Un authorised debit card transactions!?

Julia25

Right, my partner had an insurance police with Swinton, and it was cancelled, unbeknown to us there was an amount O/S on the policy, it has been about 4 months since the policy was cancelled, and I was doing my car insurance, I went with Diva who are underwritten by Swinton, I paid my 1st payment on my card, then the rest will be DD, I have gone on my bank this morning and Swinton have taken £120 as a debit card transaction, I have called them, and this is the value that was O/S on my oh's policy. Now I was completely unaware that this was owing, and have never auth a payment, but they reckon as part of my credit agreement, they are allowed to take this from my debit card with out informing me, even though its not in my name, my oh and I are not married, so don't even share a surname, surely this is not allowed?
I know the money is o/s and it needs to be paid, but this should be done with auth of the person paying it surely?! And not by someone with a completly different name?
Can anyone offer any advice, where do I stand with this?
Oh I only set the policy up a short while ago, so am yet to sent the credit agreement back!
Thanks for any advice anyone can offer me. xxx

jomilne

Before you do anything else I would check your credit agreement. If there is nothing in there about them being allowed to do this, get on the phone to them and tell them you will be seeking advice on their behaviour.
Go to Citizens Advice, or the Consumer Rights people, they should be able to help.