Had money taken from your account without permission?

louloulou39

lovefilm did it tome, signed up for a FREE trial and they helped themselves to my account for months never got a refund didnt even know i could have applied for one.

stclair

louloulou39 wrote: »

lovefilm did it tome, signed up for a FREE trial and they helped themselves to my account for months never got a refund didnt even know i could have applied for one.

In the terms and conditions it says it's a free trial if you don't cancel after the said period you will be charged the appropriate fees.

As detailed below see 4.1 and 4.2

https://www.lovefilm.com/tandc

xx-Scientist-xx

Some time ago we found that Southern Water had been taking money from our account. We were (wrongly) informed by SW that they would refund the money. Long story followed but we eventually got it back from our bank. It had arisen because the person who should have been debited happened to have the same bank account number as us (in a different bank, obviously) but whoever set up their direct debit made a typing error on the sort code and entered the sort code of our bank. Once the sort code and account number were there, the money started rolling out. It's perhaps an unlikely error, but the fact remains that had we had to confirm the debit, the mistake would have been discovered and the problem would never have arisen.

As it was it took weeks to sort out and SW refused any compensation for the telephone calls, letters etc and the time we had to spend on it. The bank eventually gave us £50.

Like an earlier contributor to the forum, I think it should simply not be possible for anyone to set up a direct debit without the account holder's express permission. This would prevent any such error occurring again. As it stands, almost any company with your account number and sort code (both of which are printed on every cheque you issue) can set up a direct debit on your account without so much as a 'by your leave'

Archi_Bald

xx-Scientist-xx wrote: »

As it stands, almost any company with your account number and sort code (both of which are printed on every cheque you issue) can set up a direct debit on your account without so much as a 'by your leave'

There is no reason for unauthorised DDs to be taken more than once, or even at all if you catch it early. You can cancel any direct debit by pressing a button in your online banking, or by calling your bank. You do not have to provide any reason for cancelling.

xx-Scientist-xx

Archi_Bald wrote: »

There is no reason for unauthorised DDs to be taken more than once, or even at all if you catch it early. You can cancel any direct debit by pressing a button in your online banking, or by calling your bank. You do not have to provide any reason for cancelling.

Of course you are correct, but while you are saying it's easy to cancel an erroneous DD, I would like the emphasis to be on preventing such errors in the first place. The crux of the issue is in your words 'if you catch it early. You can cancel...You do not..(my italics). With all due respect, I'd rather not have to do any of these things. I'd rather unauthorised DD's weren't allowed to be set up in the first place.

Aquamania

xx-Scientist-xx wrote: »

Some time ago we found that Southern Water had been taking money from our account. We were (wrongly) informed by SW that they would refund the money. Long story followed but we eventually got it back from our bank. It had arisen because the person who should have been debited happened to have the same bank account number as us (in a different bank, obviously) but whoever set up their direct debit made a typing error on the sort code and entered the sort code of our bank. Once the sort code and account number were there, the money started rolling out. It's perhaps an unlikely error, but the fact remains that had we had to confirm the debit, the mistake would have been discovered and the problem would never have arisen.

As it was it took weeks to sort out and SW refused any compensation for the telephone calls, letters etc and the time we had to spend on it. The bank eventually gave us £50.

Like an earlier contributor to the forum, I think it should simply not be possible for anyone to set up a direct debit without the account holder's express permission. This would prevent any such error occurring again. As it stands, almost any company with your account number and sort code (both of which are printed on every cheque you issue) can set up a direct debit on your account without so much as a 'by your leave'

See my earlier post in this thread

You are absolutely right if SW Water told you they would return a DD they had collected incorrectly. They should have referred you to your bank.
However, as you admit, they never did not refund you directly, which is absolutely correct of them.

I don't understand why it took weeks to be refunded (unless it took you weeks to alert your bank to the unrecognised/disputed transaction).

Under the terms of the Direct Debit Guarantee, the bank should have refunded you immediately you asked.

Archi_Bald

xx-Scientist-xx wrote: »

Of course you are correct, but while you are saying it's easy to cancel an erroneous DD, I would like the emphasis to be on preventing such errors in the first place.

Given that errors of the kind you have described rarely ever happen, there is no justification for implementing a vastly expensive solution.

walkman50

From: Halifax Building Society,
To: Fasthosts Internet
Amount: £37ish per year


I have had this recurring payment taken from my account three years in a row for something I didn't purchase, and have been unable to stop it!


I have visited my bank branch after each debit each year, and they promised it would stop. (I have nothing in writing though.)


I have tried contacting Fasthosts, and they have no record of me as a customer, so are unwilling to provide me with anything written or even investigate why my account has been repeatedly debited.


I have asked for this money back from my bank, and got nowhere. I have no physical or written documentation so far, except my bank statements showing the debits.


Don't now what to do, apart from closing the bank account to ensure I don't get charged a fourth year in a row...?!

Archi_Bald

Did you try what is recommended here: http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/recurring-payments?

xx-Scientist-xx

Aquamania wrote: »

I don't understand why it took weeks to be refunded (unless it took you weeks to alert your bank to the unrecognised/disputed transaction).

It was because I was wrongly advised by Southern Water. It took a while for me to figure what I should actually have done immediately.