I most liked the bit about when I heard the billing system was changing and thus was expecting there to be problems.

You were very diplomatic. You had to think for a moment though, to stop yourself telling it like it is .

Just reading through Plusnet Billing woes since the topic got bumped due to AF on Radio 4, I agree with ppppenguin99 regarding direct debits.

I've got a refund on DDs a few times. Once, my bank suggested I try and "sort it out with the company first" but they backed off when I quoted the DD guarantee and threatened to complain about that wrong advice.

If the company takes too much the bank gives you a full and immediate refund. I just emailed the incorrect bills to the bank as evidence. The whole payment gets refunded, not just the overcharge. Tends to concentrate minds.

Oh, and cancelling a DD - just notify the bank, the DD guarantee requests you notify the company but this is not a requirement. However, when leaving a company, leave the DD in place until they give you any refund due.

ehteam is 100% correct on the DD guarantee and refunds.Except possibly for his very last sentence.

AFAIK a refund can still go into your account even after a DD has been cancelled but I've never put it to the test. I reckon it's not worth finding out the hard way.

Anybody can transfer money into any account, (within the UK at least). All you need is the name on the account, the bank sort code, and the account number.

If a firm like Plusnet can only do it through the direct debit system, that is their own accounts system at fault again. Though many ISPs use the same method for refunds.

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Anybody can transfer money into any account, (within the UK at least). All you need is the name on the account, the bank sort code, and the account number.

As Clarkson found when he published his sort code and account number in the newspaper - anyone can TAKE from an account as well.

PAYM (pay by mobile number) is safer if you need to publish as you can only deposit.

As Clarkson found when he published his sort code and account number in the newspaper - anyone can TAKE from an account as well.

Via a direct debit they can (think they need your name and address as well). But DD has protection and so if they do take money fraudulently then your bank would pay it back so no permanent loss.

Sort code and account number are pretty much public information as they are printed on every cheque.

Edited by ian72 (Tue 11-Dec-18 08:14:06)

Yes, DD is more secure.

In reply to a post by ian72:

Sort code and account number are pretty much public information as they are printed on every cheque.

Agreed, but people don't think of the ability to extract money using these details. Also cheque usage has dropped a significant amount since the end of guarantee cards.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

Yes, DD is more secure.

In reply to a post by ian72:

Sort code and account number are pretty much public information as they are printed on every cheque.

Agreed, but people don't think of the ability to extract money using these details.

LOL

Your previous post contradicts that assertion .

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by RobertoS:

Anybody can transfer money into any account, (within the UK at least). All you need is the name on the account, the bank sort code, and the account number.

As Clarkson found when he published his sort code and account number in the newspaper - anyone can TAKE from an account as well.

PAYM (pay by mobile number) is safer if you need to publish as you can only deposit.

Are you sure? The d/d was to a charity which is one of the organisations that does not need a signature to set one up. Not to an individual.

The person doing it clearly also knew how to set up a d/d for such organisations.

What is ridiculous is that what appears to be a criminal act cannot be investigated. From all three links:-

The bank cannot find out who did this because of the Data Protection Act and they cannot stop it from happening again.

Re your second point, is that true? What about the television adverts for charities that say �Text nnnnnn to donate £x�, either once-off or monthly.

That will charge your mobile account. So anyone knowing your number could presumably pull off the same trick?

Edited by RobertoS (Tue 11-Dec-18 13:03:17)