confused over whose direct debits

Ben8282

alanq wrote: »

How's that possible if the companies are unknown?

It is NOT POSSIBLE that the companies are unknown.

EarthBoy

Ben8282 wrote: »

It is NOT POSSIBLE that the companies are unknown.

I agree. I've had numerous bank accounts over the years, but I've never had one where the statement didn't show the name of the company taking the money for a direct debit. If you look online it shows which direct debits are set up. It won't show you "whose name they are in" though because that's of no interest to the bank and you'll have to contact the companies to find that out.

It's no use asking the bank to check the original paperwork, as one commentator suggested, because direct debits are now set up electronically. You might fill in a form which you send to the relevant company, but this form isn't sent to the bank.

Ballard

EarthBoy wrote: »

It's no use asking the bank to check the original paperwork, as one commentator suggested, because direct debits are now set up electronically. You might fill in a form which you send to the relevant company, but this form isn't sent to the bank.

I beg to disagree. The forms are sent electronically but the paperwork does arrive along with that days clearing. I know because I've seen countless such forms. It's not the actual form that the customer completes but it does contain all of the information nonetheless.

EarthBoy

Ballard wrote: »

I beg to disagree. The forms are sent electronically but the paperwork does arrive along with that days clearing. I know because I've seen countless such forms. It's not the actual form that the customer completes but it does contain all of the information nonetheless.

The forms don't do anywhere near the bank. The company being paid inputs the info into their own system and the details are sent to the banks electronically.

In most cases these days there aren't any forms anyway; companies complete them over the phone, or customers complete the details online.

Ballard

EarthBoy wrote: »

The forms don't do anywhere near the bank. The company being paid inputs the info into their own system and the details are sent to the banks electronically.

In most cases these days there aren't any forms anyway; companies complete them over the phone, or customers complete the details online.

Being as I work for a bank I can tell you without any shadow of a doubt that we receive a hard copy for every single direct debit for our customers.

molerat

All my DDs show who they are paid to, some are a bit cryptic but can be figured out. The list of current DDs on the account is a bit clearer though. I can't see Santander being much different to any other bank.

mgdavid

Ballard wrote: »

Being as I work for a bank I can tell you without any shadow of a doubt that we receive a hard copy for every single direct debit for our customers.

... a hard copy of the original form the customer filled in and signed?

colsten

mgdavid wrote: »

... a hard copy of the original form the customer filled in and signed?

I can't remember the last time I filled in a form, let alone signed one, for a DD authorisation. Without looking into each of my accounts, I can't give the exact number of DDs I have but it's several dozens. Most of my DDs have been authorised online, and just a few on the phone. Just what sort of hard copy, and why, the various banks would receive, I don't know.

GaleSF63

It's possible that your direct debits are listed online but a bit hidden. It took me a while to find mine - I just happened one day to notice "looking for your direct debits?" at the bottom of the page with my standing orders on. So far it's the only way I've found of getting to them. (Nationwide).

Perhaps you bank can tell you where to find them online?

Otherwise they will be on your statements but you could need a year's worth of statements to cover everything - a car tax DD may be only once a year, for example.

Ballard

mgdavid wrote: »

... a hard copy of the original form the customer filled in and signed?

No. From memory, a printed copy of my customers name, account number and sort code, the company name and reference number (I can't remember the terminology but their unique number) and transaction reference number.