Unauthorised DD's

Hi,

I recently got married, and added to my partner's bank account so that we're now joint account holders. We had to go in to the branch to do this, and when we were in there, we got sold on the ID Aware scheme by the branch manager ("area salesmanager"?). Cynicism aside, I've had some debt issues in the past, and was once refused an account by this bank, so I decided it was a good idea to get a copy of a credit report. The good news is that all appears fine now.

However, we got a letter each through the post stating that our signatures were required to setup the direct debits. Neither of us responded - direct debits were never mentioned, and we are both of the impression that a one-off charge was explicitly mentioned to us in this meeting. Well, no harm - they can't setup a direct debit without our signatures (so we thought), so we'll just leave it.

And then my credit report came through.. Odd, as I haven't paid for it, I thought. So I call the bank and they confirm that we've got 2 direct debits setup for ID Aware. We cancel both there and then... and then have to phone a new number to cancel the ID Aware accounts (which we each have to do ourselves).

So, what's going on here? Do we have any recourse for being mis-sold the product, and is it right that a company can setup a direct debit without so much as a signature?

ID Aware claim that it is, but I take that with a pinch of salt.. With ID Aware being so closely linked to the bank in question (salesmen in store selling their product), head salesmen lieing and the shop having such easy access to our accounts, it all just seems a little .. wrong, to me?

Thankfully, ID Aware cancelled the outstanding £6.99 charge on my account (because I cancelled the DD before the account), but this makes me even more suspiscious of what's going on.

Anyway, lesson learnt .. don't agree to any product in-store when I go in - they'll sell it however's necessary in order to get you signed up.

If only SWMBO would have switched to HSBC instead..