Can a bank refuse to cancel a Direct Debit?

[Deleted User]

Don't know if I'm posting in the correct forum so, if not, mods please move it.

Simple question, as in the title.

You instruct your bank to cancel and stop paying a DD.

Are there any situations were they can refuse to cancel it?

I'm aware that, if the instruction to cancel is at the last minute, the payment may still go through, but this isn't what I mean.

What I mean is, can the bank ignore the instruction, and continue paying, month in month out?

Archi_Bald

No they cannot refuse to cancel a DD if you ask them to.

If you have online access, you can cancel the DD yourself.

Cornucopia

We (also) need to know under what circumstances does the DD guarantee apply, and if you accused the DD originator of some kind of fraud, what would the Bank do to investigate?

Archi_Bald

The DD guarantee applies to all DDs. Details:
http://www.directdebit.co.uk/directdebitexplained/pages/directdebitguarantee.aspx

Cornucopia

Thanks,

so the answer to the original question is this:

You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify the organisation.

And the answer to my question is this:

If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by the organisation or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society

However, we need to know what is meant by "error".

For example, if an organisation was taking payments for a service you did not need, or a service you did not qualify for, would that constitute an "error", or would the Bank expect you to use other means to get your cash back?

grumbler

Cornucopia wrote: »

For example, if an organisation was taking payments for a service you did not need, or a service you did not qualify for, would that constitute an "error",

No, the bank isn't in a position to judge whether you needed/qualified etc.
Error means wrong amount, wrong date, unauthorised DD.

Or would the Bank expect you to use other means to get your cash back?

Yes.

zerog

If you cancel a DD with the bank then any further payments are unauthorised

Whether you owe the DD originator money is a different matter and they may also charge you for not paying by DD