Debit

paf1950

First time poster. Hi everybody. Has anybody else found themselves in a predicament such as mine, and been able to extricate themselves?

Estranged wife set up an an internet account with her debit card, this arrangement was against our joint account. This debit card expired shortly after the transaction.

Internet company will not speak to me as I am not the internet account holder.

Bank continue to make payments to internet provider stating they are legally obliged to, this, despite me instructing them to transfer all payments and direct debits to my sole account when wife and I went our seperate ways.

According to the bank I cannot close the joint account without wifes signature, although I haven't the foggiest idea of her location.

I stopped all payments into the joint account, bank continue making payments utilising overdraft facility, eventually charging me for exceeding overdraft. They are now raiding my sole account to make payments I am unable to stop.

How do I escape from this conundrum?

OliveOyl_2

It's a direct debit from your joint account?

Do you bank on-line at all? It is fairly simple to cancel a direct debit if so.
Then the internet company can pursue the person who signed the contract?

You can cancel a standing order too. But you have more protection with a direct debit, and can ask your bank to refund payments that are disputed. Not sure why your bank are giving you the run around

In_Search_Of_Me

I dont see how the bank are egally obliged to pay a DDM that you have cancelled! B***lcks to that! I would write formaly, sending recorded delivery stating once again that ddm should be cancelled & payments refunded and then ask for a copy of complaints proceedure. Always get the name of person on the phone if they ring & if I were you I'd close the account & tell em to take a long walk off short pier! Let us know how you get on!

Lemon_Tree

if its that a debit card has been used. The fact that it's now expired should mean that the bank reject the transactions. If it's a direct debit, you can cancel it as a person with a name on the account and then should be able to invoke the DD guarentee if the bank honor it. (well that's how i see it anyway)

paf1950

Thanks for the info guys. However, bank are saying that it is not DD but debit. Apparently a subtle difference in terminology. The arrangement was made using ex wifes debit card, which is long expired. They say it can only be cancelled by her. Great if I knew where she was. (Under the patio is only wishful thinking on my part) But, they are maintaining it is joint responsibility, ergo, mine. Internet provider refuses to speak to me as the account is in ex's name not mine. Bank gives my money away to ISP and they both win. I set up parachute account with another bank, and have all payments made into that. In the meantime I am getting regular calls from Bank on landline and mobile in what virtually amounts to harrassment. Bearing in mind I have been with this bank for over 50 years I am less than impressed. Any further advice out there?

kyh

I am in a similar position with AOL - still taking payments from a card that hasn't been valid for over 14 months - this is my mission this week to finally get AOl to stop taking payments as haven't had AOL account for over 12 months! Have you tried getting a solicitor to write to the ISP? Or there may be someone on here who can help with writing a letter in the correct terminology!

Good Luck

denerobt

Hi there to both of you. :j

WOW - how can a bank honour payments from cards that have expired? If we tried doing this they would shout fraudulent use of a card or something!

I didn't think banks can honour payments from expired cards. I can't buy groceries with an expired card - surely this is no different?

Could you phone the banks help desk and ask why you can't buy groceries on an expired card then ask why they insist on honouring payments from one?

I'm sure someone will post here with some definitive help but good luck to the both of you !!

Running_man

Hi
Make appointment at bank with manager.State you will no longer be liable for this debit as you are seperated from wife.With no way of knowing where she is.Inform him you will be taking legal proceedings against bank for stress and harrassment.Plus reimbursement.Also tell him you are contacting the TV companies and press.
Dont be fobbed off.
In fact just walk in bank demand to see someone NOW.Raised voice works wonders.:mad:
Tell internet provider the same.Telling them you dont want to speak to them about the account you are just informing them what you are doing.
Worth giving it a go.

Running_man

Hi
Make appointment at bank with manager.State you will no longer be liable for this debit as you are seperated from wife.With no way of knowing where she is.Inform him you will be taking legal proceedings against bank for stress and harrassment.Plus reimbursement.Also tell him you are contacting the TV companies and press.Tell them to remove name from account today they will tell you they cant.Then tell them you leave me with no option but to contact etc etc
Dont be fobbed off.
In fact just walk in bank demand to see someone NOW.Raised voice works wonders.:mad:
Tell internet provider the same.Telling them you dont want to speak to them about the account you are just informing them what you are doing.
Worth giving it a go.

tyllwyd

Hmm - do you think that your wife could cancel the internet account over the phone? Do you think she set up a password? Because if a lady with the same name as your wife rang them up and mistakenly gave them your wife's account details and asked to cancel ...

paf1950

Yes she did set a password which I am not privy to. The bank are now continually ringing my mobile and the landline at home in what virtually amounts to harrassment. One of the callers could not even pronounce my name correctly.
They ask for security details which I refuse to provide. How the devil do I know who is on the other end of the telephone? When I point out that is they who are ringing me they become quite flustered as apparently this is not in their script.

I tell them that if they wish to communicate they should do so in writing as this gives me a written account and is not open to any ambiguity. A letter has now arrived asking me to telephone their collections centre. There appears to be a total breakdown between what I request them to put on their screens and what really happens.

Regarding advising them I am no longer responsible for wifes debt, they informed me that because it is a joint acct then I am totally liable.