Someone has set up a direct debit on my account

JustAnotherSaver

Yes or no, should this be possible, for someone with a different name to myself (i assume surname although o2 wont confirm/deny) to be able to set up a direct debit on my account?

I was going through my bank statement & saw 3 entries for o2 on the same day for 3 different amounts.
Bearing in mind out of my family i'm the only o2 customer and the fact that my billing date is different to the date in question and for a different amount entirely, i got in touch.

All i got from o2 after giving them the GED numbers was that they (GED numbers) related to an account in a different name to my own.
So i went down the fraud department route & did the same with my bank.

I've only had this account since November 2017. I guess the fact they were able to do this means they didn't need the same name as mine (surname) but i thought i'd ask anyway.

PeacefulWaters

The DD system works by numbers alone.

It's either a simple error or fraud. Either way, you should get your money back pretty quickly.

MDMD

As above it can be fraudulent. Particularly as it is three mobile phone DDs, where presumably someone set up three DDs and possibly got hold of three phones. Or it could just be a miskeying error.

Might be worth checking your credit reports to check that there is nothing untoward in them.

It reminds me of an episode where Jeremy Clarkson was a “victim” of a similar problem

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2008/jan/07/personalfinancenews.scamsandfraud

JustAnotherSaver

I did ask o2 whether it could be an 'error' and they said not possible.

This has only happened once before with me. About 10 years ago i was apparently in Arizona buying from a music store when i'd never even been to America.

Got my money back then, i expect i'll get it back this time too. To be honest i don't usually check my statements. It was only because i was looking for something specific that i noticed it & even then only because there were 3 entries on the same day. If it'd just been 1 i may have passed over it.

JustAnotherSaver

Well i don't really know what's going on here as this is the first time i've had it like this...

o2 said they cancelled the direct debits. This is also why the CORRECT (mine) direct debit wasn't taken via D/D which they kindly 'forgot' to tell me. They had cancelled all direct debits so fair enough i thought.

Just logged in to my bank account to find that 2 of the 3 direct debits have been taken again (after they had supposedly been cancelled - by o2).


So obviously i am going to have to chase o2 up again. The fraud dept haven't been in touch like they said they would. Must be over a week has passed since they said they'd be in touch.



Question i'm wondering and the reason i'm back on this thread though - is would you inform the police?

Or would you just keep going back & forth with o2?

JustAnotherSaver

Just had another look & one of the amounts matches the same as last month but the other amount is a new figure (with the 3rd one not yet showing).

Herbalus

Raise each new direct debit claim with your bank as it appears.

Raise them all with O2 as well.

If there is a direct debit section on your online banking, go in and cancel them.

Hope you get it sorted.

JustAnotherSaver

It seems to be a going round in circles exercise though that's the thing. I can keep cancelling and keep requesting refunds but what i want is for the person at the other end to be located and questioned. Is it an honest mistake? I'd doubt it as surely you'd see the lack of an entry on your statement, plus there's numerous direct debits but it could be an honest error so fair enough.

But if it's not - then i don't simply want a refund as they shouldn't be allowed to get away with it.