Internet Banking

nickyt

Hello,
I was wondering if this is the right place to ask about internet banking as I have a problem at the mo. Will ask anyway but if in the wrong place then i'm sorry.

I have an account with Freemans Catalogue and when they sent their statement this month I thought as I pay every other bill online I would do the same with them. I rang them up and asked for the information needed to set this up as a bill payment. They said they would post me a letter giving me all the details. As no letter turned up and it was getting close to the date due I sent them an e-mail. After nearly a week no reply so I rang again and a lady on the helpline gave me the details needed.

I set up a bill payment and sent the money. Today I got a reply to my e-mail saying that they do not have internet or telephone banking. I have replied saying that the helpline infact gave me all the details needed and I paid. I did this on the 25th Aug, as it was a bank holiday it's not showing on my Freemans account but showing as gone from my bank.

If Freemans do not have internet banking will I get my money back? Sorry it's long winded but thought it would bebetter to give all the facts.

alanwjones

Hi Nickyt, I've had a look on my bank website (hsbc) and it shows freemans catalogue in the list of companies you can pay online, Hth , Alan.

nealallen

You only have to have thier account number and sort code to make a payment on-line. If that's what they gave you then the payment wilbe there.

All you do is add what you want to call it when you make payment. I wouldn't worry, give them till Friday and call back to check that the payment is showing.

Rafter

Nicky,

If you were given the correct bank details and supplied your account number as a reference then I cannot see a problem.

I suggest you call Freemans again and get their accounts department to confirm the account numbers that you agree.

If they still say that they cannot accept automatic payments, I suggest you shop elsewhere until they update their 18th century payment systems!

R.

nickyt

Thank you. I treid ringing them and saying it was showing as gone from my account and the lady said " well it's not showing on your account here I suggest you pay again as you have before by cheque." I don't want to pay again I want to see if this payment reaches them , also I can't afford to pay another £40. As far as she was concerned the do have it set up for payments to be made like this but she told me they don't like people paying this way though. I thought it would be easier no paperwork to tie up and waiting for postage times.

I will leave it till Friday as suggested and if it's not there by then I will as them to refund me as I sent it to the details they gave me. Hopefully this might push them to look for it too.

nmm

If you check the back of the statement it should have the Account Number and Sort Code for internet banking. Check if this is the same as where you sent it. When i pay my LX Direct Catalogue this way it takes 2 working days to show up in my LX account.

Hmm according to Freemans website there are four methods, they dont accept direct debit or internet banking??

There are 4 ways to make payments to your Personal Account.
Online: use your credit or debit card at 'My Accounts'. We accept Maestro, MasterCard and Visa.
By phone: use your credit or debit card to make payments on 0871 987 1010. We accept Maestro, MasterCard and Visa.
At the bank or Post Office: use your Giro book or statement payment slips to pay by cash or cheque. Cheques should be made payable to Freemans PLC with the account number written on them.
By post: use your statement payment slips to pay by cheque. Cheques should be made payable to Freemans PLC with the account number written on them.

nickyt

Thats whats confused me. The helpline gave me the details saying I could pay that way, then the e-mail says they don't do it. If they don't where has my £40 gone and will I get it back

emmalt

Nicky,

I would write them a letter explaining that you paid them x amount on x date to x account with x sort code with x reference code (I assume you put a reference number on the payment on line). They should be able to find the payment on their banks statements which I am sure they receive daily.

If they are insistent that they have not received it, speak to your bank. If it is true what they say, the monies will be in a suspense account and your bank should be able to retrieve them for you.

Whatever you do, don't pay again.

Also, next time maybe pay by debit card online or failing that dump them as rafter suggests and go with a more 21st century catalogue company.

jonesMUFCforever

What I would suggest the OP does in future is to pay online using the online feature on their website.
Payment can be made by credit or debit cards and they send you confirmation almost immediately by email.

CLAPTON

surely the payment slip shows their sort code and a/c number plus your reference number
have you checked these?

skystar

Nicky, if I have read this right you did the Bill Payment on the 25th of Aug? As this was a Saturday it wouldn't have actually left your account until yesterday (the 28th) due to the weekend and bank holiday.

Freemans won't then receive your payment until tomorrow (the 29th) and you may not actually see it on your account with them until Friday.

Oh and Freemans do have internet banking. I have used it myself and I work for a bank and do loads of Bill Payments to their account for customers.

Hope this helps