Southern Water Direct Debit set up without authorisation

kentgirl_2

I have just discovered Southern Water set up a direct debit on my account in November 2024 without my authorisation and no correspondence was received to confirm this.

Up until this date I had always paid my Southern Water account manually online every six months and never missed a payment.

Bearing in mind I was one of their many customers who had a security breach, I'm furious that they have done this without my permission.

Has anyone else experienced this?  



 

p00hsticks

How did they get your bank details ?

kentgirl_2

I imagine from where I've previously paid online

p00hsticks

kentgirl_2 said:

I imagine from where I've previously paid online

I'm not sure that would give them the account number and sort code though, would it ? Just the name on the account  and the reference number you provided (presumably your Thames Water Account number) when making the payment... 

Have you challenged the DD with your bank under the DD mandate and asked them for the evidence that you agreed to it ?

kentgirl_2

p00hsticks said:

kentgirl_2 said:

I imagine from where I've previously paid online

I'm not sure that would give them the account number and sort code though, would it ? Just the name on the account  and the reference number you provided (presumably your Thames Water Account number) when making the payment... 

Have you challenged the DD with your bank under the DD mandate and asked them for the evidence that you agreed to it ?

Not yet as only logged into my account a couple of hours ago after receiving an email from Southern Water stating my latest bill was ready to view online.  I'm going to phone them tomorrow and ask for evidence that I had agreed to this.