Three direct debits

Gromitt

dtmark wrote: »

This is why I won't get any notifications. Most people, however, would.

Most people will also be able to send you an email when your statement is ready to view. They will not send you your statement for security reasons however, so you'll still have to login to view it.

dtmark wrote: »

I have managed to change the billing to "paper summary by post" (no charge for that) so I get notifications.

Don't forget though that post isn't guaranteed - if you don't get the summary, you are still responsible for the payment and they may mark your credit report if you don't make it in time.

Hominu

dtmark wrote: »

There is also mention of being able to pay via Online Banking for an extra £4 a month which is still cheaper than our original PAYG so I'll see if I can change it to that as opposed to cancelling it.

I don't see the point. Instead of receiving a bill and making sure you have the appropriate funds in your bank account, you are going to pay an extra £4 a month more and need to ensure that full payment is received by 3 by the due date, taking into account bank working days. So you are effectively paying to cause more work for yourself.

JuicyJesus

Hominu wrote: »

I don't see the point. Instead of receiving a bill and making sure you have the appropriate funds in your bank account, you are going to pay an extra £4 a month more and need to ensure that full payment is received by 3 by the due date, taking into account bank working days. So you are effectively paying to cause more work for yourself.

Someone who is convinced that an email notification of their bill isn't actually a notification of their bill, and who seems to be looking for reasons to be outraged, is not likely to listen to reason.

iAMaLONDONER

JuicyJesus wrote: »

Someone who is convinced that an email notification of their bill isn't actually a notification of their bill, and who seems to be looking for reasons to be outraged, is not likely to listen to reason.

Well I guess it's all about personal responsibility.

So each to their own..*

*providing they don't affect me or others (personally)

pmduk

Why is it so difficult to make a diary note to check the balance due on an account on the same date each month? It's worked for me on my three account for several years.

Hominu

pmduk wrote: »

Why is it so difficult to make a diary note to check the balance due on an account on the same date each month? It's worked for me on my three account for several years.

I think it's more along the lines of "I shouldn't have to, that's more work for me" rather than it being difficult.

Then again, anyone willing to pay £4 more to pay a bill manually when its free otherwise is just crazy.

Buzby

Hominu wrote: »

I think it's more along the lines of Then again, anyone willing to pay £4 more to pay a bill manually when its free otherwise is just crazy.

Ah, that old argument?

If I pay £4 more, I'm safe in the knowledge that NOBODY but me has the ability to take my money unless I explicitly authorise it. No chance of going overdrawn, no having to pay refused debit charges to the bank OR requestor, or having to beg for my own money to be returned when an n correct debit goes through, in fact it's a bargain!

You could die and the funds will still be taken! Sure, the system has been manipulated to make those of lesser will feel it is the most MSE route, it may be for some, but the stories on here of trying to claim back years of unnoticed payments show just how wrong you are!

Gromitt

Buzby wrote: »

If I pay £4 more, I'm safe in the knowledge that NOBODY but me has the ability to take my money unless I explicitly authorise it.

They still can, you don't authorise transactions, you just complain when transactions appear that you didn't authorise.

Buzby wrote: »

No chance of going overdrawn

If you can't afford the bill, then you'll just get charges from the company for non-payment rather than the bank for going into your overdraft.

Buzby wrote: »

having to beg for my own money to be returned when an n correct debit goes through

That can still happen. Anyone with your account details can place a debit against your account.

Buzby wrote: »

You could die and the funds will still be taken!

Sure, but when the bank gets the death certificate they'll either write off the debt and become a creditor to the estate, likewise the company would do the same if you just paid them instead.

Buzby wrote: »

but the stories on here of trying to claim back years of unnoticed payments show just how wrong you are!

If you didn't notice a transaction for years, then your clearly are not managing your bank accounts properly, and don't give me that "I don't have time" BS. DD or no DD, transactions can occur on your account without your knowledge, fraud can happen on your account without your knowledge. Its upto you to notice transactions.

DDs can save you time and money if you manage your accounts properly. If you can't be bothered, then just get a basic account and pay more than the rest of us (and spend more time managing those payments) for the same services.

Case in point: I know someone who always pays their energy bills at the post office. They receive bill, walk to the bank, withdraw funds, walk to the post office, pay bill. Last month they noticed a DD has been setup on their account 6 months ago for a magazine subscription.

JuicyJesus

Buzby wrote: »

You could die and the funds will still be taken!

Actually, that's not true. As soon as the bank are notified all debits are blocked, so they would be returned at no charge to the deceased's estate.

Most of the issues caused by Direct Debit are caused by the customer's own problems ("I forgot", "I didn't look at my bank statements", "I didn't read my bill" etc.) Some companies do muck up sometimes, but then the bank gives you an immediate refund for it. I've done this myself a few times because my local water company are a bunch of incompetents. One phone call and the money was returned to my account within an hour.

JuicyJesus

pmduk wrote: »

Why is it so difficult to make a diary note to check the balance due on an account on the same date each month? It's worked for me on my three account for several years.

In fairness, if Three can't send an email like everyone else who uses paperless billing then I'd be terrified.