HELP! I have been charged a direct debit I know nothing about...how do i get it back?

Andy_Alibi

I just had the same experience as all above, noticing a DD from my account for £17.94 for something I hadn't asked for and didn't even know what it was ! When i rang the number given above, the phone girl informed me this was a 'Gadget Helpline' and had been set up via my mobile phone deal... with mobiles.co.uk.
She said she could NOT give a refund as it was a payment for 6 months cover and that 4 months had already run on it. All she could do was cancel any future payments and that i should take it up with the mobile phone company. Tried to ring mobile phone company but can't get thru surprise surprise!! (Anyway its a premium call that doubtlessly will refer me back to Gadget Line). This has already wasted an hour of my time... and is only chance that i noticed ion my DDs list thru checking something else. I'm furious! I don't understand how this can be legal.

Andy_Alibi

Quick update to above...I called my bank and complained and they said they will block this company taking out any more DDs AND refund the previous DD from them!! Result from the bank but not from the company that 'stole' the money in the first place!

tryingtobemoneywise

Got charged a couple of days ago for £17.94, realised this had been taken out previously 6 months ago as well. This was apparently for insurance in the T&Cs of my mobile contract, possibly in the very very small print as this was not explained to me when i made the purchase.

I contacted TMT1/TMTI (who are not the insurance company but are the administrators for the insurance company) on 08444 994 600 and explained that i had been charged for insurance i didnt know anything about. The kind gentleman said that i could cancel the account and that the last payment would be refunded withing 10 working days but that he couldn't refund the previous payment. If i want this refunded i would have to contact the company i signed the mobile contract with and dispute it. He gave me their contact number too. I guess we'll see what happens.

Hope this helps x

trickster01

Hi I've just discovered this scam and cancelled the direct debit at my bank.:mad:
If you bought your phone from mobiles.co.uk then phone this number 08701120112
I spoke to the lady who was very polite she said there were 2 payments of £17.94 which had come out of my bank at 6 month intervals, I told her I didn't sign up for this insurance and did not want it. She said the 2 payments will be refunded back to my account within 7 working days, I'll keep you updated and see if they are true to their word:T

ajw1

Hi, I used to be a bank advisor and stil work in the banking sector - You do not need to call the company direct... You are covered under the direct debit guarantee, this means if you pay for a service or a product you do not want or receive it can be refunded in usually 2 working days...
The bank will do this for you. go into your branch or call your telephone banking number and request a DIRECT DEBIT INDEMNITY tell them the amount the date it was taken and any reference.

They will do everything for you.

If it was a company u used to be with it may be a annual debit rather than monthly expalining why its come out at random. ensure it is cancelled again with your bank.

Secondly, if you have been charged by your bank explain the cuircumstances and complain. Most Advisors are experienced to know this type of situation and will refund any charge associated with it as its not your fault. It may be the case you got someone ( unfortunately) not experineced in this area however, press the point and it should be refunded.

Good luck

KPnuts_3

As all of the above I've also just noticed a DD for £17.94 for TMT1/TMTI, when i went into the bank the address they gave me was for Corsley Garage in Warminster. The cashier was lovely and suggested I went onto the internet to look up the address. I did so and that is what lead me to this site. Needless to say I will be visiting my bank tomorrow to appeal this Direct Debit. Why do companies feel they have a right to my hard earned money.

Premier_2

HI KPnuts, and welcome to MSE :hello:

As your investigations have probably already revealed,

TMTI is a business which works with Brands in reducing Consumer Returns and enhancing the Customer Experience. Working within the Consumer Electronics business the company not only runs a Technical Support call centre, but also specializes in the design and build of Web Based Self Learning Manuals, or Product Simulators or Interactive Guides.

http://www.tmti.net/

To be fair, it would be most unlikely that this company obtained your bank account name, number and sort code without someone having provided it to them.
If you are sure it wasn't you (or anyone with your permission), then chances are that a fraudulent customer of thiers provided this detail to the company. The company probably used the information in good faith.
If you are sure you did not authorise the DDI, I would report this to the bank as a security breach, (as well as to demand a refund) and perhaps also consider reporting the matter to the police.

mattu88

Premier wrote: »

HI KPnuts, and welcome to MSE :hello:

As your investigations have probably already revealed, www. tmti .net

To be fair, it would be most unlikely that this company obtained your bank account name, number and sort code without someone having provided it to them.
If you are sure it wasn't you (or anyone with your permission), then chances are that a fraudulent customer of thiers provided this detail to the company. The company probably used the information in good faith.
If you are sure you did not authorise the DDI, I would report this to the bank as a security breach, (as well as to demand a refund) and perhaps also consider reporting the matter to the police.

You're wrong to think that this company are legitimate mate, they are absolute scammers! I have just realised that I have exactly the same as all of the above, they have taken nearly £60 out of my account over the last year and a half and they try to disguise themselves with an inconspicuous and innacurate name for where the payment is going. I have never asked for any insurance and I even remember cancelling an insurance policy that I didn't ask for in the first place!

I am calling my bank to reclaim the money first thing in the morning and once I have sorted that out, I am definitely reporting them to trading standards or whoever I discover to be the suitable authority!

Premier_2

mattu88 wrote: »

You're wrong to think that this company are legitimate mate, they are absolute scammers! ...

1. I.m not your mate, I don't even know you :eek:
2. I never made any comment about the legitimacy or otherwise of the company. All I said in relation to the company was:

Premier wrote:

...To be fair, it would be most unlikely that this company obtained your bank account name, number and sort code without someone having provided it to them...

The company probably used the information in good faith...

I believe that to be a fair assessment; how else do you think they would have obtained the details?

In your rush to remember your password to your user account after almost a year of not posting, and over a week since I made that post, you appear to have failed to read and understand my post correctly, or perhaps it was the wee small hours of the morning that you elected to post in that caused your confusion???

cress1

Well same thing had happened to £20.94 taken without consent. Phoned them and they were extremely rude and refused to refund as is for 6 months. Told them would go to my bank and they practically laughed at me.

Well bank has done an indemnity so will get the money back and they'll claim it from TMTI. Surely there must be a way to deselect this when you order a phone. What a scam!