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[MSE Dan]

Hi,

If you've read the Direct Debit D-Day article and managed to save some cash by examining your bank statements to clear out the dead wood of forgotten Direct Debits, Standing Orders and Recurring Payments, we want to know about it!

Please reply saying for each thing

What was it you cancelled?
How much were you paying?
How long had you been paying without using it?

Please reply to the thread letting us know what you found and how much it cost a year, and you are now saving! (use the DD Wastage calculator to get this)

If you aren't reporting your successes, but want to discuss the article in general, please post in the Direct Debit D-Day Discussion thread.

Cheers

[Shutzy]

Hi I checked my bank statement 5 months ago and found that Virgin Media had been taking a re acurring amount off my debit card for 6 months without me knowing. It took me 5 months to get my money back.

I had been paying £20 a month for Broadband.

Thanks

Sean Shuter

[pkempc]

I used to pay my metered Thames Water bill by direct debit every month like a good boy until they decided to up my monthly amount by 162% from £ 26 to £ 42 in Aug 2005 for no good reason other than to ensure I didn't underpay. There is no discount for paying monthly ( as per other utilities ) so I told them to cancel the direct debit and I would pay their 6 monthly bills in arrears thanks all the same - thus I earn interest on the money up until the moment I pay the bill by electronic bank transfer.

Now I can pay my Thames Water bill using a cashback credit card through their website & still pay 6 months in arrears & then get 50'ish days interest free to settle my credit card bill & for no extra fees or charges.

http://www.thameswater.co.uk/UK/regi...nload_0012 77

Oh and all my metered bills since Jul 2005 have worked out at as follows:-

Jul 05 - Dec 05 - £ 119.16 ( £ 23.83 )
Dec 05 - Jun 06 - £ 127.05 ( £ 21.18 )
Jun 06 - Jan 07 - £ 158.95 ( £ 26.49 )
Jan 07 - July 07 - £ 160.95 ( £ 26.83 )
Jul 07 - Jan 08 - £ 151.33 ( £ 25.22 )

So that means I have paid a total of £ 717.44 ( instead of £ 1218 ) 6 months in arrears with the money sitting in my account earning me interest instead of Thames Water.