Find answers to common questions about our bank account validation services
eSortcode is the UK's longest-established sort code validation service, pioneering payment validation since 2006. We're a trading name of Etellect Ltd and provide enterprise-grade Modulus Checking, Confirmation of Payee (CoP), and EISCD data services at the best prices in the UK.
eSortcode offers the best value in the UK with prices from 2.5p per modulus check and 15p per CoP verification. We provide:
Getting started is simple:
Yes! New customers receive 1000 free checks to test our services. No credit card required, and you can cancel anytime. This allows you to fully evaluate our Modulus Checking and CoP services before committing.
Modulus Checking is a mathematical validation method that verifies if a UK sort code and account number combination is valid. It uses BACS-approved algorithms to detect typos, transposition errors, and invalid account details before payment processing.
Modulus Checking catches approximately 95% of data entry errors. While it doesn't verify if the account actually exists or who owns it, it's highly effective at detecting typos and mathematically invalid combinations. For account ownership verification, use our Confirmation of Payee (CoP) service.
Modulus Checking: Validates if a sort code and account number is mathematically valid (catches typos and errors).
Confirmation of Payee (CoP): Verifies the actual account holder's name by checking with the receiving bank (prevents fraud and misdirected payments).
For best protection, use both: Modulus Checking first for instant validation, then CoP for name verification on larger payments.
Confirmation of Payee (CoP) is a name-checking service that verifies if the name provided matches the actual account holder's name. It queries the receiving bank in real-time to confirm the account owner, helping prevent Authorized Push Payment (APP) fraud and misdirected payments.
Yes. Since 2024, UK Payment Service Providers (PSPs) must offer Confirmation of Payee checks for payments over £1,000 and other high-risk transactions. This regulation helps combat the £485 million lost to APP fraud in 2023.
CoP returns four possible results:
Confirmation of Payee: Verifies the recipient's details before you send a payment.
Confirmation of Payer: Verifies the sender's details when you receive a payment.
Both use the same technology and pricing. Choose based on whether you're sending (Payee) or receiving (Payer) payments.
EISCD (Extended Industry Sort Code Directory) is the complete UK banking directory containing all active sort codes, bank names, addresses, payment schemes, and modulus algorithms. It's the authoritative source for UK banking data used by financial institutions and payment processors.
EISCD data is updated regularly as UK banks add new sort codes or modify existing ones. We offer flexible download frequencies: weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual updates. Pricing starts from £49 per file for weekly updates (36 downloads/year) to £159 for annual updates.
We provide EISCD data in multiple formats to suit your integration needs:
Use EISCD Data Downloads if:
Use API Access if:
Our pricing is simple and transparent:
No setup fees, no monthly minimums. Volume discounts apply automatically.
No! We don't charge setup fees or require monthly minimums. You only pay for what you use, with automatic volume discounts. Start with 1000 free checks to test our services risk-free.
Volume discounts are applied automatically using logarithmic pricing:
Modulus Checking: 4p @ 500 checks → 3p @ 5,000 → 2.5p @ 100,000
Confirmation of Payee: 25p @ 100 checks → 20p @ 1,000 → 15p @ 10,000
The more you use, the less you pay per check. No need to negotiate or request discounts - they're built in.
We accept:
Integration is straightforward:
We provide code examples in cURL, JavaScript, Python, PHP, and more. Full documentation is available in your portal.
Our average API response time is under 100ms, with a 99.9% uptime SLA. This ensures your payment forms remain fast and responsive, providing an excellent user experience.
Yes! Security is our priority:
Our RESTful API works with any programming language that can make HTTP requests. We provide example code and libraries for:
Yes! We provide a full sandbox environment for testing your integration. Use test credentials to validate your implementation without consuming your live credits. The 1000 free checks on signup also allow real-world testing.
We provide comprehensive technical support:
eSortcode is trusted by 1000+ businesses across 25+ countries, including:
Yes! Etellect Ltd (trading as eSortcode) holds both ISO 27001 (Information Security Management) and ISO 9001 (Quality Management) certifications, accredited by BSI (British Standards Institution). We undergo regular audits to maintain these certifications.
Yes! There are no contracts or lock-in periods. You can cancel your account at any time with no penalties. Any unused credits remain available until your account closure.
Our team is here to help. Get in touch and we'll respond within 24 hours.