First Direct removing online cancellation of Direct Debits from T&Cs 1 Jan 2014

JohalaReewi

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Whether you have cancelled a DD or not on your bank account, you always have the Direct Debit Guarantee on your side.

While that is true, the DDG does some drawbacks.

1) Some banks pretend it doesn't apply to them and you have the hassle of convincing them that it does.

2) The DDG can only be used after the money is taken in error. The ideal situation is for the money not to be taken in the first place.

3) The DDG only covers the amount taken by DD. It does not cover any other costs you may have incurred (like overdraft fees, refused DD fess, etc.).

Mr_K

I claimed on the DD Guarantee with HSBC last week. The Radio Times increased my subscription without telling me in advance. One secure message to HSBC and the money was refunded the same day. Still getting the Radio Times too - suckers

Can't believe FD (same as HSBC) would withdraw the cancelling DDs online facility. Think somebody must have got their wires crossed somewhere. If true can only assume its that they want people to ring up and try and sell then stuff at the same time. Halifax have a similar policy - its very limited what you can do online - they want you to ring up or visit a branch, for very simple things on supposedly 'online' accounts. Too easy for you to click a mouse without being asked when your car insurance is renewing or whether you've had an accident lately.

Hazzanet

JohalaReewi wrote: »

3) The DDG only covers the amount taken by DD. It does not cover any other costs you may have incurred (like overdraft fees, refused DD fess, etc.).

The banks will have you believe this, but it is covered under Section 11.7 of the scheme rules. The issue is that this part of the claim isn't automated, so most banks won't want to go to the trouble of dealing with the consequential loss aspect of the claim.

I've put a screenshot of the form they have to use here:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/69304031/conloss.JPG

Hominu

Mr_K wrote: »

I claimed on the DD Guarantee with HSBC last week. The Radio Times increased my subscription without telling me in advance. One secure message to HSBC and the money was refunded the same day. Still getting the Radio Times too - suckers

Unless you have also told TRT, then you'll still be liable for the payment, just via another method.

rb10

Mr_K wrote: »

Halifax have a similar policy - its very limited what you can do online - they want you to ring up or visit a branch, for very simple things on supposedly 'online' accounts. Too easy for you to click a mouse without being asked when your car insurance is renewing or whether you've had an accident lately.

Halifax allow you to do most things online. (Admittedly a lot of the functionality was removed when they merged with Lloyds, but it's slowly being returned).

In fact, Halifax would struggle to make cancelling a direct debit more simple and obvious. When you're on the direct debit page, you just click 'Cancel' at the right hand side of that column.

Mr_K

rb10 wrote: »

Halifax allow you to do most things online. (Admittedly a lot of the functionality was removed when they merged with Lloyds, but it's slowly being returned).

In fact, Halifax would struggle to make cancelling a direct debit more simple and obvious. When you're on the direct debit page, you just click 'Cancel' at the right hand side of that column.

Halifax wont allow you to close a savings account online, open a joint account online and there's no secure messaging facility. Its very poor.

Mr_K

Hominu wrote: »

Unless you have also told TRT, then you'll still be liable for the payment, just via another method.

Doubtless my subscription will stop soon. I feel under no obligation to contact them as they haven't contacted me about a price rise and have abused the direct debit agreement. I'll gladly see them in court .

pmduk

innovate wrote: »

Seems whoever of FD answers questions online is either as stumped by this backwards step as most of us here are, or they are just badly informed.

Isn't it more likely that even bank staff don't read the T&Cs?

fuzzything

I went to the banks comments page at First Direct Labs for an explanation of why they were now saying the facility was not being removed, but the change is in the new terms and conditions. Here is their reply:

'The reason we have changed the terms and conditions is because it is not possible to amend of cancel individual Direct Debit payment instructions via Internet Banking on the day before that payment is due to leave the account.'

(Given this seemingly reasonable explanation, which I understand was referred to the relevant department, I think the thread title I originally used is now misleading and should probably be changed by a forum manager.) (ok fixed it now)

Archi_Bald

fuzzything wrote: »

(Given this seemingly reasonable explanation, which I understand was referred to the relevant department, I think the thread title I originally used is now misleading and should probably be changed by a forum manager.)

Leaving aside whether this latest attempt at clarifying things is indeed a reasonable explanation, and that it contradicts somewhat what they reportedly said earlier on their Labs site: what is misleading about the thread title? Are you saying the T&C update that has been sent out is wrong and they don't mean what they say in their T&Cs?

First Direct removing online cancellation of Direct Debits 1 Jan 2014

.....We have changed Clause 16.3 to show that if you want to withdraw your agreement for a Direct Debit, you can only do so using our Telephone Banking Service or HSBC Express Bank machine.....

But if you feel you should change your thread title, you can do this yourself but editing your OP. I think you need to be in Advanced Mode for it.