Direct Debit

[LSainsbury]

Hello,


We have a DD setup with our bank to pay the local council's council tax.

The council have decided to change their name (they put an "and" in it) and subsequently they have had to change the DD name.

So without informing us (a few thousand other local residents no doubt) they have decided to create a new DD with the new name.

Under the DD guarantee I didn't think anybody was allowed to create a new DD without written permission from the account holder?

We deleted the 2nd DD that was setup using the wonders of internet banking and informed the council that we had do so, only to be confronted by a rude worker telling us we should'nt have done that.

It's our bloody bank account and if we see something suspicious we'lll action it!!

We've been in touch with the bank they have sided with us (i.e. - no they should not have done it..)

Can they setup a DD without informing us? What do you think?

[Gary L]

I doubt they can. you only authorised the original one, not subsequent ones they set up themselves after.
if they have done this then they must have cancelled the original one from their end. and because you've cancelled the second one then there isn't one in place now, you'll have to set up another one.

[Tech_Boy]

this http://www.bacs.co.uk/bacs/businesse...ersrights.aspx
says that it is only changes to the amount date or frequency that you would need to be informed of, but you'd have thought that the Council would
A, write to you to inform you of the change.
B, instruct the bank to cancel the original DD in the now incorrect name

but then again, we are talking about Councils here, and if yours is anything like Swansea Council, then I don't hold out much hope of you getting any Common Sense from them.

[LSainsbury]

Originally Posted by Gary L

I doubt they can. you only authorised the original one, not subsequent ones they set up themselves after.

Got any hard evidence for that - or just a guess?

I've looked at the BACS and FO sites already but could not find any info on 2nd DD's.

Originally Posted by Gary L

if they have done this then they must have cancelled the original one from their end. and because you've cancelled the second one then there isn't one in place now, you'll have to set up another one.

Yep - we know - they'll need to send us the form to complete.

It's the principle of them having the nerve to setup a second one without informing us first.

---------- Post added at 10:38 ---------- Previous post was at 10:35 ----------

Originally Posted by Tech_Boy

this http://www.bacs.co.uk/bacs/businesse...ersrights.aspx
says that it is only changes to the amount date or frequency that you would need to be informed of, but you'd have thought that the Council would
A, write to you to inform you of the change.
B, instruct the bank to cancel the original DD in the now incorrect name

but then again, we are talking about Councils here, and if yours is anything like Swansea Council, then I don't hold out much hope of you getting any Common Sense from them.

Thanks for that link - seen that one already but it didn't really give info on 2nd DD's

Wonder if the change notice was sent via Royal Snail!!

[Gary L]

I think 'trusted companies' can set up DD's without you having to sign an agreement. but in this case, had you had cancelled the original one and they set up the second, things would be different.

I'd say it's probably 'legal' for them to do what they have done, if they have cancelled the original one when putting the second in place. and having informed you of it.

Letter's probably in post.
unless they used it to keep the fire going on the picket line.

[Taf]

I think the DD will identify the council as a NUMBER not a name, so provided they haven't changed their NUMBER the banks will see no difference and will continue the DD's...

[LSainsbury]

Originally Posted by Gary L

I think 'trusted companies' can set up DD's without you having to sign an agreement.

Never heard that before - where did you get that info from?

---------- Post added at 11:40 ---------- Previous post was at 11:39 ----------

Originally Posted by Taf

I think the DD will identify the council as a NUMBER not a name, so provided they haven't changed their NUMBER the banks will see no difference and will continue the DD's...

It was a completly new DD.

[NoKnowledge]

Isn't this the same as what Virgin Media did?

Well for me, my direct debit was telewest and without informing me there was another direct debit setup for virgin media, but when the time came the money was taken from virgin media and telewest disappeared.

[Jon T]

Originally Posted by NoKnowledge

Isn't this the same as what Virgin Media did?

Well for me, my direct debit was telewest and without informing me there was another direct debit setup for virgin media, but when the time came the money was taken from virgin media and telewest disappeared.

This happened to me as well, and also when my Housing Association changed it's name from "North British Housing" to "Places for People".