FAQ
Terms
What is a QR-bill?
A QR-bill is a complete invoice that contains both the invoice details and the QR payment part (previously: payment slip). The latter is the document of the QR invoice that contains the Swiss QR Code and that you need to make the payment.
What is a QR payment part?
The QR payment section is the receipt of the QR-bill (previously: payment slip), which contains the payment details both in the Swiss QR Code and as plain text. It replaces the previous red and orange inpayment slips.
What is a QR reference (QRR)?
The QR reference (QRR) is the 1:1 replacement of the previous ISR reference of the orange inpayment slip and consists exclusively of numbers. You can therefore continue to use existing ISR references with the QR bill. Please note that when using a QR reference, a QR IBAN must also be used. You can obtain this from your bank on request.
With QR Module you have the option of creating customised QR references for your customer items.
What is a QR IBAN?
The QR IBAN is a special variant of the normal IBAN. You can recognise a QR IBAN by the fact that the 5th digit always has the number 3. If a QR reference is used in a QR-bill, it must be combined with a QR IBAN. You can obtain the QR IBAN from your bank on request.
With QR Module you have the possibility to create customised QR references for your debtor items.
What is a Creditor-Reference (SCOR)?
The Creditor Reference (SCOR) is a variant of the reference number used in the euro area, which consists of numbers and letters. You can use it as an alternative to the QR reference, e.g. if you use the normal IBAN instead of the special QR IBAN. The first two digits of this reference type are occupied by the letters «RF».
What are Billing information?
Billing information refers to the standardised transmission of information from the biller to the payer, such as VAT, cash discount, invoice date, etc.
So far, only the syntax of the trade association of the ICT and online industry (Swico) exists. However, it is conceivable that other sectors will develop such syntaxes.
What is the Alternative procedure?
This is a special code line indicating that the QR-bill could be paid via an alternative method. So far, eBill is the only alternative. If the QR-bill is sent to a so-called network partner instead of directly to the payer, this partner converts the QR-bill into an eBill and forwards it to the payer instead of the QR-bill – provided the biller and bill recipient are both registered with eBill.
General questions about the QR-bill
I am happy with the orange and red inpayment slips. Why should I switch to the QR-bill?
The QR-bill is not a supplement to the previous inpayment slips, but their REPLACEMENT. You can still use the latter until 30 September 2022, after that only the QR-bill. It is mandatory that you change over.
By when do I have to switch to the QR-bill?
From 1 October 2022, only the QR-bill can be used. Plan the migration of your invoice processes early.
How do I ensure that my QR-bills or QR payment parts are correct?
You can either study the specifications of SIX Group Ltd, the process owner, or use QR Module. Validations in our processes ensure that all your QR-bills or QR payment parts are 100% correct and guaranteed to be processed at the post office counter and banks.
I use ERP software. How can I generate QR-bills with it?
The providers of ERP software solutions have already or will still switch to the QR-bill. You will have to install a corresponding update.
If you have not yet heard from your ERP provider, you should ask occasionally or – even better – switch to QR Module straight away. This will save you software installations and training efforts in the future.
What are the advantages of switching from a permanently installed ERP software to an online solution (SaaS)?
Software as a service (SaaS) has several advantages:
- No fixed installation on a specific PC: Instead, as many users as you want can access the billing processes with any device.
- No update installations: Do you know this? Whenever you want to start working, your software first requires an update. That can be done more easily.
- No complicated programme logic: The processes on QR Module are largely intuitive to use. The webinars help if anything is unclear. This saves you tedious training for new employees.
Can I or my customers pay the QR-bill at the post office counter?
Yes. The post offices have already been equipped with QR scanners.
How do I pay a QR-bill with online or mobile banking?
Almost all banks have equipped their mobile banking apps with a scanning function via smartphone camera. Thanks to the scan of the QR code, the tedious typing of payment details is no longer necessary.
Some banks also use the PC camera to scan the QR code in online banking. Not all of them, however. This is where the PayEye from Crealogix comes in, which makes scanning effortless.
In an emergency, you can also make a payment without scanning the QR code. The information can also be found in plain text on the QR payment part.
Can I print a QR-bill on normal paper?
Almost. You can print payment parts with standard printers without any problems. However, you will need perforated paper, which you can order from Schneider Druck, for example.
How do I insert the QR payment part in an invoice?
The QR payment part must always be placed at the bottom of the sheet, without spaces on the left, right or bottom. If there is no more space for the payment section on the actual invoice, it is placed on a separate page. It is not permissible to print the payment part on the back of the invoice because text blocks or images on the back of the QR payment part could interfere with scanning.
Does a reference always have to be used with a QR-bill?
No. In addition to the reference types «QR reference (QRR)» and «Creditor reference (SCOR)», the QR-bill also has the variant «no reference (NON)». In this case, the corresponding field simply remains empty.
Can messages be recorded with the QR-bill, as is the case today with the red inpayment slip?
Yes, you can now even combine messages with reference numbers in one document. What is no longer possible, however, is the subsequent, handwritten recording of messages by the payer. This affects post office counter payments and written remuneration orders. In online and mobile banking, the debtor can continue to add messages.
I get an error message because of invalid characters, but I don’t know which characters are affected.
The QR-bill works with the so-called «UTF8 Latin Character Set». Characters from Slavic languages, such as the «ć», are not allowed. The characters shown in the table in the white and light grey cells are permitted. All others are not. QR Module rigorously validates the characters used to ensure that QR-bills can be processed across all channels at all times.
QR Module services
Can I create payment parts and invoices in different languages?
Yes. QR Module is available in four languages throughout: German, French, Italian and English. The QR payment parts can also be generated in Rhaeto-Romanic.
How can I create QR payment parts in QR Module?
