Outrageous direct debit

Bagshot_2

I switched dual fuel supplier in November 2008. I forgot all about it. A year later I notice that my old supplier is still taking a monthly direct debit on the gas account. I phone them and ask them to stop it and for a refund. I should have had a "full and immediate" refund according to the direct debit guarantee. It took them a month. I thought it was all over. Now I find that they are still charging me by direct debit every month. I phoned to complain and they kept me on for 45 minutes. Now they say they want me to send them bank statements!!!

If they tried to take a DD and it failed, what would they charge me - because that's what I think I should be charging them.

dannyjebb

do you still get any services from this company? If not then cancel the Direct Debit? thats what I had to do when my car insurance ran out last year, they charged me an extra month even though I cancelled the insurance over the phone and then I had to ring them for a refund! If you dont have the funds in your account and they try to take a direct debit then your bank will most likely charge you a fee!

markharding557

You should cancel any dd with any company whose services you have dispensed with.

JasX

And check your bank account more regularly, it took you a YEAR to notice?!?!?

Is anyone else taking money from you?

ERICS_MUM

As soon as you cancel a service and it's DD with a company, you must also cancel the DD with your bank - confirm it in writing. That way if the company claims the DD next month your bank should reject it.

They should not need your statements as their records should show that your account with them has built up a large credit balance. If this is not the case, the money is probably sitting on an "Unapplied Money" account and they should be able to trace your money that way.

Personally (but I have a touch of OCD), I would send them a spread sheet showing dates/amounts/references of their debits and copies of the documents covering the change to the other supplier. Do it all in writing. Get the name of the person dealing with it and call them regularly for an "update". You might need to make a nuisance of yourself I'm afraid.

Why not get on-line banking set up so you can regularly check for unexpected entries. My Nat West on-line banking lets me see all the direct debits and standing orders set up on my account, and I can cancel them myself.

Good luck

Linda

PS I assume you have now instructed your bank to cancel the DD?

Premier_2

There shouldn't be any need to cancel a DD mandate with the bank if the supplier operates the DD system correctly.

The final collection uses a different transaction code (code 19 iirc) which will automatically kill the DD mandate (but allows a further collection attempt in specific circumstances).

It is however wise to check that the mandate is no longer live after the supplier has collected the final payment.

To the OP - who did you ask that meant it took a month to recover the DD collection? It should re recovered from the bank ... and they should do it immediately. You should not be making the claim direct to the supplier.
However, the fact you took about a year after the DD was collected before disputing it may have caused some difficulty!

It you had cancelled the DD mandate, the supplier cannot charge you (at least via the DD system). The DD system is only a method of payment; the collection of a payment does not imply it is owed and similarly the prevention does not imply it is not owed. All the usual rules apply regarding any alleged debt.