Direct Debit Rules?

notyet

Please help if you can.
A year ago, we bought a car under a Hire Purchase Agreement and paid by monthly Direct Debit. A couple of months ago, it was cancelled by myself in order to avoid 'Returned DD fee' at my bank.
I called the HP company to advise them payment would be a few days late. They told me it was ok. When i called to make payment by Debit Card 3 days later, they wanted to charge £12. To restart the Direct Debit would cost an additional £25 plus £25 missed DD fee.
I cant see anywhere in their original papers that these charges are applicable. Are they seriously allowed to charge us to pay by DD?

ajones28

A lot of companies will now charge you for not paying by DD, but they have to inform you in writing that this will be the case from the start of your contract. If I was you I would get on the phone to them straight away and enquire where exactly in your contract it states that you will be charged to pay by Debit card and also to reinstate a DD. If they tell you that its in your contract ask where exactly, and if you still cannot see it ask them to send you a copy of what they are reading off. If it is entirely different to your contract then it cannot be enforceable. They may also say they sent letters out to advise this would be the case, again ask them to send you copies of anything that has been sent to you regarding their fees. They are more than likely just trying it on, in the hope that nobody will question it. Don't let them get away with it. These fees cannot be legal, don't let them get away with it.