Bulb have changed my direct debit date "in error" so now I'm paying twice in one month

Thelisty

Bulb have contacted me to tell me that my direct debit date has been accidentally changed. This means that the next payment date has been brought forward by several weeks and I am going to be charged before I've even had a statement through for the last month. This is very upsetting- it means they're effectively forcing me to have about £200 credit with them.

I've been able to quickly correct the payment date back to its original date on their system, but I don't understand why the payment in a few days time is still going through. I contacted them today to ask them to stop the next payment and they told me that my payments will go back to their normal cycle in July, but that I have to contact my bank to stop the payment that's still schedule to go through in a few days. However, to do this, my bank will have to cancel the entire direct debit and I'll have to set it up again. I am cynical that this is an error on Bulb's part and that there is so little they can do to correct it until July. Is anyone else in the same boat?

Mstty

Personally I would keep a record of bulb admitting this was a mistake (get this in writing/chat/screenshot) cancel the direct debit and inform them that is what you are doing. They can set it back up with you when their end is sorted.

This is their fault so put the onus back on them to sort it out.

MattMattMattUK

Thelisty said:

Bulb have contacted me to tell me that my direct debit date has been accidentally changed. This means that the next payment date has been brought forward by several weeks and I am going to be charged before I've even had a statement through for the last month. This is very upsetting- it means they're effectively forcing me to have about £200 credit with them.

It is an unfortunate situation, but they are not forcing you to have that credit with them, you can either ask for it back, or lower ongoing payments proportionally.

Thelisty said:

I've been able to quickly correct the payment date back to its original date on their system, but I don't understand why the payment in a few days time is still going through.

Direct Debits payments are batched processed in advance, they are unable to cancel the one in a few days as it is already in the bank's systems and effectively in progress.

Thelisty said:

I contacted them today to ask them to stop the next payment and they told me that my payments will go back to their normal cycle in July, but that I have to contact my bank to stop the payment that's still schedule to go through in a few days. However, to do this, my bank will have to cancel the entire direct debit and I'll have to set it up again. 

On that basis I would say the choice is yours, probably let it go through, unless you are so short of money that the £200 will make a substantial difference.

Thelisty said:

I am cynical that this is an error on Bulb's part and that there is so little they can do to correct it until July. Is anyone else in the same boat?

It is highly unlikely to be an orchestrated scheme, more likely an error made because there have been huge staff cutbacks as Bulb are in administration and it makes sense as to why they are unable to change it at short notice. There will likely be some other people in the same boat but that is irrelevant. 

pochase

You are correct if they do one now and when you say several weeks ahead it would normally be in July. So why is there another one scheduled for the normal July date and why did you agree to it? I would expect that the next payment would only be due now in August, as July payment is taken now upfront.

How much earlier is your payment taken? You only should have the £200 as extra credit for a few days if the July payment is skipped. 

Alnat1

I can recall any DD on the day it's going through using my bank app (NW) and it doesn't cancel the DD, simply returns the payment on that day. Are you absolutely sure your bank can't do this either online or with a phone call?