D and G monthly cost hike without notification

OutdoorQueen

The payments might have been set up as a Continuous Payment Authority. These are different to standing orders and direct debits, and you do not have the same protection.   This is where the company uses the long number from your credit or debit card to take payments.   Not sure if D&G use these but other white goods insurance providers do.  

My understanding is with CPAs the company can vary the frequency and amount they take without letting you know.   Your bank or credit card provider should be able to help you identify the type of payment

A Google search on CPAs brings up lots of info including: https://moneyfacts.co.uk/current-accounts/guides/what-is-a-continuous-payment-authority/

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/recurring-payments/

eskbanker

Ftba.d said:

I have seen my direct debit payments increase without my consent

Ftba.d said:

Yes i definitely don’t want a full refund , just to be compensated for the ‘add on’ without consultation with myself .

In terms of managing expectations, it would be unlikely for there to be any requirement for consultation or consent as such - price increases on contracts like this would typically entail one-way notification rather than an interactive conversation, i.e. it would be a case of paying the increased charge or cancelling, rather than being a negotiation....

born_again

To add to the above, why did you not raise this with them in 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021. 2022?

powerful_Rogue

OP, you should check your bank statements more often, didn't you have the same issue with BT?

Ftba.d

OutdoorQueen said:

The payments might have been set up as a Continuous Payment Authority. These are different to standing orders and direct debits, and you do not have the same protection.   This is where the company uses the long number from your credit or debit card to take payments.   Not sure if D&G use these but other white goods insurance providers do.  

My understanding is with CPAs the company can vary the frequency and amount they take without letting you know.   Your bank or credit card provider should be able to help you identify the type of payment

A Google search on CPAs brings up lots of info including: https://moneyfacts.co.uk/current-accounts/guides/what-is-a-continuous-payment-authority/

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/banking/recurring-payments/

Ah this is very interesting ! I will check it D and G are using this by asking my bank to identify the type of payment tomorrow .

Thanks  so much for this   

Ftba.d

eskbanker said:

Ftba.d said:

I have seen my direct debit payments increase without my consent

Ftba.d said:

Yes i definitely don’t want a full refund , just to be compensated for the ‘add on’ without consultation with myself .

In terms of managing expectations, it would be unlikely for there to be any requirement for consultation or consent as such - price increases on contracts like this would typically entail one-way notification rather than an interactive conversation, i.e. it would be a case of paying the increased charge or cancelling, rather than being a negotiation....

I understand what you’re saying . Thanks for this as it will change the way I would have worded things as you’re right , consult and consent don’t really align with the situation. It’s not being made aware perhaps to allow me to make an informed decision to cancel or continue ?   

tightauldgit

If the original contract ended in 2020 then presumably there have been increases at that point and 2021 and maybe 2022 that you paid without complaint so I think you're probably on to plums in getting very much back - it's your responsibility to check what you are paying after all and the fact you paid it without complaint is probably considered acceptance of the charges. If you had flagged an issue after the first or second increased payment then you may have had greater rights and more likelihood of a better response. But trying to get things backdated 30 months? not going to happen. 

Ftba.d

tightauldgit said:

If the original contract ended in 2020 then presumably there have been increases at that point and 2021 and maybe 2022 that you paid without complaint so I think you're probably on to plums in getting very much back - it's your responsibility to check what you are paying after all and the fact you paid it without complaint is probably considered acceptance of the charges. If you had flagged an issue after the first or second increased payment then you may have had greater rights and more likelihood of a better response. But trying to get things backdated 30 months? not going to happen. 

People said similar when I had the same issue with BT and the refunded me the total difference in pay .

Thanks for your insights though

macman

Ftba.d said:

Yes the costs do add up . Problem is , they are now nearly six years old so they will all start packing  in now  

Why do you make that assumption? Larger white goods should maybe last 10 years or more, they are generally very reliable if looked after. 

user1977

macman said:

Ftba.d said:

Yes the costs do add up . Problem is , they are now nearly six years old so they will all start packing  in now  

Why do you make that assumption? Larger white goods should maybe last 10 years or more, they are generally very reliable if looked after. 

And anything which does need replaced is likely to be relatively trivial and DIYable (oven elements etc).