cancelled direct debit

Susan_Sto_Helit

Hi all

Does anyone have any experience about bank cancelling direct debits?

I have a credit card with the Post Office, which i have had since 2013.

I set up a direct debit for the minimum payment.

I cleared the card and not used it since March 2016. In September I helped a family member (yes this is where it gets messy) and used my card for cash withdrawal. Several withdrawals They were going to pay me back once they were in a better place.

I stupidly forgot about it until I received a call this week from the PO saying my account was in arrears.

Tried to log into my online account, to find that the username i had wasnt correct. I logged a request to get my log in details and called and paid £100. (apparently they upgraded the website and changed the log in details, but i didn't get the notification)

Without access to my account, I checked my credit score through Noddle and was horrified to find it had dropped to poor. there are 2 months showing late payment (Oct and Nov).

I contacted the PO and asked about my direct debit and they said it was cancelled by Barclays in December 2014.

No one has notified me to say that it had been cancelled (from barclays or post office), so i have raised a complaint with barclays and am hoping that they can explain why it was cancelled (certainly not by me) and that they can address my credit score.

Is there anything else i can do?

Can they cancel direct debits (i guess so, but surely would need justification?)

This has brought all the old feelings of stress and helplessness back and I feel really sick. i feel such an idiot

Any help would be very greatly received

molerat

When was the last time the direct debit was taken, if not used for 13 months the bank will de activate it.

[Deleted User]

Unused DDs are cancelled after 13 months, although this is not generally known.

If you've brought your account up to date, there's not much more you can do. Although your credit history will show the blemishes, don't use your credit score as a measure of this.

For future cards, remember to check statements regularly, whether you think you are using it or not.

Superscrooge

Assuming your account is no longer in arrears, Two late payments is not the end of the world.

Avoid any further blemishes and as time passes they will have less effect and your credit history will improve.

agrinnall

Your credit score should cause you no stress at all as it's an irrelevant number seen only by you. The two late payments will be seen by anybody doing a credit check, are you expecting to need one? If not, again no stress, if you are then having brought your account out of arrears quickly will mitigate the impact, minor stress but probably not something to get too worried about.

Dobbibill

I would be more concerned with the interest and fee you pay on a cash withdrawal, especially as it is ongoing if you only pay the minimum.

Cash Withdrawals are also reported to your CR and are not recommended (apart from the few cards that have overseas withdrawals without fees as a USP)

chattychappy

Dobbibill wrote: »

I would be more concerned with the interest and fee you pay on a cash withdrawal, especially as it is ongoing if you only pay the minimum.

Agreed. The fee is, of course, a one off. But cash interest rates can be high/punitive.

Dobbibill wrote: »

Cash Withdrawals are also reported to your CR and are not recommended (apart from the few cards that have overseas withdrawals without fees as a USP)

I wouldn't worry about this. I'm withdawing cash weekly on Clarity/Zero and never had a problem getting credit. On the free Experian thing I get with Barclaycard, the score is usually 999, for those that believe in such things!

I think it's only a negative when combined with other factors - close to limits, paying minimums only.

Bear in mind that on the report, people don't know which lender you've taken the cash from - so they won't treat you differently for using a card designed for cash.