Mislaid card - direct debit from blocked account

hatt55

This could potentially fit into a few different forums - hopefully this one is the most appropriate!

I'm pretty sure I've left my purse on my desk at work this evening but, because I'm not certain, I thought I better cancel my cards just to be on the safe side.

The first bank just cancelled the card - fine.

I have another account with a building society and when I explained that I might have just left the card at work they gave me the option of temporarily blocking the account (I think they said set it to 'credit only'). Without really thinking I said 'yes' to this, because obviously if I do find the card tomorrow morning then its much easier to just remove the block rather than wait for a new card in the post.

What I didn't really think through is that I have a couple of direct debits set up on the account and having reviewed my previous statement, there is a direct debit for insurance that goes out on the 2nd of the month. Frustratingly, I realised this at about 8.10pm, which happens to be 10 minutes after the phone line for both my building society and insurance company closes!

My understanding is that if I had cancelled the card, the direct debit could still go out because the account is unaffected. My worry is that I have agreed to block payments going out of the account entirely, which would include stopping any direct debits (because I *think* the call handler said 'credit only', so I assume this refers to the account rather than the card).

Does anyone know how this might work? Various forum threads suggest that the time a direct debit is processed varies by bank/building society so I'm hoping I can get to work early, find my purse and remove the block before any payment gets stopped. I just have a slight concern over that not working and a failed payment being on my credit record due to a moment of not thinking on my part.

Or perhaps I'm worrying other nothing and the money will still go out....!?

Any advice apprecited.

hatt55

Just been doing a bit of reading and have come across the 'Retry Process' for direct debits. Hopefully this will be applicable and I just need to get my account sorted by 2pm!

Ben8282

It really makes no sense to black the account in a case like this. The debit card in question is now cancelled and cannot be used again even if found undisturbed on your desk tomorrow morning.
Why did they put this block on the account? How long is it to remain there for? Until you get the new debit card, until Christmas, until the old debit card expires?
It is now after midnight so you can check with internet banking if the direct debit has been paid or not. If not call the building society tomorrow, have this nonsensical block removed and do all possible to get the direct debit paid.

LuSiVe

Ben8282 wrote: »

It really makes no sense to black the account in a case like this. The debit card in question is now cancelled and cannot be used again even if found undisturbed on your desk tomorrow morning.
Why did they put this block on the account? How long is it to remain there for? Until you get the new debit card, until Christmas, until the old debit card expires?
It is now after midnight so you can check with internet banking if the direct debit has been paid or not. If not call the building society tomorrow, have this nonsensical block removed and do all possible to get the direct debit paid.

As I read it the block was done as an alternative to cancelling the card so if it was located it caused less hassle than getting a replacement card. I assume the block will remain until they ring the BS back to tell them whether they have found the card.