AUDDIS Direct debit system being abused by NPower?

helptoyou

Of course a third scenario is possible someone who banks with the same branch as you has a similar account number and has mistyped there account number .

Yes keen to hear outcome.

Gromitt

DemiDee wrote: »

Leaves the system open to much abuse, especially if unsuspecting high value, poorly maintained accounts are targeted.

Yes, but it might not be fraud, it might simply be someone trying to setup a DD to pay their bills and typed/written the wrong account number. Just as easy as telephoning the wrong person.

Just report it and the bank will refuse the DD collection, then NPower will contact the customer and ask whats going on. It would be daft to try and get someone else to pay the bill deliberately.

dalesrider

DemiDee wrote: »

Surely NPower would know whose account they're debiting, and know that the name on the account doesn't match the customer's name and address details on file?

I pay my mothers bill.
Neither her name nor address match my details.

All ANY company is interested in is getting their £££

Leaves the system open to much abuse, especially if unsuspecting high value, poorly maintained accounts are targeted

But given they only have 6-8 numbers these people have no idea of the accounts usage or amounts.

agrinnall

Here's a well known example.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2008/jan/07/personalfinancenews.scamsandfraud

Gromitt

agrinnall wrote: »

Here's a well known example

To be honest though, anyone who publishes there name, account number, sort code and even details of how to find their address, and then says "I'm doing this as proof that these details are unusable to anyone" was always going to get at least a DD setup on their account, I'm surprised they didn't get anything more.

grumbler

What more?
Neither of these details is a top secret (unlike, say, a card number + exp.date + CVV).
For any sane and sensible person it is difficult to imagine that a financial system can be designed so purely and open to abuse.

dtaylor84

Gromitt wrote: »

To be honest though, anyone who publishes there name, account number, sort code and even details of how to find their address, and then says "I'm doing this as proof that these details are unusable to anyone" was always going to get at least a DD setup on their account, I'm surprised they didn't get anything more.

Your name, account number and sort code is on every cheque you write, so they're hardly secret. Neither is your address.

Yes, he was wrong and arrogant and deserved to be shown up, but it is ridiculous that a direct debit can be set up so easily.

SuperHan

dtaylor84 wrote: »

Yes, he was wrong and arrogant and deserved to be shown up, but it is ridiculous that a direct debit can be set up so easily.

Not really ridiculous when in most cases an incorrect DD can be refunded and cancelled with little stress and effort and a small amount of vigilance over your bank account.

marlewuk

its the dd originators responsibility for verifying the customer's identities via methods such as credit reference checks, cross-referencing with the electoral register or their own historical customer records. Furthermore, before joining AUDDIS, they must satisfy their bank about the checking procedures they intend to have for this facility

grumbler

marlewuk wrote: »

its the dd originators responsibility for verifying the customer's identities via methods such as credit reference checks, cross-referencing with the electoral register or their own historical customer records. Furthermore, before joining AUDDIS, they must satisfy their bank about the checking procedures they intend to have for this facility

A perfectly verified customer can use some other person's bank details to set a DD. Then, if caught, they can easily get away simply by blaming their poor memory or eyesight for this 'mistake'.