Random Direct Debit from my Account?!?

[januspolanski]

I checked my bank statements from the last couple of months and there s been a £23 pound direct debit coming out of my account every month. I went to the bank and asked what it was and they gave me an address of someone living in Southport called Patricia???and a phone number. I tried ringing the number but it said that the number doesnt recieve incoming calls. I m going to write to them and see wtf is going on. Also the D/D has caused me to be overdrawn past my limit twice thus recieving a £35 charge.

Is the bank obliged to return the money if it is found to be a fraudulent direct debit?

What should I do if I dont get a reply from the Southport address, contact the authorities?

Should I change my bank details to prevent this happening again?

[number_6]

If you are sure it's fraudulent: Don't bother writing. Go back to your bank today and tell them that the direct debit is fraudulent. Under the Direct Debit Guarantee, they must refund you and chase the person receiving the money themselves. It is not your concern. You should get a refund immediately.

[queenofleon]

Sorry to hear that, how strange usually it is a business that does that not personal!

I had an american company keep taking money out of my account unauthorised, after I had purchased something initially. My bank told me there was nothing they could do and that cancelling my card wouldnt necassarily help.

I thought WTF do you get paid for?

I did however have my card nicked and my bank emptied and I eventually got that back. I think if they can prove its fraud you will get it but it will take months.

good luck....the bastards!!

[markomac]

I checked my bank statements from the last couple of months and there s been a £23 pound direct debit coming out of my account every month. I went to the bank and asked what it was and they gave me an address of someone living in Southport called Patricia???and a phone number. I tried ringing the number but it said that the number doesnt recieve incoming calls. I m going to write to them and see wtf is going on. Also the D/D has caused me to be overdrawn past my limit twice thus recieving a £35 charge.

Is the bank obliged to return the money if it is found to be a fraudulent direct debit?

What should I do if I dont get a reply from the Southport address, contact the authorities?

Should I change my bank details to prevent this happening again?

Today is your lucky day!

I just happen to know the 'system' inside out.

Under the Direct Debit Scheme the bank MUST pay you the money that was taken from your account without your permission. This also includes any official direct debits where a company has taken too much. For example, O2 bill you £80.00 when its normally £35 a month, but it's not your error.

The bank MUST refund the difference, or in your case both amounts of money, and then they submit a report to their local service centre to investigate it and get the money back. They will pay you in a couple of days and the chase the company up for the money back.

I have yet to see the bank take money back once they have paid you because the company have proved you owed them. They must also refund the charge as it is not your fault and it just a figure they make up on a screen anyways.

Don't take any nonsense! Say I want to claim under the direct debit guarantee scheme that ALL banks abide by and I want my charge back.

Also ask that they report the company as doing this under possible fraud. They can submit a money laundering or suspicious transaction report for it to be investigated.

If you need any other assitance, please let me know.

MM

[januspolanski]

Today is your lucky day!

I just happen to know the 'system' inside out.

Under the Direct Debit Scheme the bank MUST pay you the money that was taken from your account without your permission. This also includes any official direct debits where a company has taken too much. For example, O2 bill you £80.00 when its normally £35 a month, but it's not your error.

The bank MUST refund the difference, or in your case both amounts of money, and then they submit a report to their local service centre to investigate it and get the money back. They will pay you in a couple of days and the chase the company up for the money back.

I have yet to see the bank take money back once they have paid you because the company have proved you owed them. They must also refund the charge as it is not your fault and it just a figure they make up on a screen anyways.

Don't take any nonsense! Say I want to claim under the direct debit guarantee scheme that ALL banks abide by and I want my charge back.

Also ask that they report the company as doing this under possible fraud. They can submit a money laundering or suspicious transaction report for it to be investigated.

If you need any other assitance, please let me know.

MM

Thanyou very much my friend. Im going straight to the bank today.

I assume this is UK your talking about yes as that where I am.

Again thanks for the info.It is my lucky day.

Regards.

[markomac]

Thanyou very much my friend. Im going straight to the bank today.

I assume this is UK your talking about yes as that where I am.

Again thanks for the info.It is my lucky day.

Regards.

Yea mate, in the UK.

Good luck getting a cashier thats helpful! They'll probably try and flog you a loan or a credit card.

Let us know how you get on.

MM

[hey_jude]

hey markomac,

I cancelled a Direct Debit online and wrote to the company telling them I cancelled and why [long story] 3 weeks later the bank paid the D/D as usual and then said it was not their fault but the company resubmitted the request and it went through anyway.

I complained by telephone and they said it wouldn't happen again but refused to refund my money. I want to write a complaint letter.

Does the D/D guarantee cover this too?

peace :)

[markomac]

hey markomac,

I cancelled a Direct Debit online and wrote to the company telling them I cancelled and why [long story] 3 weeks later the bank paid the D/D as usual and then said it was not their fault but the company resubmitted the request and it went through anyway.

I complained by telephone and they said it wouldn't happen again but refused to refund my money. I want to write a complaint letter.

Does the D/D guarantee cover this too?

peace :)

Hey Jude,

Sorry for the delay, I was at the pub on my lunch!

Yea the same rules apply, and even more so in your case.

You gave them the permission to debit an amount from your account based on a contract or agreement. If they brake this, intentional or otherwise, you are entitled to it back. The bank use this service and as such owe the money back to us to pay on the grounds of any dispute and take it up with the companies involved to get it back.

In your case there is a clear audit trail that you cancelled it online. This should be enough, but many internet companies, councils and phone operators reissue the direct debit, which is what has happened to you, under a new reference number because they know the old one has been rejected.

Get straight to the bank and ask for it back, if you get resistence, demand it. THEN contact the company and say, whether its true or not, 'I got a £35 charge because of your error'. Hopefully you have copy of the letter, if not make another and post date it.

Double bubble mate.

These corporate bastards rip us off all the time. Get one back.

I hope this helps.

MM

[hey_jude]

excellent ...I'm one the phone now :D thank you for that markomac!

I hope you enjoyed your pub visit and the nectar was all the more sweeter knowing you're beating the system with a well place bat! :D

[januspolanski]

Yea mate, in the UK.

Good luck getting a cashier thats helpful! They'll probably try and flog you a loan or a credit card.

Let us know how you get on.

MM

Im gonna go on Monday armed with all my statements. Ill post an update Mark incase I need any more advice. Cheers again!

[girlgye]

Hello Mark
So then you would know what is happening with the illegal bank charges then in terms of getting the money back?

Today is your lucky day!

I just happen to know the 'system' inside out.

Under the Direct Debit Scheme the bank MUST pay you the money that was taken from your account without your permission. This also includes any official direct debits where a company has taken too much. For example, O2 bill you £80.00 when its normally £35 a month, but it's not your error.

The bank MUST refund the difference, or in your case both amounts of money, and then they submit a report to their local service centre to investigate it and get the money back. They will pay you in a couple of days and the chase the company up for the money back.

I have yet to see the bank take money back once they have paid you because the company have proved you owed them. They must also refund the charge as it is not your fault and it just a figure they make up on a screen anyways.

Don't take any nonsense! Say I want to claim under the direct debit guarantee scheme that ALL banks abide by and I want my charge back.

Also ask that they report the company as doing this under possible fraud. They can submit a money laundering or suspicious transaction report for it to be investigated.

If you need any other assitance, please let me know.

MM