What is the difference between a standing order and a direct debit?

[Borrowdale Barron]

When it comes to banking what's the main difference between a standing order and a direct debit?

 

[Lenard]

You can think of a standing order as an instruction you give to your bank so that on your behalf they can send money to a specific account of your choice on a regular basis.

Now with a direct debit you are essentially granting permission to a registered business to request money from your account on a regular basis just like a standing order except with a direct debit there is a variable aspect were a registered business will only take a certain amount of money you owe them. For example, paying bills.