Direct Debit taken on a 0 balance!!

peanutthedog

Help!!

I cleared my credit card in full on the 21st of september 2007 - 21days later on the 11th of October they have taken a direct debit of £62 and left me with no money - 6 days before payday. I didn't think any money would be taken as didn't owe anything and I only spotted this as I have online banking.

I called and was told this was not taken in error (so I can't claim via the direct debit guarantee) and that they take this money depending on what it says on my statement. I then explained that I didn't owe anything - and was told it was my fault and that even though I didn't owe anything this was not an error.

But the worst thing was that no matter what it would still have been my responsibilty to claim this money back. So had I not had online banking I would have seen this on my next statement and would have to have done exactly what I have just done which is to call a 0845 & 0870 number to get my money back.

Am I in the wrong?

I have just wrote a letter explaining how unfair thai was and how it in no way benefits a customer.

I am raging!!

RTNI

When the statement is posted it will tell you how much will be taken and on what date. What you have done is made a manual payment to clear off the balance, and as you were told, the DD was taken from your account on the due date of the bill.

If you don't want the DD to come out (as you have paid it off in your case) you need to call them and instruct them not to do so.

You can ask for the money back and it is usually sent via chq or back to where it came from. (Or spend against it.)

HTH.

peanutthedog

Thanks for getting in touch I'd presumed that if no money was owed no money would be taken. I.e if I owed a £1 I would have expected the direct to come off but not on a 0 balance.

Seems crazy surely if there is a 0 balance this should be flagged and no money taken especially as you have to pay for the phone call to inform them that they have taken the money and then it is up to you to claim this back.

RTNI

Some CC companies do as you describe, but the ones that I have dealt with do not do this. I can understand both points of view, best to put it down to experience and move on.

qwopmnxz

just use the cc and spend £62 on it on whatever you need for the next 6 days

peanutthedog

True - every other company I have dealt with has done this and not taken money when the balance is clear. GE Money, Amex, Halifax, Mint, Barclay Card, But RBS (who own mint!!). One of those things where if it'd happened before I'd have been aware of it.

Maybe a wee message at the footer of their statement saying - if you clear the balanace before the due date - please call us (with a freephone number) and suspend your direct debit. Had it been the start of the month everything would have been fine. But now the only way I have of filling my car with petrol & eating is to put it on my credit card!!

Thanks RTNI - you do live & your learn.

peanutthedog

oops qwopmnxz - crossed posts.

trying to get away from any sort of credit cards - 1 more to pay off and then its time to get rid of the student loan.