Co-Op acknowledge Automatic Charges?

[pixxy]

I wrote to Co-Op bank in February 2005 about charges, and whether they'd refund the charges. They wrote back the following letter:

[...]
I apologise that you did not receive the Direct Debit form that you requested. I understand that it can be difficult to make manual payments whilst abroad, but they required each month to avoid automatic charges being applied to your account.
[...]
As resposible lenders we do not want to put customers at risk by making funds available. Therefore a business decision has been made for you to ensure that no transactions can be made on your card. Please destoy your card and cancel any continuous payments you have set up with the companies involved.
[...]

Two questions:

1) Have they acknowledged the charges are automated, do not involve manual intervention etc?

2) Does the second paragraph imply that it'd be irresponsible of them to lend me money?

[alanfromderby]

1) Yes
2) It would seem to imply that, yes.