Unidentified Direct Debit issuer

friolento

born_again said:

friolento said:

elsien said:

friolento said:

mrlongest said:

My bank First Direct has asked me to authenticate a new direct debit instruction they have received on my current account – “STRIPE Re Immediat” (corrrect spelling). I don’t immediately recognise it. I’ve spoken to First Direct, and they can offer me no more information apart from its associated reference number (18 alphanumeric characters).
Can anybody help identify what body issued this DD instruction?

If a payment has already been made, ask First Direct for a refund under the Direct Debit Guarantee

Otherwise simply cancel the DD, in your FD account

Bad idea if it’s something the OP has indeed set up but it’s showing in a format that they didn’t expect. 

Worst case they will be reminded by the retailer that the payment failed, and they can then give another DD authority.

Being reminded is not the worst case. They can levy a charge for a bounced DD.. Some as much as £30

So you would just pay the unknown DD for fear of being fined? I certainly wouldn't. I have occasionally cancelled a DD - ones I remember were for David Lloyd and for Amex - they all wrote immediately to ask why I cancelled and we then settled the matter amicably.

phillw

born_again said:

Being reminded is not the worst case. They can levy a charge for a bounced DD.. Some as much as £30

If the bank can't tell you who the originator is, and you get fined by the originator for cancelling it then I'd get the bank to refund any charges you receive from the originator.

If the bank tells you the originator, and the originator can't tell you why the direct debit is taken. The originator can't fine you for cancelling.

The direct debit guarantee means the originator has to tell you when the money is being taken and how much is being taken, or you can cancel/claw back the payment. They don't then get to fine you for their mistake.

born_again

friolento said:

So you would just pay the unknown DD for fear of being fined? I certainly wouldn't. I have occasionally cancelled a DD - ones I remember were for David Lloyd and for Amex - they all wrote immediately to ask why I cancelled and we then settled the matter amicably.

No I would find out who it is too.
Given the 1st part of the description it is clear who is taking the payment via. So should not take much digging to find out who is behind the payment.

born_again

phillw said:

born_again said:

Being reminded is not the worst case. They can levy a charge for a bounced DD.. Some as much as £30

If the bank can't tell you who the originator is, and you get fined by the originator for cancelling it then I'd get the bank to refund any charges you receive from the originator.

If the bank tells you the originator, and the originator can't tell you why the direct debit is taken. The originator can't fine you for cancelling.

The direct debit guarantee means the originator has to tell you when the money is being taken and how much is being taken, or you can cancel/claw back the payment. They don't then get to fine you for their mistake.

If they have notified you of the schedule of payments, you do not have a right under DD guarantee to claim it back.

Never said it was a fine, it is a admin cost for bounced dd, by the company.

Here’s the formal bit:

The Guarantee

• The Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits

• If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit the organisation will notify you (normally 10 working days) in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request the organisation to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request

• If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by the organisation or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society

• • If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when the organisation asks you to

• You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify the organisation.