Direct debit guarantee - shoe's on the other foot

rach_squee

So, I set up a direct debit with my bank, which is showing on my account as active, all fine & dandy, until I realise today that the company I have set the direct debit to be paid to has been taking payment from somewhere other than my account.

I only found this out because the bank that had been *kindly* paying for services on my behalf closed the direct debit (which is still active as far as my bank is concerned). It only happened for a couple of months, but it would be good to know if I'm going to be persued for the amount that came out of the wrong person's account, and if I am, how do I tell the company that set up the DD wrongly in the first place that as it was their error, they should have a word with themselves before giving me a hard time? Proper Consumer Protection wordage would be grand

pmduk

The other party should have the funds returned under the direct debit guarantee. This leaves you owing the money that you should have been paying. Hopefully you've saved it for this occasion when you noticed that the co wasn't taking it from you.

Proper Consumer Protection wordage

won't save you from paying amounts you were under an obligation to pay I'm afraid.

To clarify, you aren't repaying the other party, but any amounts you should have been paying, still remain to be paid.

rach_squee

I had a horrible feeling someone was going to say that. Glad it didn't go on too long before it got picked up.

innovate

rach_squee wrote: »

Glad it didn't go on too long before it got picked up.

If it had gone on for longer, and your debt had grown a lot larger, and you didn't have the money to pay your debt, the only person to blame for not noticing earlier would have been yourself. You made the commitment, you should have expected to see the DD on your account, you should have investigated why it didn't happen.

As you say, you can be glad they reminded you that you owe money.