Change of Direct Debit Date

jellycat234

Hi all,

Looking for advice on my housing association changing my direct debit date. 

For background:

I pay rent and service charge on my shared ownership flat on the last day of the month. Recently they flagged that I was in arrears from a payment that was "missed" last September. However, upon investigation (on my own part) I found that in 2023, the 30th of September fell on a Saturday and therefore the payment was taken out the next working day which obviously fell in October. This meant I made two payments in October. Fine. 

I have now provided evidence of this payment and proved that I do not, in fact, owe them any money. However now they are saying to prevent automated messages coming through to me saying I'm in arrears, I should move my direct debit date to the first of the month and that I should make a payment by 31st August with the next payment for the new agreement coming exactly one day after on 1st September. 

Whilst I wish it were that simple, I just don't have the funds to be making 2 payments from the same pay check and am wondering if they have any right to enforce the change of date on me? I have been paying on the last day of the month for over 3 years now and not once have I missed a payment. 

Any advice would be welcomed!   

DE_612183

why not just change it to the 27th - that way even if there is a weekend and the payment gets delayed - it's still there by the end of the moneth?

jellycat234

I don't get paid until the last day of the month. Issue isn't it reaching them by the end of the month. It's the fact they're asking me to move my payment date to the 1st and insisting I make both payments from one month's wage. 

BarelySentientAI

They can ask whatever they like.  They can't insist.

It's up to you to pay whenever is necessary to avoid arrears according to the due dates in your agreement.

DE_612183

Have you asked them what period your end of month payment covers - is it in arrears or advance.

When I worked in a HA rent was always supposed to be paid a month in advance - so by leaving it till the end of the month you are cutting it fine.

DullGreyGuy

jellycat234 said:

I don't get paid until the last day of the month. Issue isn't it reaching them by the end of the month. It's the fact they're asking me to move my payment date to the 1st and insisting I make both payments from one month's wage. 

Are you sure you are paying it by DD and not SO? You cannot control the date of the payment on a DD, it's in their control. A SO you can control and most banks do have the ability to do an SO on "the last working day of the month" or equivalent and so it does automatically move forward when the last day of the month falls on a weekend. 

noitsnotme

There have been multiple months in the last 3 years where the last day of the month fell on a weekend.

Since the problem in Sept 2023 there have been 3 further months where the last day fell on a weekend:  Sunday 31st Dec 2023, Sunday 31st Mar 2024 and most recently Sunday 30th June 2024.

What happened on all those months when your payment would have gone out the following month?  Are they saying you are arrears for those months too?

jellycat234

noitsnotme said:

There have been multiple months in the last 3 years where the last day of the month fell on a weekend.

Since the problem in Sept 2023 there have been 3 further months where the last day fell on a weekend:  Sunday 31st Dec 2023, Sunday 31st Mar 2024 and most recently Sunday 30th June 2024.

What happened on all those months when your payment would have gone out the following month?

Exactly! And not one of those have been flagged! No consistency from them at all...

noitsnotme

jellycat234 said:

noitsnotme said:

There have been multiple months in the last 3 years where the last day of the month fell on a weekend.

Since the problem in Sept 2023 there have been 3 further months where the last day fell on a weekend:  Sunday 31st Dec 2023, Sunday 31st Mar 2024 and most recently Sunday 30th June 2024.

What happened on all those months when your payment would have gone out the following month?

Exactly! And not one of those have been flagged! No consistency from them at all...

Sounds like a pretty useless admin department.

Go back to them and point out that it has not been a problem on all the other months where the last day falls on a weekend and see what they say.

jellycat234

DE_612183 said:

Have you asked them what period your end of month payment covers - is it in arrears or advance.

When I worked in a HA rent was always supposed to be paid a month in advance - so by leaving it till the end of the month you are cutting it fine.

I believe it to be in arrears.

When I moved jobs my wage date was moved from 27th to last day of the month, I contacted them and asked if I could move my rent payments to the first of the month and they advised me that I would have to pay the 2 months' rent on consecutive days to avoid being in arrears. As I wasn't able to afford two payments from the same pay check, they then suggested that I move my payment date to the last date to be in line with when I am paid.  

Appreciate it is cutting it fine but they suggested it and it aligns with my payday.

gelato_cat

jellycat234 said:

However now they are saying to prevent automated messages coming through to me saying I'm in arrears, I should move my direct debit date

If you're happy to ignore and delete the automated messages, I would say just carry on as you are.