GoCardless and payment processing fee

Roadierunner

I'm a member of a club and we've always been allowed to pay annuall subscriptions in cash. Now they want us to use GoCardless and will accept no other payment method. Couple of things that make me uneasy

1) I have to put my bank details it for direct debit. I am reluctant to do this and only like to use DD for significant ongoing costs (i.e. utility bills), but not small (under £50) annual fees as I want to limit where my bank details go. Am I just being overly cautious and the risk small?
2) They automatically charge a processing fee on top of the club fees. There is no option to pay this. Is this correct - surely the club should pay this as it's them that want to use this method of payment. I'm happy to pay in cash, but they won't accept it. Is this legal?

wealdroam

Roadierunner wrote: »

1) I have to put my bank details it for direct debit. I am reluctant to do this and only like to use DD for significant ongoing costs (i.e. utility bills), but not small (under £50) annual fees as I want to limit where my bank details go. Am I just being overly cautious and the risk small?

You are being overly cautious.

Have you not seen The Direct Debit Guarantee?
In fact, I'm sure you have seen that, as it is spelt out and explained in great detail on the GoCardless website.

unholyangel

Roadierunner wrote: »

I'm a member of a club and we've always been allowed to pay annuall subscriptions in cash. Now they want us to use GoCardless and will accept no other payment method. Couple of things that make me uneasy

1) I have to put my bank details it for direct debit. I am reluctant to do this and only like to use DD for significant ongoing costs (i.e. utility bills), but not small (under £50) annual fees as I want to limit where my bank details go. Am I just being overly cautious and the risk small?
2) They automatically charge a processing fee on top of the club fees. There is no option to pay this. Is this correct - surely the club should pay this as it's them that want to use this method of payment. I'm happy to pay in cash, but they won't accept it. Is this legal?

Any costs that are unavoidable should be included in the base price and not added as an extra.

As for the first question, only you can answer that. Have the club done anything in the past to make you doubt that they are honest and make you think they would use your details in a way you would not expect? Do you keep on top of your accounts and reconcile your statements regularly?

ETA: As for only accepting one payment method being legal....parties are free to agree payment methods and currency between themselves. The supplier could (if they wished) state that payment must be made in brass buttons and they won't accept any other form of payment. Wouldn't make much business sense to do so, but they're allowed to do it.

The only time this may be wrong of them is if you were tied in to a contract and they tried to change the terms halfway through. If its a renewal, changes to terms would be permitted.