Direct Debit - taking money too early

Colley22c

i have a direct debit set up for the 10th (payday) and a firm took the money on the 9th ( requested it on the 7th) didnt have the money so dropped me right in it. Surely thats not right then they sent a letter apologising saying it will never happen again. does anyone know have they broken the law or agreement, am i entitled to compensation?

olly300

If your bank charges you then ask in writing for the company to pay your bank charges, and give them the exact amount the bank has charged you.

You have not said what sort of firm it is but if is one with a regulator, tell the company that you will make a formal complaint to the regulator if they don't.

rb10

It's always safest to set up DDs for a few days after payday, just in case there's a problem like this one, or that your pay is delayed one month.

Or have an adequate overdraft facility in place.

AP

It's npower. They did it exactly to me as well - took the money on the 9th when it's supposed to be the 10th though I had enough money in my account to cover that. I did not incur any bank charges but I reckoned I had lost the grand sum of £0.002 in credit interest - just not worth pursuing!

Colley22c

yeah it was n-power i didnt incure no charges either coz i borrowed some money and paid it in but it was just the inconvenience of it and i thought they charge you if your late so i was hoping i could get a few quid of them. I knew it was a long shot!!

RayWolfe

Colley22c wrote: »

yeah it was n-power i didnt incure no charges .....................so i was hoping i could get a few quid of them.

What have we come to?

98jdougl

Don't all direct debits state that they can be taken 3 days before or after the specified date?

peachyprice

98jdougl wrote: »

Don't all direct debits state that they can be taken 3 days before or after the specified date?

No, DD's have to be taken on the specified date or after, not before. If they have taken it before, without giving you written notice, they have broken the DD guarantee and you are entitled to a reversal for the DD from your bank.


HTH

Extant

Colley22c wrote: »

yeah it was n-power i didnt incure no charges either coz i borrowed some money and paid it in but it was just the inconvenience of it and i thought they charge you if your late so i was hoping i could get a few quid of them. I knew it was a long shot!!

Why do you think this sort of behaviour is acceptable?

Pretty much every direct debit agreement in the land will give a date, but say "on or around." So because you can't budget properly, you expect to be paid for it?

You are owed nothing, and you are a pretty poor citizen if you spend your entire life chancing it on such "long shots."

olly300

Colley22c wrote: »

yeah it was n-power i didnt incure no charges either coz i borrowed some money and paid it in but it was just the inconvenience of it and i thought they charge you if your late so i was hoping i could get a few quid of them. I knew it was a long shot!!

Your don't have any claim.

Come back and make a complaint when you actually have made a loss.

peachyprice

BarclaysManager wrote: »

Why do you think this sort of behaviour is acceptable?

Pretty much every direct debit agreement in the land will give a date, but say "on or around." So because you can't budget properly, you expect to be paid for it?

You are owed nothing, and you are a pretty poor citizen if you spend your entire life chancing it on such "long shots."

Not quite, under the DD guarantee payment must be taken on or within three working days after the specified date, not before, so not quite as vague as 'around'.

Although I agree, can't see what compensation OP expects as abolutley no loss has been incurred.