option as the preferred mandate instrument. Complete the remaining details regarding the mandate and click on the **Authenticate now** button to send the USSD to the debtor's phone number. The debtor should receive the USSD notification within seconds. The approved response, including the new DebiCheck auth key, is sent back to the user which will be used on collections for that mandate.

