Failed standing order

steph1205

Hi there

I was hoping someone here could provide me with some advice.

I moved out of my last accommodation around 3 months ago. I stayed there for 2 years. My old landlord has just come back to me and told me that 3 months of my rent had not gone through, for 3 random months within the first year out of the two I stayed there. I am sure there were sufficient funds in the account. I never received any warning letters or notification from the landlord that my rent was not received.

The agency’s credit control function have obviously failed as the rent traces back to 2015/2016. Admittedly I don’t check my statements regularly and failed to notice the rent not going through in those random 5 months out of 24. My standing order had been set up for the whole duration of the contact and I did not make any amendments.

Whose fault is it? The old landlord are wanting a lump payment of x 3 months which is obviously something I will struggle to pay outright.

Many thanks.

Steph

molerat

It is your responsibility to ensure your rent is paid on time. Have you checked back on your bank statements to ensure that it was not paid ?

The advice, if you owe it you need to pay it. The LL could take you to court if you don't pay or make an arrangement. Get talking to them.

PeacefulWaters

dmittedly I don’t check my statements

Well that's an error I hope you never make again.

Whose fault is it?

Does it matter? If you owe the money you owe the money. I suggest you negotiate a payment plan.

bigadaj

well you've had an interest free loan.

Sparx

Have you checked your bank statements yourself to verify the LL's claims? Have you asked what months in 2015/16 were not paid?

You should then go back on your bank statements and if your phone/app/online don't go that far back - go in branch and ask for copies so you can check.

If you didn't pay those months, why? Did you not leave enough money in your account? If yes then that's your fault and you owe the money. If it DID go out and was paid, you then have proof and can show him.

NotRichAtAll

ask for proof, check your statements

Dobbibill

Do check your statements and not just rely on their word for it.

Shakin_Steve

If my bank failed to pay my mortgage for even one month, I’d certainly notice that I had more money in that account than I should have.
You do check your balance now and again...........don’t you?

spenderdave

I have never ever had any of my standing orders not paid on time (HSBC). That is something the banks always get right. As others say, check your statements, online or paper depending on what you have.

Chalkius

Check your statements. If if didn't come out, and sufficient funds were there, speak to your bank, though it'd be unusual if there was a mistake on their end as the Standing Order clearly was working fine especially in the second year. If it didn't come out because you didn't have enough money, that's your fault. If if did come out, take your statements to your landlord as proof. You should really have noticed whether or not a rent sized chunk of money had left your account or not each month though.


However, I'd potentially consider raising the point that they're asking for 3 months in one go which isn't easy especially as the payments should have really been noticed long ago, and ask if you can pay it back in instalments. They're not obligated to accept that however it can't hurt to ask.

anniecave

Definately check your statements and confirm whether money was or was't paid.

If you do indeed owe the money and you offer to pay then I would be very surprised if they didn't accept payment in installments if you ask them. If it's taken them 2 years to realise their mistake then I would say payments spread over one year is realistic to ask for. They might say no to that but then accept payment over say 6 months.