How long before unused direct debit lapses?

Undervalued

I would be grateful for some advice......

I recently ran into a problem with a direct debit to a credit card company. For various reasons I had not used the CC for about ten months. Previously the full balance had always been paid by a direct debit from my account at LTSB.

A few weeks after using the card I suddenly received a default notice from the CC company! On contacting them they said it was because the direct debit had lapsed. They "graciously" waived the default penalty / fee and set up a new direct debit but refused to refund the interest or remove any "possible negative information from my credit file". I was told they had acted correctly and any possible argument was with my bank.

I contacted the bank to ask if an DD would lapse after a period of inactivity and, if so, after how long?

I got three different answers in the space of ten mins!

Never lapses unless cancelled.

Lapses after 13 months.

Lapses after six months.

If the third answer is right then I suppose the CC company are correct (although unreasonable in my view).

In either of the other two cases the bank are at fault.

Does anybody know the true position and how best to proceed?

Thanks

HappyMJ

It's usually 13 months otherwise annual direct debits would always fail.

Whether that's the true position I don't know...that's just my experience.

dalesrider

13 months is the rule of thumb.

One way to get the true answer from your bank is to raise a complaint as to why the DD was not honored.

innovate

It varies from bank/BS to bank/BS.

Undervalued

innovate wrote: »

It varies from bank/BS to bank/BS.

As I mentioned, in this case it is Lloyds TSB

innovate

Undervalued wrote: »

As I mentioned, in this case it is Lloyds TSB

Have you asked them what their policy is?

Undervalued

innovate wrote: »

Have you asked them what their policy is?

Yes and got three different answers from two different people!

Perhaps my original post is not clear but it is all in there!

jonesMUFCforever

Why would you ring back and ask the same question twice?

Undervalued

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Why would you ring back and ask the same question twice?

Oh for heaven's sake!

Try reading the original post. I phoned once but spoke to two different people.

I questioned the original response as the person was clearly unsure. They checked with a supervisor and came back with a different answer. I then asked to speak directly to the supervisor who appeared to change their mind coming up with the third answer.

I've been promised a written response in 5 to 7 days but would like to know the REAL answer first!

jonesMUFCforever

Calm down.
It is universally known that a direct debit can lapse after 13 months but only if the originator de-registers it.
Have a good evening.

Undervalued

jonesMUFCforever wrote: »

Calm down.
It is universally known that a direct debit can lapse after 13 months but only if the originator de-registers it.
Have a good evening.

Well clearly not by LTSB's call centre!

If by the originator you mean me then I certainly didn't "de-register" it or do anything else come to that.

13 months had not elapsed so either (if you are correct) the bank lapsed it too early or the credit card company are lying and failed to correcty claim the money.

I'm simply trying to find out, exactly, what the position is and who, if anybody, is at fault.