Anyone know about Direct Debits?

Puzzled?

Hi
New poster so please be nice!
I just wondered if anyone knew my rights regarding a direct debit. I had one for Johnson's dry cleaners membership that i only used once (when I took it out) but money was taken twice more(annually) without any warning or me being asked if I wished to renew it.
I just cancelled it and asked for a copy of the original DD agreement to check they could do this. I was told they now only have an electronic copy and if I think it was set up incorrectly I should contact my bank.
Anyone know if they can take money without notification, if they have to send me a copy or any ideas on what I could do next?
thanks

cattie

You need to see a copy of the terms & conditions of the dd. Usually with dd's you authorise the issuing company/organisation to take regular payments from your account. If you want to stop payments, you need to inform them in writing that you wish them to cancel.

In the case of annual membership dd's, these would generally automatically continue each year unless you wrote to cancel & somewhere in the terms & conditions it would mention this.

As the company have mentioned to you, you need to contact your bank if you feel they have infringed the terms of the dd that was set up between you.

Are the company refusing to send you a copy of the original dd agreement? Surely even if they only have what they term an electronic copy they can send you this by email or post?

mountainofdebt

As far as a I know the DD agreement wouldn't have details of what you agreed to, it's more likely that you will need a copy of the membership agreement.