Alliance & Lecister Debt Card Payment Without Authority

ROM29

Yeah it's for you to arrange with the retailer not to take the money. You could report the card as being lost/stolen, this doesn't guarantee they can't take the money in every circumstance but 99% of the time will stop them from taking further money.

I don't wish to sound rude but are you sure this is the full story, because it just doesn't seem to add up if you've paid and they've cashed the cheque then it should be job done.

grlayouts

Thats the full story there a complete 2 bit company and i get no where every time i call them except hung up on... bank say even if i get another card the moneyshop can contact visa and get my new details? this is so unbelieable that they can take as much as they like and the bank can't do a thing? so they could take £10000 over the next year just because they can?

ROM29

Short answer is yes. If it continues you'll have to seek legal advice.

grlayouts

Okay, Thanks anyway.. Kinda sucks that I'll have to wait till they take £3000 before it's worth legal action. But thanks for the advice.

jambosans

grlayouts wrote: »

... bank say even if i get another card the moneyshop can contact visa and get my new details?

As far as I'm aware they simply put the transaction through on the original card, if it is a "Continuous Payment Authority" (which I assume it is) canceling your card does not always stop the payment. For more details click the link below:-

BBC Money Box Article from 2002

The article talks mainly about credit cards, but the same type of payment can be processed on a debit card.

Unfortunately, all you can do is raise a dispute with A&L. It would appear you have done this seeing A&L re-debited £175 they initially credited. Which would lead me to believe The Money Shop think you owe them money.

Like ROM29 has said, I think legal action may be the next step. To be honest it seems bizarre that if you are able to prove you paid them, they would continue to take money. Also, why did you pay by cheque? Surely the easiest thing would have been to get The Money Shop to debit the entire amount from your account in one go?

Ann007

Moneyshop today took £75 from my account using an old debit card number that contained my account number and sort code. I have not given them permission or authorisation to take anything from this personal account. I have outstanding cheques till payday from another Bank placed with them.
I recently underwent major sight saving surgery and advised Moneyshop Head Office faxed proof of hospital documentation and proposals to make affordable payments whilst receiving ssp.
They responded by taking monies from this account leaving it overdrawn and accruing charges. The Bank maintain I gave them permission. I have contacted this company by email and they refuse to respond. I have nothing to live on. I have critical medication drops required for my eyesight, which I have had to beg from the eye consultant. I have no food or anyway in which to borrow to replace the funds they have stolen. The account is rendered useless. I do not know which way to turn. Is this theft, is it fraud. I have no signed contract allowing them to take monies from this account. They have retained card details used months ago without permission and my Bank HSBC informed will investigate further but I have no family to rely no telephone or money. I am writing this before the internet is cut off and I will be totally excluded from gaining help. What has happened in your case?

onlypaddy

In future, to both these posters - never ever give permission for a continuous payment authority. Always use Direct Debit or Standing Order - preferably the latter.

With Direct Debit you are covered by the Direct Debit guarantee and while the company in question still has control over the amounts taken and when they are taken, you still have that security.

Standing orders are completely under your own control - the amount, when it is sent and how often.

Continuous payments from cards however give you no security at all. Neither the banks or you have any right to stop them and control is completely in the scope of the company. In theory they can take as much as they like, whenever they like so if you get a bad company (which it sounds like the Moneyshop is) you're basically bu*gered.

The only course of action is to hammer away at the Moneyshop to refund you if they have taken too much, or if there is no signed agreement stating that you owe them the amounts taken.

If they don't refund and keep taking money, the only thing you can do is take them to court.

onlypaddy

This article on the main site explains it much better than I do

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/recurring-payments

And a forum discussion

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1829665