BT billing _ direct debit notice down to 8 days

JohnM5206

Just found this on October bill, has always been 14 days until now. When was this advised as a change, orcwasbit?

Buzby

The BBA agreed that 7 days was ample notice, and BT was quick to get the money in. The 7 days is based from when they print the bill, not when you get it, so for many any bill is delivered AFTER the money is gone from the account.

JohalaReewi

Doesn't that fly in the face of the Direct Debit Guarantee Scheme which says the supplier must give you sufficient notice of the amount to be taken by direct debit?
If they don't, you can claim a full and immediate refund from the bank.

JohnM5206

Yes, but I am not disputing the right of BT to change the notice period...merely that they should have given the required notice to change the contract which is the Direct Debit Guarantee.
My paperwork at present still states 14 days notice of the amount to be taken.
Implementing the change in the same bill as they announce the change seems odd. - but we are dealing with BT!

Bogof_Babe

So it's not just me then?

I now have to assume this is a permanent change - it would have been nice to have been informed, but I suppose BT make their own rules.

Buzby

It is the BBA that changed the rules BT simply agreed. There is neither a change to any 'contract' OR the DD 'guarantee' - only that the consumer now has less time to reject (and stop) an incorrect debit.

It is still possible to recall, but only after the event.

dzug1

Talk talk are worse - 4 days notice on latest (e-)bill

Buzby

That's the inverse of stretching it - the minimum is 5 days from billing!

JohnM5206

Buzby wrote: »

It is the BBA that changed the rules BT simply agreed. There is neither a change to any 'contract' OR the DD 'guarantee' - only that the consumer now has less time to reject (and stop) an incorrect debit.

It is still possible to recall, but only after the event.

I disagree with the first bit about the paperwork I have from BT.
When I completed the Direct Debit details in June 2012, the notice period was specified as 14 days, not a variable number of days based on BBA rules or agreements. This means that I would receive 14 days notice of the amount of money being taken under the terms of the variable direct debit. That agreement has been varied without notice.
I accept that BT can change the number of days notice but they should be giving the appropriate information in advance of the change, not in the very bill which is subject to the new timescales.

JohnM5206

Buzby wrote: »

That's the inverse of stretching it - the minimum is 5 days from billing!

It can be whatever the direct debit agreement wording states - Vodafone are four days from bill issue.
That is the Direct Debit Guarantee which does vary between companies.

TrevsMum

The first I knew about this was today (28th Oct) when I checked my bank account online and saw a refused payment which obviously means I'll get charged by my bank for this! I don't know if BT bills everyone on the same date, but up until now they've been taking my payment "on or after" the 1st of the month following my bill (which is dated 18th of each month), and I see from the latest bill they've changed this to the 28th of the same month as the bill. Now, considering my money goes into the bank on the last working day of each month (the change apparently came into effect in September but that month was unaffected as the 28th was a Saturday and the first opportunity BT had was Monday 30th, the same day as my money went in), what sort of sense does this make? I CAN'T be the only person to have got caught this way?