Direct Debit Dates Changing

chuckley

'on or around' annoys the HELL out of me. recently my mag subscriptions didnt leave my account for a whole 7 days after it was due, and since ive had the subs (2+ years) theyve always come out on the said due date. i started thinking they'd cancelled without telling me.

Even if u didnt have cleared funds when it came out u wouldnt get charged if u replaced said cash by close of business that day... or at least thats how Abbey works.

98jdougl

I'm still confused about the op saying they had enough money in the account on both the 5th and the 10th- why did the direct debit get rejected if this was the case?

exel1966

Trouble is it's not immediately clear from Post 1 as to what the situation was, but from the way it's been written it does seem like there weren't enough funds in the account. Until/IF the OP comes back we'll never know.

dunstonh

i wasnt blaming anyone

You were blaming direct debits and sympathising with the OP. That doesnt help anyone. Better to know the reasons rather than making emotional one liners.

Trouble is it's not immediately clear from Post 1 as to what the situation was, but from the way it's been written it does seem like there weren't enough funds in the account. Until/IF the OP comes back we'll never know.

Correct. We have had to make some assumptions due to lack of information and perhaps some misunderstanding by the OP.

The assumptions are fairly easy to guess but they are as follows:
1 - The direct debit bounced (probably on 5th of the month). This assumption is based on his charges comment.
2 - The direct debit was paid on the 10th, 5 days later. That suggests the company re-requested it which normally happens on bounced direct debits unless frequent offender.

Some banks do not show bounced direct debits on the statement, some do. (i.e. some show debit made and then contra entry showing it bounced or some show nothing at all). It appears to be the ex building societies that are more likely to not to show it on statement.

Until the OP confirms those assumptions or makes further clarification then we will never know.

YorkshireBoy

I think LittleVoice has hit on the true story, when s/he said...

LittleVoice wrote: »

If there was enough on the 5th but not on the 10th when the company tried to collect, what happened to the funds in the meantime? Did you just spend it...

...because it looks like the OP missed out a word (inserted) in the first post...

weedy1234 wrote:

The thing is; the direct debit date is the 5th of each month - when there would have been enough to cover it. However, the company came calling on the 10th - when there was not enough to cover it.

Any more bets?

C_Ronaldo

DD's are good, i dont understand peoples problem with them, make sure theres enough money in there to cover them then you will be fine

geordie_joe

C_Ronaldo wrote: »

DD's are good, i dont understand peoples problem with them, make sure theres enough money in there to cover them then you will be fine

I thought that for years. Then I moved house last October. BT said as I had been a customer with them for nearly ten years at that house and I was taking over a BT line at my new house there would be no charge.

On Saturday I was checking my bank account and noticed BT had taken two payments from my account. When I rang them they said the £145 was for my taking over the line in my new house and the £63 pound was for ending my contract at my old house early. I'd had the phone 9 years and 10 months at that house!

The man I spoke to said he would try and get me a refund, but even if he did I would not actually get any cash back, it would just be deducted from my next bill.

As soon as I put the phone down I did what I told the man I would do. Straight onto my online account and canceled the DD, then I walked around to my branch and double checked it was canceled.

chuckley

to geordie: the thing is u never cancelled u just transferred the service... so their fee/payment makes NO SENSE. yes technically u ended early at other addy but as it was moved i thought it moves with it, starting a new 12mnth at the new addy? at least thats how blueyonder did it.

u need to cancel ur service tho if uve cancelled the D/D and move providers, or they'l still bill ya.

geordie_joe

chuckley wrote: »

to geordie: the thing is u never cancelled u just transferred the service... so their fee/payment makes NO SENSE. yes technically u ended early at other addy but as it was moved i thought it moves with it, starting a new 12mnth at the new addy? at least thats how blueyonder did it.

u need to cancel ur service tho if uve cancelled the D/D and move providers, or they'l still bill ya.

The man I spoke to agreed the charges were wrong, but insisted that they would not give me the money back, just deduct what they owe me from my next bills.

I can't move as we don't have cable and the last time I check I would still have to pay BT for the line. Also If I move from BT it may be harder to get my money back.

wifeforlife

weedy1234 wrote: »

Ive just recieved a bank charge for my bank not paying a direct debit due to insufficient funds. The thing is; the direct debit date is the 5th of each month - when there would have been enough to cover it. However, the company came calling on the 10th - when there was enough to cover it. DO they have any right to be able to change this date by 5 days??? The direct debit guarantee says they must notify me in writing, but the company says they collect 'on or around' which is pretty vuage and i think 5 days is too much. Do I have a case to get my charges back???????

If the date is confirmed as the 5th of the month, the company has to notify you of a change in date, if they dont and they collect the money you are covered under the direct debit guarantee to have an indemnity.

Assuming they money was there on the 5th, you assume as normal it has lifted and you spend spend spend (as I do to too) with what you think is your remaining balance, I can understand why your annoyed at the transaction lifting 5 days after the agreed time.

With regard to getting charges back, be cheeky enough and ask, if it's the first time it's happened usually a bank will refund as a goodwill gesture , if you've no success then call the company who wanted the charge and ask them, if they both say no unfortunately learn from it and maybe consider leaving a balance in your account at all times

HTH
Cate