Urgent, please help!

diaboliquesaint

Hi all,
Today we were charged £80 by Lloyds TSB. It seems sky tried to take their payment 4 times last month and I didn't realise and then paid by debit card.
I had no idea this was going to happen and haven't had a statement or letter for a while. The problem is my partner transferred money earlier so I could do some shopping to last until friday (when I get my money) so that has just been wiped out. We have a young child and absolutely no money. Lloyds say there is nothing they can do until we at least bring the account back up to date (it has made us overdrawn). I am unfortunately on ESA at the moment and overcoming agrophobia and a panic disorder...all is going ok but this is not the best thing to be happening right now.
Is there anything at all we can do or somebody we can go and see? I didn't even know we could get charged as I only have a 'cash account'.
Thank you!

sadiejp

the same has just happened to me i took out a pay day loan yesterday of 140.00 pound to see me thru for a while and today have had unpaid dd charges of 120.00 leaving me just 20.00 totally devastated, i have 2 children at home and no idea what to do now

esmerellda

Have you spoken to Sky ?

Do you have a monthly DD set up on the account ?
Was this taken outside of the normal time ?
Did they represent it because it bounced from the arranged date ?

esmerellda

Sadie - are you on benefits ? If so contact the DWP (call your local job centre) for a budgeting loan from social fund to get you through while you sort this (repay the payday loan as well with it) - and don't take out any more payday loans.

Were your charges also due to Sky or other DD's ?

If you are struggling and DD's are eating away your money through charges then see if you can pay by alternative means (over PO counter etc) - you can now, or at paypoint, for most things.

Once we know a bit more about your situation we can contact the bank about treating you unfairly and point them to the hardship guidelines of the FSA and ask for a refund of those charges.

diaboliquesaint

To be honest it was my fault that the DD failed. I am new with sky and got the date wrong so they tried to take the money again 3 more times before I realised and paid them by debit card. I have now cancelled the DD just in case but still in a difficult situation with money and don't know what to do. Feeling a bit stuck! I am going to call them again but not sure what to say exactly? Would going to the CAB help at all?

esmerellda

Glad you cancelled the DD now.

I'm not sure what the deal is with representing Direct Debits. Seems unfair they represented 4 times in a short space of time.

Those cash accounts are a pain in the bum, you only get quarterly statements (which they forget to tell you when you open the account) and you can only check balances at lloyds ATMs not Link ones.

Speak to the bank if you can, tell them your circumstances, and that you feel its unfair you have incurred 4 lots of charges without any notification that the DD was bouncing. That you have cancelled the DD now so it doesnt happen again and as its the first time you have been charged please could they consider dropping the extra 3 charges.

If ur talking to Sky ask them why they represented so many times without contacting you. I'd talk to Lloyds first, then if they say no, and Sky say they shouldnt have tried so many times possibly ask them for the charges ?

If they say no still, maybe we can have a look at asking them more formally on hardship grounds.

Premier_2

diaboliquesaint wrote: »

To be honest it was my fault that the DD failed. I am new with sky and got the date wrong so they tried to take the money again 3 more times before I realised and paid them by debit card. I have now cancelled the DD just in case but still in a difficult situation with money and don't know what to do. Feeling a bit stuck! I am going to call them again but not sure what to say exactly? Would going to the CAB help at all?

Sky should not have done this.

Where a DD collection fails, the Originator should not attempt to recollect that sum again via DD unless they have good reason to believe it will be honoured.
So perhaps they may have good reason to attempt a first re-collection, but a second and third?

Furthermore, the Originator should have given you 5 working days notice of the new collection date(s)

Go to your bank and ask to make a indemnity claim against the Originator for their failure to abide by the rules of the Direct Debit Scheme. Your bank is required to action this on your behalf, but is only required to reimburse you one they themselves have received such money from the Originator (Sky).
The indemnity claim will be for your consequential losses i.e. bank charges.

In view of your agrophobia, you'll be pleased to learn that all this should be possible on the phone to LloydsTSB if the consequential losses are purely the bank charges (since the bank will know what these are and be able to prove to the Originator they exist)

chipbeck

Perhaps I've been to harsh. Nice one Premier.:beer:

sadiejp

Hi, i am only receiving working tax credits and child tax credits i received no notification that this charge was going to come from my account, i am in a desperate situation as i need to raise 900.00 by 14-01-09 as this is when i shall be evicted unless all arrears are paid so have been applying for lots of little pay day loans silly i know but have no other options so really need this 120.00 at present