Expired Direct Debits

paul2louise

i had a bill for my debenhams account in january. I made a purchase over christmas. I presumed that the bill would be paid as i set all my accounts with pay the balance in full. I discovered that the direct debit had expired from my lloyds bank account. I have incurred late payment, non payment and interest charges. Debenhams have been kind and removed the charges after I spoke to them.
i am posting this as this has never happened before and i wasnt aware that direct debits expire. Is this a security thing or something that some or all banks do.
Obviously i wont let this happen again, but i have had store cards over the years that i only use infrequently. I just think it would be useful that an expiring direct debit could flag up and ask for renewal. I suppose this is to much to expect from the banks

xylophone

https://www.directdebit.co.uk/FAQs/Pages/InactiveDirectDebits.aspx

https://www.independent.co.uk/money/spend-save/questions-of-cash-problems-with-dormant-direct-debit-ended-20-years-of-faultless-banking-6264568.html

PRAISETHESUN

Direct debits are active for 13 months from either the date they were set up, or from the last time they were used to make a payment - this is to allow for annual subscriptions, etc. Unfortunately many banks do not readily advertise this - at least Debenhams were nice to waive the fees for you

18cc

Are you sure they are active only for 13 months after the date they were set up I have had credit card direct debits which I set up years ago and they are still taking the monthly payments

etienneg

Nobody said regularly used DDs expire after 13 months!

What the previous poster said is: "Direct debits are active for 13 months from either the date they were set up, or from the last time they were used to make a payment".

The point is that unused DDs will get cancelled by the bank.

PRAISETHESUN

18cc wrote: »

Are you sure they are active only for 13 months after the date they were set up I have had credit card direct debits which I set up years ago and they are still taking the monthly payments

It's 13 months from when they were set up if they are never used, otherwise its 13 months from the last time they were used for payment

18cc

Ah ok if they are not used. thanks.

EachPenny

PRAISETHESUN wrote: »

Direct debits are active for 13 months from either the date they were set up, or from the last time they were used to make a payment - this is to allow for annual subscriptions, etc. Unfortunately many banks do not readily advertise this - at least Debenhams were nice to waive the fees for you

Surely Debenhams had a responsibility (moral if not legal) to check the DD was still active before attempting to take a payment... after all, they would have known when they last took a payment on that mandate and could work out quite easily if that was more than 13 months ago.

Or alternatively it wouldn't be rocket science to print a very clear message on the bill to say that the previous DD had (probably) expired and the customer was responsible for ensuring new/alternative payment arrangements were made.

OP, it would be interesting to know what Debenhams said on the bill... did they lead you to think that payment would be taken by DD?

YorkshireBoy

EachPenny wrote: »

Surely Debenhams had a responsibility (moral if not legal) to check the DD was still active before attempting to take a payment... after all, they would have known when they last took a payment on that mandate and could work out quite easily if that was more than 13 months ago.

Debenham's, or their payment systems provider, would have known the DDI had lapsed under the dormancy rules when they received the ADDACS report from Lloyds.

pjtaylor

Is that right? Just been stung with this by NewDay so will pick them up on this.

jonesMUFCforever

I wonder for both posters with the problem - what did your statement say about payment?
Most credit cards will state on the statement that payment xyz will be taken by d/d on 123 date.
If your statement does state this I think you will have a very strong case to get all charges and interest refunded, but if it does not you could be stuck - just be nice when you ring them.