Unpaid Direct Debit - help

mx_85

I recently forgot to put the money in my account to pay a direct debit. I have just received notification of a 30 pound charge for this. What is the best way to go about reclaiming this. It is with Nationwide - I have paid every other direct debit with them and have 6710 in and isa with them and did have 5000 plus but have recently switched this to a different account with a different bank.

Is it best to just use martins template and maybe modify and ask them to refund as a goodwill gesture?

Thanks

YorkshireBoy

The best way to go about "reclaiming" the charge is to ask nicely, and mention your past history (assuming it's good?) and other savings with them.

If they won't refund, you may have a very long wait (until the current legal issues are resolved...if indeed they are resolved in your favour?).

On your budgeting...it doesn't make sense to have nearly £12K of savings and no 'float' in your DD account.

Why not forego £1K of your savings, put it in your e-Saver, and set up an overdraft facility on the FlexAccount? That way, if you forget a DD, when you next check your account online you'll see the overdrawn state (pending or current) and can instantly transfer funds across to cover the much reduced authorised overdraft interest already charged or to be charged.

If you can't get an overdraft, forego the £40 or so net interest on £1K of your savings and leave it in the FlexAccount.

The benefit is no more charges. The downside is a couple of quid a year loss of in-credit interest.

dannynixon

Rather than write to them, I would simply ring them up and say that it was a mistake on your behalf and ask them to remove the charge.