unauthorised direct debit?

yah_believe

Ive just been online to check my bank account and there has been a direct debit taken out for 142 pounds by a company called aktiv kapital uk. I know i havent set up this direct debit and dont know how theyve obtained my details in the first place or even what the dd is for. So im after some advice really, on how i can find out what its for and who they are acting on behalf of, if theres a way of doing so and also wether i should cancel the dd. Im angry that this has happened without my knowledge and really need help sorting it thankyou

cifpower

They are a debt collection agency

Hanky_Panky

Yep, they are a debt collections agency and debt purchaser.

Is it possible you have a debt outstanding with another company that used to have a direct debit ?

bazzyb

yah_believe wrote: »

also wether i should cancel the dd.

If you genuinely don't know what it is, and have not authorised it, then why on earth would you not cancel the direct debit?

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

bazzyb wrote: »

If you genuinely don't know what it is, and have not authorised it, then why on earth would you not cancel the direct debit?

...and get your bank to refund it under the DD Guarantee.

jamesd

Phone your bank. Tell them "I have seen this direct debit payment taken. I have not authorised it and know nothing about it. I wish to invoke the Direct Debit Guarantee and have the transaction reversed and direct debit instruction cancelled".

Hanky_Panky

Just because the OP doesn't recognise Aktiv doesn't mean it is not a legitimate claim.

OP have you got unpaid debts outstanding to another lender ?

terra_ferma

Check if you can see the date when it was first set up (even if money was not taken out before now). That might giggle your memory if something happened at that time that could be linked to the DD.
Or could it be an existing company that has changed its name, maybe because of a merger or take over?
Just some ideas

fermi

I came across this the other day when looking at some student loan threads there.

http://www.mumsnet.com/Talk/legal_money_matters/a2163249-AKTIV-KAPITAL-who-what-and-why

Could be unrelated to your case or coincidence, but if not could help explain.

grumbler

Hanky_Panky wrote: »

Just because the OP doesn't recognise Aktiv doesn't mean it is not a legitimate claim.

OP have you got unpaid debts outstanding to another lender ?

A debt can be sold to another company.
A DD can't be transferred and can't be legitimate unless explicitly authorised by the customer.

thenudeone

It's ludicrously easy to set up a direct debit on an account.

As long as the account number and sort code is valid, there is no other check (for example checking the name), meaning anyone you've ever paid by cheque or has ever seen your debit card has all the information they need to set up a DD on your account.

In reality, it's more likely that there has been a keying error somewhere, which by chance has resulted in your account being debited.

The banks have set up a separate 3-digit security code for debit and credit cards. It would be easy to do something similar for direct debits, but they haven't done so.

If you haven't authorised the DD, simply ask the bank for an IMMEDIATE refund.