# Character Sets

Source: https://docs.gocardless.com/docs/api-reference/character-sets

# Character Sets

Different schemes allow different character sets for payment and mandate references. All schemes allow alphanumeric characters (A-Z and 0-9). Some allow additional special characters.

Any references containing disallowed characters will return an error that includes the offending characters. GoCardless formats references to match each bank and scheme as accurately as possible.

## Allowed Characters by Scheme

| Scheme               | Allowed Characters                                   | Max Length                                     |
| -------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------- |
| **Bacs**             | A-Z, 0-9, space, `/` `-` `.` `&`                     | 18 chars (payment ref), 10 chars (mandate ref) |
| **SEPA Core**        | A-Z, 0-9, space, `/` `-` `?` `:` `(` `)` `.` `,` `+` | 35 chars                                       |
| **ACH**              | A-Z, 0-9, space, `-`                                 | 10 chars                                       |
| **Autogiro**         | A-Z, 0-9                                             | 11 chars                                       |
| **Betalingsservice** | A-Z, 0-9, `-`                                        | 20 chars                                       |
| **BECS (AU)**        | A-Z, 0-9, space, `-` `.`                             | 18 chars                                       |
| **BECS NZ**          | A-Z, 0-9, space, `-`                                 | 12 chars                                       |
| **PAD**              | A-Z, 0-9, space, `-`                                 | 10 chars                                       |
| **PayTo**            | A-Z, 0-9, space                                      | 280 chars                                      |

## What's next

  
#### [Supported Schemes](/docs/api-reference/schemes)

View all direct debit and alternative payment schemes supported by GoCardless.

  
#### [Backwards Compatibility](/docs/api-reference/backwards-compatibility)

Learn what changes are considered backwards compatible in the GoCardless API.