Debit (not Credit) Card 'Guarantee' HELP Please

LELAN

Thu 16 Apr. 2009

I had a solar heating system installed, completed Good Friday 10 th April, Payment by debit card was due on 'PRACTICAL COMPLETION' I saw this as when some warm water flowed from an installation that was suitably well installed.

Sadly the system leaked o/night Sun/Mon, destroying 2 ceilings and the kitchen floor etc.

Big problem Monday getting anything done, largely sorted myself. The inlet ballvalve had jammed open on the header tank, and BECAUSE the overflow for the header tank had been fitted ABOVE that tank connection for the Ballvalve union the water was coming out and descending to us.

Tue. 14th April their service engineer came and did his best to sort the fault., by transposing pipes. But some work still needs to be done to tidy up the installation.

On Tue 14th The company also debited the completion amount from my account (I had agreed to that in orig. contract) --- to be done on "PRACTICAL COMPLETION'' of the work.

I consider that Prac. Comp. has not yet happened for following reasons:

1) The standard/quality of the repair is questionable. I sort of see it as 'temporary'

2) A 2 Solar Panel roof mounting frame was used for what was in fact the 3 x Solar panel installation.

3) The outside pipework on the roof is 'untidy' and needs sorting out.

From above does it seem that I have any right under the

(Direct Debit Guarantee) -- -- MISTAKE, -- Thanks exel 1966 --

EDIT: --- VISA DEBIT CARD G/Tee ( issuer -- MBNA -- Alliance & Leicester bank) to call for the payment to be cancelled/returned whilst we negotiate some solutions?
LELAN
Has anybody dealt with SUNMASTER SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS Limited of Braintree or their associated installation company SOLAR POWER UK also Braintree? Experiences?

JohalaReewi

The direct debit guarantee is for 'direct debits'. It is not for amounts charged to a debit card.

LELAN

JohalaReewi wrote: »

The direct debit guarantee is for 'direct debits'. It is not for amounts charged to a debit card.

Ta,

BUT there is certainly a GUARANTEE for payments by DEBIT CARD, similar to CREDIT Card guarantee, regarding when used for payment for faulty etc. goods.

I believe the major difference is that it 'kicks in' for payments ABOVE £100 wheras the Credit Card one starts for any amount. Not on about direct debit g/tee here :rolleyes:

exel1966

LELAN wrote: »

Thu 16 Apr. 2009

I had a solar heating system installed, completed Good Friday 10 th April, Payment by debit card was due on 'PRACTICAL COMPLETION' I saw this as when some warm water flowed from an installation that was suitably well installed.

Sadly the system leaked o/night Sun/Mon, destroying 2 ceilings and the kitchen floor etc.

Big problem Monday getting anything done, largely sorted myself. The inlet ballvalve had jammed open on the header tank, and BECAUSE the overflow for the header tank had been fitted ABOVE that tank connection for the Ballvalve union the water was coming out and descending to us.

Tue. 14th April their service engineer came and did his best to sort the fault., by transposing pipes. But some work still needs to be done to tidy up the installation.

On Tue 14th The company also debited the completion amount from my account (I had agreed to that in orig. contract) --- to be done on "PRACTICAL COMPLETION'' of the work.

I consider that Prac. Comp. has not yet happened for following reasons:

1) The standard/quality of the repair is questionable. I sort of see it as 'temporary'

2) A 2 Solar Panel roof mounting frame was used for what was in fact the 3 x Solar panel installation.

3) The outside pipework on the roof is 'untidy' and needs sorting out.

From above does it seem that I have any right under the Direct Debit Guarantee (MBNA -- Alliance & Leicester) to call for the payment to be cancelled/returned whilst we negotiate some solutions?
LELAN
Has anybody dealt with SUNMASTER SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS Limited of Braintree or their associated installation company SOLAR POWER UK also Braintree? Experiences?

The scheme you are referring to is the VISA Debit Card Chargeback Scheme. It applies to VISA only and not mastercard debit cards.
You have 120 days from the date of transaction in which to make a claim.
It does NOT come under consumer law, unlike the credit card scheme. It is a self managed scheme run by VISA and they are under no obligation to refund. It's solely at their discretion.
Your bank MAY be able to get a refund from the other parties bank.
Based upon the info you provided, personally I'd be surprised if they accept your request.

I believe the major difference is that it 'kicks in' for payments ABOVE £100 wheras the Credit Card on starts for any amount. Not on about direct debit g/tee here :rolleyes:

The credit card scheme kicks in at £100, not the Debit Card sheme.

And just to point out to you, the reason you got the reply above referring to the Direct Debit Guarantee is because you asked for it (see highlighted above), so perhaps less sarcasm may have got you more answers.

LELAN

exel1966 wrote: »

The scheme you are referring to is the VISA Debit Card Chargeback Scheme. It applies to VISA only and not mastercard debit cards.
You have 120 days from the date of transaction in which to make a claim.
It does NOT come under consumer law, unlike the credit card scheme. It is a self managed scheme run by VISA and they are under no obligation to refund. It's solely at their discretion.
Your bank MAY be able to get a refund from the other parties bank.
Based upon the info you provided, personally I'd be surprised if they accept your request.



The credit card scheme kicks in at £100, not the Debit Card sheme.

And just to point out to you, the reason you got the reply above referring to the Direct Debit Guarantee is because you asked for it (see highlighted above), so perhaps less sarcasm may have got you more answers.

Fri. 17th Apr. 2009
Thanks for putting me right, in my defence I am rather wound up about having a third of my property ruined by a faulty installation by the Solar company.
They have not been particularly responsive to me and I was acting under pressure to try to quickly put the payment back under my control until the point when the installation is completed to a good standard. This has not yet happened.

I thought that doing an (admittedly agreed on contract for 'practical completion') Visa Debit from my account before, the work was practically completed was fundamentally wrong.
Indeed the payment was more or less taken from my account even as some remedial work by the Service Manager on the plumbing to prevent a further flooding problem was ongoing.

I had been led to beleive that paying by a Visa Debit Card got pretty much the same protection as paying by credit card, but only if for more than £100.
From your information it seems that this was totally incorrect, and it seems that the lesson I must learn is that for this type of transaction Credit cards seem to give a much higher level of protection to the victim.

LELAN

exel1966 wrote: »

The scheme you are referring to is the VISA Debit Card Chargeback Scheme. It applies to VISA only and not mastercard debit cards.
You have 120 days from the date of transaction in which to make a claim.
It does NOT come under consumer law, unlike the credit card scheme. It is a self managed scheme run by VISA and they are under no obligation to refund. It's solely at their discretion.
Your bank MAY be able to get a refund from the other parties bank.
Based upon the info you provided, personally I'd be surprised if they accept your request.



The credit card scheme kicks in at £100, not the Debit Card sheme.

And just to point out to you, the reason you got the reply above referring to the Direct Debit Guarantee is because you asked for it (see highlighted above), so perhaps less sarcasm may have got you more answers.

:T
Rather interestingly today (56 days on from supposed completion of the installation :easter:) the Bank is taking the money back from the Merchants Bank Account!
-- Persistence has paid off.
The Merchant SunMaster Solar Energy Systems Limited and their installers Solarpoweruk -- both of Braintree Essex will now have their minds better concentrated to sort out the installation properly.
I guess their other option would be to sue me for the balance due 5 days after 'practical completion' ---