Direct Debit Cancelled but British Gas Still Taking Payments.

Joyful

What you have been advised is correct.

CKhalvashi

Ann, I think 5 of us have told you this now, over 2 threads.

If BG say that they've removed your details, I will assume they have until it is proven otherwise.

British Gas employ more than 6,000 people, and probably subcontract 5,000 more through G4S (meter reading) and other agencies. Many of the employees, and just about all the employees from the company have been brilliant in sorting an issue with me, and for as long as I run some voluntary debt advice, I'm sure this will be the same.

Assuming they have 10,000 employees/contractors, your problem so far has been with 0.01% of the company. That's hardly a huge number, and I'm sure in my company, where I make 0.4% of the staff, I have alienated more people than that. British Gas, on the whole, are one of the easiest companies I've had to deal with.

I've already given you the advice of keeping a close eye on the account every few days, for the next 2-3 months. I check my internet banking 2-3 times a week, so it's not something difficult to do, neither would the majority of people be going out their way by following this advice.

Any losses you may incur are reclaimable under the direct debit guarantee scheme. Call your bank, and ask them to do this, as it's not for your account.

If British Gas (and they won't), do still have a DD set up, ping off a letter before action. This should stop after this.

And if you need to call, please treat the staff with respect.

CK

System

Well if British Gas say they have deleted my bank details from their system I suppose I have to believe them.

Though I agree with Wyth that my bank should be doing more to protect my account. As I have told both British Gas and my bank that I don't want any more direct debits from British Gas. So there should not be any more payments coming out of my account.

One of my friends suggested if I am that worried about it, that I should just close that current account. Then move all my direct debits to my other current account as British Gas don't know about that.

But that does mean telling all my other companies I pay my bills to that I have changed my bank details. Also I will then only have one current account not two. And note that if I want a new debit card/current account I will have to have another credit check .

So yes closing my account is a hassle but I just want to stop British Gas taking my money. And I don't want to have to keep looking over my shoulder worrying if British Gas are going to do it again.

System

UPDATE.

Well yesterday I went to the bank,my local branch. I tied to tell the woman on reception deck what happened.That British Gas had set up a direct debit using my bank account details for another customer, she did not want to know. Said they were too busy to site down and talk to me and gave me an appointment for next week.

And when I tried to talk to an other member of staff at my bank,she said don't tell me it's nothing to do with us,talk to British Gas.

So of course I got upset and started screaming at them. Well look British Gas set up a direct debit for someone else using my bank details was bad enough but my local branch did not even want to listen to me.

And it was the banks 24 hour head off ice that sorted it out because my local branch does not do anything with an appointment.

Also what made it worse was that one customer service adviser on the from my bank,was not even listening when I was telling her what happened to me with British Gas.

Which is not right as it's my money British gas keep taking without my consent,and than bank just say talk to British Gas. Which I have done and told them hundreds of time now-no more direct debits. And British Gas say one thing and do another. So I don't even know if they are telling the truth or not. It sucks.

Joyful

What happened re your post yesterday? Accept it is finished and move on. One person made a mistake and it has been rectified. The bank will have nothing to do with this at all unless you have any charges in which case forward them to British Gas.

victor2

Chill out!
Of course, we're only getting your side of the story, but even from that you seem to now have developed a hatred of BG and your bank. Both of whom have sorted your problems out thus far. People have offered helpful advice here.
If you want to totally eliminate the possibility of it repeating, switch suppler AND bank. I'd put money on you having a rant about some other episode relating to that exercise though.
BG probably will give you a small goodwill gesture. Case closed, get on with your life.

System

Well this is not the first time I have had problems with British Gas.
2 years ago they tried to bill me for a previous address that I was no longer living at. And they have done this to lots of people not just me.
See thread here-https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/2983648

I should have taken that members advice on that thread and left British Gas then,2 years ago. First that, which I have never gotten over, now this. I mean British Gas told me they set up a direct debit for another customer using my bank details by mistake. I have never heard of anything so ridiculous in all my life.

This problem has caused me a lot of distress. As I am worried that my bank account could have been compromised. As how do I know that the other British gas customer has not got my bank account details because of British Gas's mistake? It's a worry.

The problem is some of the people I talked to at the bank don't seem to care very much.

victor2

BG say they have deleted your account details, so it should not be possible for another DD against a different BG account to be set up at your cost. Much as you believe BG to be a bunch of lying [insert your own expletive here], you'll have to take their word for that unless events prove otherwise.
As for others getting your account details, there's very little they can do with that information.
Just check your bank statements/transactions periodically, like any normal person should, and don't worry about it.

System

I have direct debits with most of my other bills and utilities and I have never had any trouble like this other companies,it's only happened with British Gas.

Yes the bank have done their bit,they have refunded all the payments, that should not have been taken by British Gas back to me,via my bank account.

The situation is that the bank told me if British Gas take any more payments without my consent. All they can do is refund the money and cancel any direct debits from British Gas.

But they cannot stop them setting up new direct debits and taking the payments because British Gas have got my bank details. So all the bank can do is give me the money back.

What the bank said is right. Yet I gave British Gas my bank details with the understanding,they were setting up a direct debit for by duel fuel. It's not the banks fault or mine, that British Gas have been stupid and set up, or mixed up my data with another customer by mistake.

So what the bank are saying is the mistake is with the company who set up the direct debit. In this case British Gas and it's for them to put right their mistake.

Any other company would have done that and if I had been with most other energy supplies,this would not have happened. But from everything that has happened. And from the many other horror stories I have read from other British Gas customers.

It seems that British Gas simply don't know what they are doing. As the mistakes their customer services make are amateur and large in number. And have caused problems for many people, not just me.
So the thing for me to do is get away from British Gas.

And yes I will keep a watch on my account and if it happens again,next time I should seek advice from the CAB. As it should not happen again.

The safest thing for me to do is to close that current account down.Then at least I will have peace of mind that no unauthorized persons can access my money.

But the problem is if I close the account,I won't have another debit card anymore. Unless I apply for a new current account. Which means I would have to have another credit check. And if I fail the credit check,I will be declined another current account.As there's always that risk.

Also if I just close my account on Monday,there may be other direct debits due going though. And I could get charged by my bank for being overdrawn,as the payments will fail.

So before I close that account, I have to see if I can get another debit card. And also give notice to the other utilities I pay my bills to first.

Joyful

You seem to be over reacting in wanting to close your bank accounts. As has been said already it has been dealt with so will not be a problem again, Also as no one ever has their bank details given out NO ONE will get your info. If you have also been advised that your account details have been deleted then please accept this.

Many companies ( Energy or otherwise) that have many staff will have the occasional mistake. Your problem has been rectified and steps taken to ensure that it does not happen again. You should put this to rest now and get on with your life.

If you are still feeling stressed with this perhaps you should arrange to see your doctor.