Direct Debit notification via text message

Herbalus

Just a curious one: I completed on a house on Friday, and today received a text message from the mortgage lender notifying me of my first direct debit payment, to be taken on 2 January '15.

Is text message an appropriate way to notify somebody of a direct debit? It doesn't cause me any problems, and the website https://www.directdebit.co.uk doesn't specify which forms of communication are ok, but it seems strange.

Using mobile phones for text alerts is one thing, but a replacement for a letter - which some people would keep for their records - is something else. And I believe it is a direct replacement because the text said a letter will follow with details of subsequent payments - so presumably not this one.

JethroUK

Herbalus wrote: »

Just a curious one: I completed on a house on Friday, and today received a text message from the mortgage lender notifying me of my first direct debit payment, to be taken on 2 January '15.

Is text message an appropriate way to notify somebody of a direct debit? It doesn't cause me any problems, and the website https://www.directdebit.co.uk doesn't specify which forms of communication are ok, but it seems strange.

Using mobile phones for text alerts is one thing, but a replacement for a letter - which some people would keep for their records - is something else. And I believe it is a direct replacement because the text said a letter will follow with details of subsequent payments - so presumably not this one.

Text is quicker and cheaper than a letter and this is a notification so perfectly suitable for purpose - you might want to record a contract but you wouldn't normally record a notification

my dentist "notifies" me of my appointments, i also send texts to all my learners to notify them to attend the course

Herbalus

JethroUK wrote: »

Text is quicker and cheaper than a letter and this is a notification so perfectly suitable for purpose - you might want to record a contract but you wouldn't normally record a notification

my dentist "notifies" me of my appointments, i also send texts to all my learners to notify them to attend the course

Yes - but this is notification of a required payment from a bank, which is regulated, not a reminder to go to the dentist. It's more akin to your water or electricity bill being delivered via text message.

I don't have a problem with it - but it is strange.

JethroUK

Herbalus wrote: »

Yes - but this is notification of a required payment from a bank, which is regulated, not a reminder to go to the dentist. It's more akin to your water or electricity bill being delivered via text message.

I don't have a problem with it - but it is strange.

What can I say, but notification, smotification - its just 'a reminder' that something is about to happen, so DD payments or dental appointment it's wholly redundant information that seems fine delivered by text

i just noticed you are with 1st direct who exist purely and solely because of 'electronica' (is that a word? - i actually bank with them and receive all my account activities by text every Friday on all my accounts and the rest i do online and if its paper you want, you maybe banking with the wrong people

ALIBOBSY

Could this be because of the time of year, a letter issued would likely be caught up till new year in the Christmas post.

You may well get a letter confirmation later on, but this is a sort of early heads up so the payment gets covered?

Ali x

Herbalus

JethroUK wrote: »

i just noticed you are with 1st direct who exist purely and solely because of 'electronica' (is that a word? - i actually bank with them and receive all my account activities by text every Friday on all my accounts and the rest i do online and if its paper you want, you maybe banking with the wrong people

I have current accounts with TSB, Lloyds, Norwich and Peterborough, Natwionwide, Halifax, and Santander as well as First Direct - not sure what that's got to do with anything?

I just presumed that there are different communication mediums for different things. You wouldn't for example receive a 'notification smotification' for a court appearance via text. It seems strange to me that a bank would inform me of a first direct debit payment via text when I have no other communication regarding it's set up. This means they haven't provided me with a copy of the direct debit guarantee, which they're supposed to do - not a problem, but as I thought that was regulated, I was surprised by it.

Hazzanet

PeacefulWaters

You'll almost certainly get it in writing too.

But I'd be delighted to have a text at this time of year. Better than relying on the useless post service.

EssexExile

I can never understand why, when all my banking is done online, they still feel it necessary to keep sending me letters. It must waste a fortune.

colsten

EssexExile wrote: »

I can never understand why, when all my banking is done online, they still feel it necessary to keep sending me letters. It must waste a fortune.

It's because people complain on forums and Facebook and Twitter that that haven't received letters from their banks. It will be cheaper for the banks to send out letters than paying £25 a throw for random complaints.

mauriphonic

The advance notice communication that you are required to be sent for a Direct Debit, has to contain a full copy of the Direct Debit guarantee, and the sponsoring bank behind the Service User Number that was issued to the company collecting Direct Debits from you also has to approve that notice, therefore there's no way that they could use a text alone. Its possible that an email, or a letter is also on its way to you.