Should I cancel my direct debit

alove

Hi everyone. I'm in need of some support and guidance regarding cancelling direct debits. 6 months ago I separated from my wife and now live on my own. When we separated I had 2 direct debits - 1 for a loan for her new car and the other for the gas & electricity bill with Scottish Power. Over those 6 months she has paid 2 payments on the car loan and 2 on the gas/electricity. At Christmas we had a huge falling out and are no longer communicating. I believe there is nothing I can do regarding the car loan repayments as the loan is in my name (although the car is hers). I have asked her to ensure the gas/electricity payment is transferred to her as I cannot continue to pay £183 a month. She has not paid nor replied. The debit comes out of my account, but she set up the account so I do not know the account number, and the email address link to the account is hers. I want to contact Scottish Power and explain the situation and cancel the direct debit. What do you think I should do. I really need some guidance on this. Thanks in advance.

Fred2712

Ring S/Power & advise them you have moved out & want to close the account down, then advise your wife is still living there so new account required in her name.
SPower will be able to find the account under the address & ask them to ask you a different Data Protection question if you don’t know the email address, such as bank account details etc

alove

Hi Fred2712. Many thanks for your response. I tried calling S/Power yesterday but I was put on hold for 30 minutes. Will try again later today. 

Farway

alove said:

Hi Fred2712. Many thanks for your response. I tried calling S/Power yesterday but I was put on hold for 30 minutes. Will try again later today. 

Perhaps a real letter using old fashioned stamp, keeping a copy & proof of posting would be useful follow up, just in case the 'phone call is forgotten or disputed bills at a later date

Xbigman

The owner of a car and the keeper of a car are not necessarily the same. If the car loan is in your name presumably the purchase agreement is too. In that case its your car. There are numerous ways forward including writing to her asking for it back and then reporting it stolen when she refuses. 

As for the energy issue. I'd cancel the DD and then ask for a final bill (can you get a final meter reading?) and tell them to contact the occupier. 




Darren

alove

Xbigman said:

The owner of a car and the keeper of a car are not necessarily the same. If the car loan is in your name presumably the purchase agreement is too. In that case its your car. There are numerous ways forward including writing to her asking for it back and then reporting it stolen when she refuses. 

As for the energy issue. I'd cancel the DD and then ask for a final bill (can you get a final meter reading?) and tell them to contact the occupier. 




Darren

The car is registered in her name (although she has now 'given' it to her son). The loan was in my name. Thanks for the advice though

QrizB

alove said:

Xbigman said:

The owner of a car and the keeper of a car are not necessarily the same. If the car loan is in your name presumably the purchase agreement is too. In that case its your car. There are numerous ways forward including writing to her asking for it back and then reporting it stolen when she refuses. 

As for the energy issue. I'd cancel the DD and then ask for a final bill (can you get a final meter reading?) and tell them to contact the occupier.

The car is registered in her name (although she has now 'given' it to her son). The loan was in my name. Thanks for the advice though

The registered keeper - your wife, now her son - is irrelevant to ownership.

If you're named on the purchase agreement, it's likely to be your car (unless eg. you gifted it to your wife and she can prove that) and you can ask for it to be returned.