Direct Debit advice

InDeepDebt

Hi all, not sure if this is the correct place to post this or not but, here goes.

I have my phone line and broadband through a certain provider – won’t name and shame them but their name rhymes with “Walk Walk”.

Anyhow, when I took out the contract many years ago, my direct debit used to go out on the 29th of the month or there abouts. Gradually the DD has moved forward and was then going out on the 25th of the month most months.

Last year, a direct debit was rejected for Talk Talk from my bank as I had insufficient funds. The direct debit was moved to the 18th of the month – it had moved a few months earlier but this was the first time that my bank had got fed up and actually not paid it. I got a £7.99 charge levied by Talk Talk. Oh, it will bounce this Thursday too but I can’t do anything about it – totally skint!

My question is, I am fairly sure that a company can’t move a direct debit without advising you but – who do I go to to complain if Talk Talk won’t take my complaint seriously. I rang Talk Talk today with my stern voice but it fell on deaf or stupid ears.

Thanks in advance

Jim

bengal-stripe

InDeepDebt wrote: »

My question is, I am fairly sure that a company can’t move a direct debit without advising you......

I presume the amounts due will vary, so you will get a monthly invoice, either by mail or on-line. The invoice will state the date the DD will be taken “on or after xxx date”.


As long as they give you two weeks notice, it is all correct. Over the years the date the invoice gets compiled might have equally shifted.

dzug1

AFAIK the company issue you with a monthly invoice which tells you the date the DD will be taken on. In my case they don't actually send me the invoice but send me an e-mail inviting me to log on and view and/or download it.

So it's likely you HAVE been informed of the varying dates.

masonic

In my case they produce a monthly bill (currently around the 8th of the month) that states the collection date (normally 10 days later). They also send out an email to inform me about the new bill. Nothing is wrong with TalkTalk's billing practices as far as that is concerned. Perhaps they are not taking your complaint seriously because it is unjustified?

If electronic billing is not for you, perhaps you would be better off switching to paper bills so that you don't overlook them. There is a £1.48 per month charge for that, but that is considerably cheaper than the £7.99 they charge for a bounced direct debit (not to mention the bank charges you'll likely receive).

System

This is old news.

TalkTalk send an email reminder well before the payment is due.

When TalkTalk decided to change the payment date, they added a notice to the email messages two months in advance of the change of date so that customers had plenty of notice before the change.
Unfortunately, many people did not read their email messages so were caught with insufficient funds. That is the fault of the customer because they have a contract with TalkTalk which states that they have agreed to this billing and contact method.

TalkTalk

Hi Jim,

as has already been said, you will have been notified on your bills prior to the change. As has also been said most people on read one part of the bill which is the amount to be paid, but the information was there.

Ady

pqrdef

So TalkTalk are well aware that customers don't read their bills - why would they - they don't bother to send out a special email to alert people, they just collect lots of £7.99 penalties. Good business.

System

pqrdef wrote: »

So TalkTalk are well aware that customers don't read their bills - why would they - they don't bother to send out a special email to alert people, they just collect lots of £7.99 penalties. Good business.

If you have variable amount bills each month, and your funds in your bank account are low, that is a very good reason to read the bill, anyone who doesn't keep an eye on their own finances is just plain lazy.

I always read the email that TalkTalk send to me, and then I read the bill online every month, it's simple common sense. (And my bank account is not even low on funds )

pqrdef

BAA1 wrote: »

If you have variable amount bills each month, and your funds in your bank account are low, that is a very good reason to read the bill, anyone who doesn't keep an eye on their own finances is just plain lazy.

So TalkTalk think, a lot of our customers are just plain lazy and don't manage their money too carefully, let's exploit them.

pmduk

pqrdef wrote: »

So TalkTalk think, a lot of our customers are just plain lazy and don't manage their money too carefully, let's exploit them.

If TalkTalk customers are too lazy to check their bills, (your words not mine, I don't believe most are) why shouldn't TalkTalk pass on their extra costs to those customers? It's better than including those costs in the charges for the sensible customers who take care over their bills.

dzug1

pqrdef wrote: »

So TalkTalk are well aware that customers don't read their bills - why would they - they don't bother to send out a special email to alert people, they just collect lots of £7.99 penalties. Good business.

Do you really think that those who don't read their bills would read such an e-mail either?