Paying a DCA.....Only EVER us a STANDING ORDER!!!!! NOT DIRECT DEBIT

[stormski]

Hi,

 

I'm just posting this here...as it seems quite a lot of people are being duped into using direct debits or giving their credit / debit card details out so they can be fleeced by DCA's...

 

So it keeps relevant...maybe there should be an award for most fleeced user....( amount taken without consent ).

 

Not happened to me...but i keep reading the same old thing.....

 

So stories please...and how much did they 'steal' without consent.

 

Regards,

Stormski

[geordieman]

Well I set up a re-occurring payment for only TWO payments via VISA payments on my bank card. One payment in Aug & the final payment in Sept (£31 each). One the very first payment date and within a space of only a few minutes an attempt was made to take £31 .......... FIFTY TWO times! Only the first five went thru because thats all I had in the bank. I was left with no money for food/travel/etc for nearly a week and was hit with £50 charges from my bank for going over the OD limit and two of the 52 failed transactions.

 

And I dont mind publically saying that this was NDR Money, the collection bunch of shop direct. They even denied this had happened even tho` I have screen shots of the money sitting in my (ex) NDR account.

[denzil69]

Many people who are having trouble paying out money owed, also live on what I would call the "bread line" - ie, week to week

Paying by direct debit or standing order can quite easily result in bank charges draining the purse strings.

Here's what I would do.

 

First, obtain from any DCA, preferably in writing only, the DCA's account number and sort code.

Next, set up your bank account so that it can be used on the internet.

Make a reasonable offer to any company/DCA, so that payments can be made each week, that fits in with your own personal budget (DO NOT give details of this to the DCA) - by this I mean, don't leave yourself short every week. Make your offer something achievable, so that they cannot come back at you if you are struggling to meet your payment in any one month/week.

 

Log into your bank account online and set up a payment - this should hold their account number and sort code, using their reference number or debt account number as a reference for them.

 

Now you are good to go, keep your payments regular.

When you want to make a payment, you can, using "make a payment" via your account (most banks now fast track payments within a day.)

This way there are no unexpected payments, amounts remain at your discretion not theirs and you have the added bonus of not incurring any bank charges.

[stormski]

Hi Denzil69,

 

Good advice...Standing order failing that even if for only £1...

 

Geordieman...that's down right scandalous.

 

Regards,

Stormski

[MARTIN3030]

The OFT issued warnings to CC holders not long ago about Direct debits.

Lenders are not allowed to deviate from agreed amounts.They were also warned about taking funds from accounts which leave the borrower short of funds for essential living expenses such as food and heat and light.

So it is down to people to remind the lenders of their responsibilities and report them if they do not observe them.

There would be a very good cause for a complaint if the lender was made aware of the borrowers financial hardship and the lender went ahead regardless with direct debits or took card payments.

There is protection there...more people should use it.

[ims21]

The OFT issued warnings to CC holders not long ago about Direct debits.

Lenders are not allowed to deviate from agreed amounts.They were also warned about taking funds from accounts which leave the borrower short of funds for essential living expenses such as food and heat and light.

So it is down to people to remind the lenders of their responsibilities and report them if they do not observe them.

There would be a very good cause for a complaint if the lender was made aware of the borrowers financial hardship and the lender went ahead regardless with direct debits or took card payments.

There is protection there...more people should use it.

 

 

Agreed but if you are actually in the unfortunate position where you have been fleeced, a complaint doesn't put food on the table that week/month.

 

Prevention being better than cure, if it were me I'd take the S/O or internet route.

 

ims

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

Agreed SO only, automated payments from cards

can frequently go wrong as there is a well known

glitch in the system that if there is a rejected payment

even if it is an ''electronic'' failure and not a lack of funds

in the account the system will repeatedly access the account

until a preset limit is reached, this info from my card reader

provider.

Brig.

[casper1963]

made all mine give me payment books they had a good moan but tough

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

It's a good idea but I have seen some

payment slips with a charge for using them:mad2:

[casper1963]

on mine it says no charge if used at barclays i only pay £1 per month on mine and get a great deal of pleasure knowing it probley costs them more to make up the books and send them out lol

[BRIGADIER2JCS]

on mine it says no charge if used at barclays i only pay £1 per month on mine and get a great deal of pleasure knowing it probley costs them more to make up the books and send them out lol

Well done casper:madgrin:

[Happyhippy1959]

Good point stormski, NEVER EVER PAY ANY OTHER WAY. I had muppetcroft sending me slips with a charge of something like £1.75 for the privilege of paying it a £1.00 in. Withheld payment until those muppets gave me there details ( simples ) Now a funny thing happened not long ago, Equidebt sent me a nice letter saying I was a valued customer and a good boy by keeping to my repayment plan £1.00 a month, they must be desperate if that makes me a good customer,,, Now it went on to say HOW EASY IT WOULD BE TO SET UP A DIRECT DEBIT..... yeah right,,,, NOT ON YOUR NELLIE.....

[denzil69]

But Casper, do you have to go to the branch to pay the £1? I understand your logic though

 

The internet banking route can be done from the home, without any counter charge.

The standing order option, with my bank, issues a charge if not enough funds are available (which is a scandal in itself)

Protection with direct debits as was said, takes not only the running around, phone calls back and forth, and doesnt always get resolved the same day. Can lead to other charges as well.

 

Protection is there, but the regulators dont seem to care about the here and now, preferring to take months to deliberate over each case, which is no use to anyone but the company that took the money incorrectly in the first place.

There have been reports of DCAs monitoring bank accounts, especially income going into an account - not sure how though or wether reports are accurate.

[Happyhippy1959]

They can blooming well monitor mine, they may feel sorry for me and pay me a £1.00 a month... T****sers,

 

HOW can they monitor a bank account... where is the Data protection !!!!!!

[casper1963]

But Casper, do you have to go to the branch to pay the £1? I understand your logic though.

 

yes but fortunatly i walk past the bank all the time so no inconvenience for me

[Happyhippy1959]

I bet you enjoy depositing that £1.00, probably as you said costs them more to collect...