Direct debits

Westie983

agrinnall wrote: »

I find that very hard to believe, at least in the short term. They may cull data after a period (probably at least months) but I'd be very surprised to find that there is no timestamp recorded against such a change by any bank.

Cant speak for all banks, but Halifax do not keep a record of DD being canceled, and therefore can not confirm if its been deleted by the customer or the company, when you look at your list of DD it just doesnt show after its been cancelled, but when you cancel one online or in branch there is an option to print out confirmation for you to keep which is timestamped but nothing held in the computer.

It's a question I am faced daily, when asked when was my DD for X cancelled and by whom.

Westie983

Vortigern wrote: »

A few years back when I switched my internet provider, I gave notice to the ISP and cancelled the DD via online banking. Some months later the DD reappeared in the list of active DDs. I rang first direct to cancel the DD and asked why it had been reinstated after cancellation. The answer was simply that the ISP, knowing my sort code and account number could set up a DD whenever they liked.

The ISP claimed that I hadn't given them sufficient notice and they were trying to collect a few days pro rata rental. I protested that they were trying to take money from my bank account without giving me proper notice under the DD guarantee. They agreed to waive the charge.

When you pay for a good or service by DD you are giving instruction to the company to set up a DD,
Cancelling a DD doesn't cancel the contract for goods or service and yes the company can re set up the DD as you have given them instruction to do so, of course if your contract is finished you should no longer be able to see your DD for goods or service as its expired.

The bank is the middle man in the process and they can cancel the DD with the hope that it is no longer taken by that method but you are instructed to contact the company concerned to let them know you have canceled the DD and to arrange an alternative payment method. If this doesn't happen the company can seek alternative options, CCJ's or re instate DD or terminate your service (e.g. phone connection, SKY)

YorkshireBoy

Westie983 wrote: »

Cant speak for all banks, but Halifax do not keep a record of DD being canceled, and therefore can not confirm if its been deleted by the customer or the company...

I don't work in banking, but am aware of the workings of ADDACS. Don't Halifax (or LBG) notify the DD originator via an ADDACS report (and give the reason code as 1 [instruction cancelled by payer])? And if they do, why wouldn't they keep a copy of such a report? And if they don't, why don't they? You may wish to refer this upwards.

Westie983

YorkshireBoy wrote: »

I don't work in banking, but am aware of the workings of ADDACS. Don't Halifax (or LBG) notify the DD originator via an ADDACS report (and give the reason code as 1 [instruction cancelled by payer])? And if they do, why wouldn't they keep a copy of such a report? And if they don't, why don't they? You may wish to refer this upwards.

I dont know the answer to your question but yes I'm sure the company is notified when a DD is cancelled, as they then write to you to say your DD was cancelled and bank has not paid, via in internal message system (I'm assuming this is ADDACS)

The bank doesn't keep such reports which was the focus on my comment, but like I say other banks may keep old DD on record with a cancelation date.

YorkshireBoy

Westie983 wrote: »

The bank doesn't keep such reports

I can't believe that. It would be like sending a very important email and then subsequently deleting it from your sent items folder.

I appreciate you, as a cashier/teller(?), may not have access to the report or information contained within...but would wager that someone within Halifax could locate it if necessary.

Westie983

This maybe true, but like I say when asked 'when was my DD cancelled please the company want to know' the system wont say, on escalating to management the answer is the same, we have no record of when it was cancelled, it may have been the company who cancelled or the customer.

Im sure if its escalated further the information may be retrieved, but like you say as a cashier I am not privy to the information, and as DD are cancelled on the same system you can view online banking you can see the same information the cashiers can.