An extra day to stop being charged for an unpaid Direct Debit?

eso_3

After an unfortunate/clumsy calculation, I had a direct debit for £10.50 come out of my RBS basic bank account when I only had £10.25 in the account. I noticed this when I checked my online account in the early hours of Thursday morning, being pretty hacked off to discover that my account balance was now -0.25.

Based on when this happened to me once before, I expected the DD to be returned the next day and an evil £38 fee to be applied. As I also had two more DDs due to come out of my account on Friday, I feared that when I deposited the money to cover these it would just be taken away in fees, effectively making me pay over £100 for a 25 pence mistake...

However, when I went to the bank on Thursday afteronon I explained to the cashier what had happened and she told me that if deposited the money to cover the two direct debits which were due to come out on Friday, plus the 25p I was in arrears, I wouldn't be charged any fees. So that's what I did and the next day (today).... was very happy to discover that she right.

Is this the same with all banks and is it common knowledge that you can do this? (if not I hope this post might be useful to someone).

Crinz

in halifax if you get the funs in before the end of the same working day then you 'shouldnt' get charged.
Like you im not sure if it is the same for all banks

chuckley

abbey is fine if funds to recover the minus are in the same day of the debit. if not they pay the debit and charge you for it PLUS a £25 charge, but its not instant, they bill it on your statement and take it two weeks later.

natwest however charge instantly and require funds the day before debit. CANT STAND THEM!!!!!

mum2one

The Halifax have changed their terms and conditions the funds must be available the day before, so say dd comes out the 10th for £10.00 and on 9th you have £9.99 in account, even if you rushed up for 9am on the 10th to put the extra penny in............tough luck.........ur slammed with a £35.00 charge.
Very careing.........roll on the end of the bank charges saga.......I want my money back from the Halifax.

Voyager2002

Furthermore, A and L require the funds to be there the day before the payment goes out.

It is good practice to have an overdraft facility of (say) a hundred pounds, so that if something like this happens you don't face any charges other than a tiny amount of interest.