Direct Debits 30 January at 11:57AM in Budgeting & bank accounts 17 replies 782 views

Trixy

Hello, I used to have a direct debit set up with Bulb Energy for the 18th of the month but they would regularly take the payment late (2/3 days later regardless if the 18th fell on a weekend or not) from my bank account.  I changed the dd date to the 15th when I changed banks (trying to tidy things up) and they still took it late (albeit the 15th fell on a Sunday so I expected it to come out on the 16th like my other dds but it didn't come out until the 17th).  When I contacted them they told me that they requested it on the 15th but it gets released to them late and they can do nothing about it.  I contacted my bank to ask what the hold up was and they advised that there was no hold up at their end, but that Bulb requested the payment later.  I went back to Bulb to inform them of this, but they suggested changing the dd date to 'see if that corrects things'.  I advised I had already done that and explained the above and asked for this to be fixed as it helps with managing my finances.  Their response was that this occasionally happens with their payments when requesting a dd.  They advised 'they can be taken up to 10 days afterwards although it's usually more soon than that'.  Is this right?  Surely not otherwise what's the point in setting up a dd to help manage finance!  I have only asked them to take the payment on the date I've agreed with them rather than 2/3 days later but seem to be hitting my head off a brick wall!  Any advice would be much appreciated!

MACKEM99

Which bank?

grumbler

If the DD is taken later, not earlier, I don't see any problem with this in any respect, including budgeting.

If it's really a problem for you, open another account with the same bank and use it exclusively for all your DDs.

Trixy

MACKEM99 said:

Which bank?

The first bank was Co-op and now I'm with Nationwide - it's been taken late with each bank.

Robin9

It's actually nothing to do with the Bank. It's Bulb that drives when the DD is taken.

(In the days of Standing Order it was the Bank)

Trixy

Robin9 said:

It's actually nothing to do with the Bank. It's Bulb that drives when the DD is taken.

(In the days of Standing Order it was the Bank)

Yes - that's my belief too but they keep taking it late & initially blamed my bank. I'm getting nowhere with them when I question why other than what I have above.  I just need to know if there is anything I can do to get it right.

MattMattMattUK

Trixy said:

Robin9 said:

It's actually nothing to do with the Bank. It's Bulb that drives when the DD is taken.

(In the days of Standing Order it was the Bank)

Yes - that's my belief too but they keep taking it late & initially blamed my bank. I'm getting nowhere with them when I question why other than what I have above.  I just need to know if there is anything I can do to get it right.

The fact that they are taking it a few days later is perfectly reasonable, Direct Debits falling on a weekend always fall to the next working day as well. In terms of the Direct Debit Guarantee they are able to take a few days after the date, the are just not allowed to take it before. If it were a week or more you might have a complaint from a customer service perspective, but as it is only a day or two there are not any grounds to complain. 

Kerreh

It's been some years since I was involved in the submission of our DD payment requests but you have to specify the collection date (ie. the date it is debited from the payer bank account). You also have to submit the request for payment so many days in advance to the bank (think it was either 3/4 days).

So either - your supplier isn't requesting the payment on the right date/at the right time  or the bank isn't processing the payment on the date requested.

I'd go with the former.

ForumUser7

OP, for reference, EE tends to take a Direct Debit from Barclays 9 days after the bill is generated (including the day of payment, and the day the bill is generated)

Band7

If it really bothers you that Bulb leave your money with you for longer, you could move your DDs to an account that pays you interest, e.g. Kroo current (3.03% from tomorrow, or Chase 2.7%) so you can earn interest for longer.

ZeroSum

They usually state the DD's will be take on or just after the given date.
Sometimes companies have IT issues which can result in delays in the payment being taken