Unapproved Direct Debit Set up‏

apedanger

Recently BT set up a direct debit in my name. I gave them my details but declined on setting up a direct debit when I realised what the details were taken for.

I recieved the quarterly bill which requested payment be made by cash and was shocked when BT tried to take the funds from my bank account.

I did not recieve a mandate to sign and feel that this should be compulsary. I have learnt through AUDISS it is possible to set one up without a signature, i do not agree with this but ho hum I did not request or give authorisation for this.

I have had a refund from BT but what they have done is illegal. Where do I stand with this issue. Any help would be greatful, thanks/

sporedude

What do you want from them apart from a refund?

apedanger

I am wondering if I can pursue the issue further, say who I could speak to?

What BT have done is illegal and I have read on the internet through seeking a resolution that this situation has occured to others as well. By making it more of an issue it could result in tougher restriction being made by themselves to stop similar incidents.

It caused me a good six hours of phone calls and letters to bring to a resolution including borrowing money from friends to solve a problem caused not on my part but by BT's incompetancy.

McKneff

why did you think they asked for your details and what made you give them the detials

apedanger

They asked for them. When I enquired as to why they said it was for direct debit, I told them I did not want direct debit and they said ok.

I later called them up to confirm that no direct debit was set up as I was concerned over the operator I had been speaking to before.

We recieved our bill as usual a month later and it stated payment to be made by cash although when the time came around they had already tried to take payment from my account.

Buzby

They asked - and you provided the information. There is no issue. In this e-commerce age, no signature is required and the only way to cancel a Direct Debit is to cancel it with your bank, and even then the supplier still can re-activate it within 28 days - so it is a good idea to check.

By giving your bank details, I have to ask - what did you think they were going to do with the information? Any 'reasonable' person would assume that it would be to obtain payment. So a complaint about them taking the money would be dismissed.

I agree that DDs should require a verifyiable signature and the actual transmission of this to your bank as proof of your intentions, but this is long gone, and part of the e-commerce waiver to help firms. This is why you so rarely need to sign anything, even a mobile phone contract. You payment is taken as confirmation a contract exists.

It is sloppy and open to abuse - but BT are not the only culprits, so if you don;t want it to happen again, DON'T give out the details!

JohalaReewi

Although, BT should have told the OP in advance (at least 10 days) how much they were going to take by DD and on what date. If they didn't, they are in breach of the DD Guarantee and the OP could have requested a full and immediate refund from their bank.

Anyway, as has been said, keep an eye on DDs set up on your bank account and cancel any you don't recognise.