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

darkblue_2

Just got the t&cs through today and noticed this.

Very sneaky, given that they have a summary on page one that doesn't mention it.

Martin should be raising awareness of this, especially as he's so heavily advocating First Direct on the switch service.

--

Just read the latest posts. D'oh!

Very confusing First Direct. Poor show.

opinions4u

First_Direct_company_representative wrote: »

Apologies for the confusion.

We are happy to confirm that we are not planning to remove the functionality to cancel Direct Debits via internet banking.

When a Direct Debit instruction is cancelled via internet banking within one working day of the payment instruction being due, we are unable to stop that payment. We changed the terms and conditions to ensure customers were able to stop payments in a timely manner.

Internet Banking can still be used to cancel Direct Debits, as long as customer are aware of the limitations of this route.

Surely a big pop-up message on cancellation makes more sense than changing T&Cs in a way that makes the bank look backwards.

Are FD incapable of this?

Hominu

opinions4u wrote: »

Surely a big pop-up message on cancellation makes more sense than changing T&Cs in a way that makes the bank look backwards.

Are FD incapable of this?

I would imagine it would be significantly cheaper and quicker to change the T&Cs then to change the software. Obviously there was a reason why they wanted the change so quickly.

Perhaps such a pop-up message will be implemented in the next suite of changes.

Archi_Bald

Hominu wrote: »

I would imagine it would be significantly cheaper and quicker to change the T&Cs then to change the software. Obviously there was a reason why they wanted the change so quickly.

Agree, it is faster and cheaper to change T&Cs than making even small modifications to an ancient system.

However, I would have expected that they would modify the T&Cs to say that there must be at least one working day between Internet cancellation and the next payment date (if that is indeed so). Instead they struck the words "Internet Banking" from the T&Cs. Strange way of doing business.

Vortigern

Archi_Bald wrote: »

Agree, it is faster and cheaper to change T&Cs ...

True, but why can't they change the T&Cs to say "you can cancel direct debits online, but not within n days of the next payment"

Guildford

I don't think HSWBC aka First Direct care about customers convenience, they run the bank for their convenience. I asked my "personal HSBC Premier account manager" this afternoon if he would copy my passport and certify it and he asked was it to purchase an HSBC product, no a house purchase, and he told me it is HSBC policy only to certify documents directly connected with the purchase of HSBC products. HSBC Premier service!!! I crossed the road to Barclays, where I don't bank, and they agreed immediately (took them 2 minutes). Find another bank, I am.

Hominu

Guildford wrote: »

they agreed immediately (took them a minute).

Guildford wrote: »

they agreed immediately (took them 2 minutes).

Next post, 3 minutes?

Pedantic, I am

Or, if your going to cross-post your reply, at least post the same information in all

Archi_Bald

I received the notification of the T&C changes in the snail mail today. Still clearly states "....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". Which tallies with the detailed T&Cs available on the FD website.

rb10

HSBC have now done the same ... from their 'Notice of variation' effective 1 January 2014:

HSBC wrote:

if you want to withdraw your agreement for a non-SEPA direct debit, you can only do so using our Telephone Banking Service or in a branch

Archi_Bald

This seems a staggering backwards development - - - removing perfectly good internet functionality in 2013. Why would any bank in their right mind make it more, rather than less, difficult for their customers to cancel a DD?

I wonder how soon / long before an "HSBC company representative" will appear and say it isn't true? And then, when receiving a response, will never be seen again, like the First Direct company representative?