Post Office Credit Card Direct Debit

keithdc

Hi all,

Just a query....
I have a Post Office Credit Card which is paid off in full by a direct debit from First Direct.

I haven't used the card for some time (since April 2011), but used it in May 2012. Received a bill which I ignored as I have a direct debit set up so just assumed that it would come straight out.

Just had a bill from Post Office charging me a £12 late payment fee plus interest as the direct debit hadn't come out. I checked on First Direct and the direct debit is no longer listed.

It is all sorted as Post Office have argreed to waive the £12, but I was hoping someone could offer some insight in to what happened.

Post Office say.... the direct debit is still on their system and that they would never cancel a direct debit or instruct the bank to do so, but say that sometimes banks will automatically cancel a direct debit if it hasn't been used for 6/12 months.

First Direct say... when a direct debit is set-up the other company may set a dormancy period to prevent fraud etc. Hence, the 12 month dormancy which prompted the direct debit cancellation is based on an instruction from the Post Office.

I'm stuck in the middle, but who is right???

Gromitt

From a customer services point of view, I'd say First Direct.

PO probably don't even know the details of the DD they setup.

I had exactly the same thing happen with a Nationwide CC that wasn't used for about 6 months.