There are three variants for this:
- payment part generator on the website: here you create QR payment parts individually by entering all payment details manually and downloading them in .pdf or .png format.
- payment part generator+ for registered users: here, too, you create QR payment parts individually. However, your own address and account details are already pre-filled. In addition, you can automatically obtain the payer’s details from the debtor list and merge the QR payment part with your invoice template.
- Process for QR-bills in series: with this simply designed process you can generate QR payment parts and complete QR-bills in series in no time at all. As a basis, we provide you with the debtor list from which the details of the payer are obtained, as well as individually designable invoice templates.
What additional functions do I have as a registered user compared to the free payment part generator on the website?
We provide practical additional functions for registered users. 1:
- automatic retrieval of invoicing party details from your master data;
- automatic retrieval of payer details from your debtor list;
- design your individual invoice template (pdf);
- store the generated QR payment parts in the archive.
But most importantly: With our process «QR-bills in series» you can create up to 500 QR bills within 10 minutes and have them sent immediately by letter post or e-mail. This «all-round carefree offer» is available exclusively from QR Module.
What advantages do I have if I register and create master data?
The master data contains your address and account details (IBAN and optional: QR IBAN), which are automatically inserted into the QR-bill for each order. This saves you having to type them in repeatedly.
Depending on the subscription you choose, you can create several master data profiles – practical, for example, for companies with different entities or associations with several sections.
What are the advantages of registering and using Debtor Manager?
Thanks to the debtor manager, you no longer need to type in the invoicing party’s details manually. For each order, you select the desired items from the accounts receivable list so that they are automatically inserted into the invoice.
You can manage the debtors list online or upload your Excel. In this case, use the template we provide so that the debtor information is read in correctly when uploading.
What are the advantages of registering and using the invoice templates?
With our template generator you can create individual invoice templates with your logo and your individual, fixed text modules. The template is supplemented with dynamic elements, namely address fields and the product table, which shows the invoiced services. VAT and invoice total are calculated automatically. The dynamic elements are then automatically supplemented in the process for creating serial invoices with the information from your master data and the customer list. In this way, you can create entire series of invoices with just a few clicks.
Why can’t I create the QR payment part with reference?
As long as errors are present, namely missing information in mandatory fields or an incorrect combination of IBAN and reference type, the QR payment part cannot be generated. The QR reference must be combined with a QR IBAN. This is probably the problem. Ask your bank for your QR IBAN.
Why can’t I use my QR IBAN?
The QR IBAN is only used in combination with the reference type QR reference (QRR). With the other two types (SCOR or NON) it is mandatory to use a normal IBAN.
Which formats can be created with QR Module?
QR-bills are created in .pdf format. QR payment parts can additionally be downloaded as .png files.
Can I insert a QR payment part directly into my invoice?
Yes, as long as there is enough space at the bottom of the sheet. Otherwise it is printed on a separate page.
What options do I have to send the QR-bills to the bill recipient?
You can download the QR-bills and send them yourself. You can also have QR Module conveniently send them to your customers by post or e-mail.
Can I have additional shipping inserts sent with the QR-bill when sending by e-mail or letter?
Yes. When sending by e-mail, we offer the option of sending both impersonal and personalised mailing inserts. These are sent in the e-mail as an attachment in the form of a pdf file.
When sending letters, impersonal inserts can be included. These will be sorted in the letter behind the QR-bill. From August 2022, there will also be the option of sending personalised enclosures, such as donation confirmations.
Can I generate several payment parts for a QR-bill?
This will be possible from August 2022. Then you will be able to create up to 15 payment parts with different amounts for a single invoice.
Can I generate QR-bills in WIR (CHW)?
Yes. As soon as you enter an IBAN from Bank WIR, we automatically activate the WIR-specific functions and reduce your monthly fees by 20%.
bexio
Is the use of the QR Module included in my bexio account?
No, you set up a separate profile for QR Module, which is independent of your bexio profile and for which a separate monthly subscription fee is charged.
As a bexio customer, how do I get the 20 % discount on my QR Module profile?
If you have registered via the link on the bexio marketplace, the discount is automatically applied. If you were previously registered, tick the «bexio» checkbox under «My profile – Settings» and connect to your bexio profile. This will automatically record the discount.
How do I connect my bexio account to the QR Module?
To register with QR Module, use the corresponding link on the bexio marketplace. After registering, log in to QR Module and you will be asked to log in to bexio as well. This process is only necessary the first time. In future, you will be automatically connected to bexio every time you log in to QR Module.
If you already have a profile with QR Module, simply activate the «bexio» checkbox under «My profile – Settings».
The connections between bexio and the QR Module are not working. What can I do?
- go to «My profile – Settings» in your QR Module profile and check whether the «bexio» checkbox is activated. If not, activate it. You can also renew the connection by deactivating the checkbox and then reactivating it immediately.
- when the bexio login window appears, make sure that you have entered the correct login data.
- if the connection still does not work, log out of QR Module and bexio, delete your browser history (last 1-2 hours) and restart the browser. Then repeat steps 1 and 2 described above.
If the connection still cannot be re-established, please contact us at info@qrmodul.ch
How can I delete the connection between bexio and QR Module?
In your QR Module profile, go to «My profile – Settings» and deactivate the «bexio» checkbox. Please note that you will then no longer be able to import customer data from bexio and may lose the discount on the monthly fee.
If I delete my bexio account, will I also lose my QR Module profile?
No, QR Module continues to work independently of bexio. You can also manage your debtors and generate QR-bills in QR Module without bexio.
How long is the cancellation period for deleting my QR Module profile?
QR Module waives cancellation periods. You can deactivate your profile at any time under «My profile – Product usage» and will then no longer pay any monthly fees.
