Pending Direct Debit - who can stop the transaction?

matrix2021

Hi all,

Last week I went about purchasing some US Dollars from Ukash to a pre-paid travel money card. I got to the payment stage where the site attempted to go Halifax's secure payment page, then the page just reset back to Ukash's homepage. I checked my online banking and noticed that the amount had been 'deducted' from my available balance sitting in the Pending Transaction column.

Assuming the transaction had completed, I rang Ukash to confirm the order, but they suggest the attempt had failed - hence no confirmation page/email. So I told them the value (£657) was sitting in my pending transactions, as though the funds were going to clear to them in the next working day or so. They confirmed for my reassurance that they would make a manual cancellation, and the funds would not clear to them.

I also rang Halifax and they said it was up to the Ukash to stop the transaction, that it would sit in 'pending transaction' until the funds either cleared or was stopped by them. This was Friday 8th, and the £657 is still sitting in pending - who actually has the money at this point; Ukash or Halifax? Or possible neither, and it's just floating around in limbo? Ukash confirmed the transaction was stopped immediately so I assumed the funds would be instantly returned, this isn't the case so I'm not sure if I should be giving it a few more days before I worry further, I just have this horrible feeling neither company is going to say they have the funds and I'm just going to be passed pillar to post.

Any help or suggestions are appreciated.

p00hsticks

Just to be pedantic, your heading is wrong - it's not a direct debit, but a debit transaction we're talking about here.

It sounds like the transaction was successfully authorised, at which point the money was earmarked by the Halifax and subtracted from your available balance.

If this is the case then the money is actually still sat in your account - only your available balance has altered, in order to prevent you spending the same money twice.

If the authorisation isn't followed up within a week or so by the actual request for the money coming through from the retailers merchant acquirer, then the Halifax should simply remove the 'hold' on the money and your available balance will revert to what it was before the failed transaction took place.

It's quite common but a pain in the wotsits, especially when it's a large sum as in this case.

bengal-stripe

matrix2021 wrote: »

.......who actually has the money at this point; Ukash or Halifax? Or possible neither, and it's just floating around in limbo?

The money is still in your account: it is only been "ear-marked" (reserved) but not taken yet. But as it is reserved, you cannot access the amount in question, until the ear-mark gets either cancelled or falls off after about 8 or 10 days.

You've made contact on Friday, today is only Monday. I do not know which way a cancellation is submitted to your bank, but it might take a few days.

matrix2021

p00hsticks wrote: »

Just to be pedantic, your heading is wrong - it's not a direct debit, but a debit transaction we're talking about here.

It's quite common but a pain in the wotsits, especially when it's a large sum as in this case.

Hi p00hsticks,

Apologies for the mistake, at least you understood my problem - and yes, it is a pain in the wotsits! I'm wary of trying the process again with Ukash if/when my funds are released - which is a shame because they had the best rates.

bengal-stripe,

Thanks for clarifying, I can only hope it is cancelled properly and the payment times out and the pending status disappears.

grumbler

It's not a "Direct" Debit.

No_6

bit late there G,
better read the reply's next time

6

agrinnall

No_6 wrote: »

bit late there G,
better read the [STRIKE]reply's[/STRIKE] next time

6

...replies...

pinkdalek

Ask Halifax, if the company (UKASH) send them confirmation it has been cancelled at their end would Halifax then remove it?

Problem you have is Halifax have authorised it, and from their perspective the funds are due to be taken.
The transaction will drop off but generally after 5 days or so, which can be frustrating, especially if you need that money to purchase what you were originally intending to do so.

The system sucks, especially when all it takes is both parties to just communicate with each other.

GingerFurball_2

If UKASH fax over the transaction information to Halifax then they'll remove the authorisation.