Direct debit - consumer rights

Howitzer

Hi there

I recently signed for a service and setup to pay by direct.
The company provided me my certificate for the year and that was that.

It's been 2 months now and they haven't taken any money - they lost my direct debit.

I rang and they are sending another form to fill and will then start hitting me for the 2 months + the next month.

What are my entitlements as a consumer?
This is quite an inconvenience.

karlh

if you originally signed up to take an monthly amount, they can only take out that amount, not the amount to date in a lump.

if you agreed to pay in full then afraid they can charge the full amount.

you are within your rights to cancel service and payment altogether though if that is more convenient.

BolBill

karlhoff wrote:

if you originally signed up to take an monthly amount, they can only take out that amount, not the amount to date in a lump.

if you agreed to pay in full then afraid they can charge the full amount.

you are within your rights to cancel service and payment altogether though if that is more convenient.

Really? Well I cant get a DD stopped from my account because the company (phone Insurance) won't reply to requests made from my (less than helpful) Bank.

Gosh

BolBill wrote:

Really? Well I cant get a DD stopped from my account because the company (phone Insurance) won't reply to requests made from my (less than helpful) Bank.

You are entitled to cancel the DD at anytime - without your Bank contacting the company - it has nothing to do with them - until such case as they don't get their money and then they have to contact you not the Bank.

Put your request in writing to the Bank and remind them of the Code of Practise for direct debits which allows you to cancel at any time

After all said and done it's YOUR account and the Bank has no need to go back to the company for anything

Howitzer

original poster:

so can I tell the service provider: you've messed up by not taking the 2 mths pay. Now you can't have that 2 mths and we will start paying now - for the remaining 10 mths of the contract.

If this is the case does anyone have a link to back it up?

Or should I just pay them what they are due (but missed collecting)

Gosh

Howitzer wrote:

original poster:

so can I tell the service provider: you've messed up by not taking the 2 mths pay. Now you can't have that 2 mths and we will start paying now - for the remaining 10 mths of the contract.

If this is the case does anyone have a link to back it up?

Or should I just pay them what they are due (but missed collecting)

Don't think you'd get too far with the first point.

I'd say it's normal practise for the first payment to 'catch-up' any missed payments - after all you've got what you paid for.

Howitzer

well there's the inconvenience of paying 3 mths in a row.

should I ask for some flowers maybe?

Gosh

Howitzer wrote:

well there's the inconvenience of paying 3 mths in a row.

should I ask for some flowers maybe?

Look at your first point from both sides, they haven't received anything for something they gave you 2 months ago

You could ask them nicely to start the 12 months from now - plead financial hardship - i.e. if you don't have the 3 months money in your account the Direct Debit won't get paid anyway - so it's better for them to start now and get paid now - they might listen, there again they might not. No harm in trying though