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Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:30 am
by chris.g
Not sure if this will interest anyone and if I'm the only one who didn't know this.....[:I]
Just had a conversation with a lady form the Co-op bank, long story but I feared my account would be closed but it's fine.
Anyhow, I asked her to clarify the d/d due date and said that I thought companies could only request a d/d AFTER the agreed date....not so!! She told me that it was company discretion and that they could request them basically anytime!!
The thing is, and I don't know how may others did, but I have always understood that the agreed date is the earliest they can take the direct debit. That means that, unless we always have a float in the bank to cover all of our d/d's, we could go overdrawn.
It's a scary thought for us who have basic acc's that can close for returned d/d's. [:(]

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:07 am
by Viki.W
Thanks Chris, that explains why British Gas were able to take it out earlier when I changed bank accounts, luckily I had some money in, but that would be a disaster seeing as I'm trying to sort the IVA out, imagine how that would have looked! Viki X

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 2:03 pm
by animaleyes76
THe one thing that you should note is that they are going to make a debit on a date that is not the usual due date they should inform you at least 10 working days before it is made.

If you feel a DD has been taken and should not have you can get your bank to reverse the dd by filling in an indemnity form. They will (usually) cancel their charges as well caused by the DD.

Then you just have to have a verbal argument with the company that made the debit ;o)

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:41 pm
by kallis3
The only thing I know about direct debits is that they send the request to the bank a few days before the DD is due.

I have never had a problem with them taking it out before hand, even when it is due over a weekend, they take it on the Monday afterwards.

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 5:42 pm
by kallis3
The only thing I know about direct debits is that they send the request to the bank a few days before the DD is due.

I have never had a problem with them taking it out before hand, even when it is due over a weekend, they take it on the Monday afterwards.

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 8:18 pm
by chris.g
Yes, I've never had any bother before but was quite concerned that this could happen. As long as they notify you before then that's fine but if not, it could create a lot of trouble.

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 9:17 pm
by Adam Davies
Hi
If you ever have a problem with a DD then simply ask your bank to refund it under the DD guarantee.
They have to do this
Regards

Posted: Fri Jun 06, 2008 10:40 pm
by Soulgrowth
That's why I don't like direct debits. When I was opening my new account with a view to my IVA I took the opportunity to sort out all my direct debits and I only have the bare essentials (mortgage, council tax) ect. on direct debit now and pay the rest when I choose to. I always think that the more you can limit access to organisations dipping in and out of your account, the better.

Debbie