Last year I had problems with a certain internet company setting up direct debits or not stating dates and amounts of debits. ie I was charged. I'd phone up explain and get nowhere and the company refused totally to pay. so who footed the bill, little old me. This is currently part of a complaint to the ombudsman.

Yesturday I look at my statement and guess what a company had taken money using a direct debit that was set up on friday as there were insufficient funds it was returned and ie charges. They never told me date or amount or anything. I emailed the company and told them that since they didnt' give me notice then any charges would be they're responsibility. They said it wasn't them as it was a 'verbal' agreement (even though there wasn't one) so I contacted the bank. Same again oh its nothing to do with us its the company who must stand the charges. And in the local branch one assistant even said that she didn't know what the direct debit guarantee was!!!!

Getting nowhere I contact BACs who put me through to Apecs. The woman on the phone was great. She told me what was right all along plus more. The company is responsible for the charges but the bank should let me put in an indemnity claim for conceqencial losses (they told me could only claim if the money had been taken) and then they must recover the charges from the company and that was they're responsiblitiy or they weren't sticking to the direct debit rules. She also said that if they still refused to do this then she would phone the bank up herself and speak to them for me. she was great honestly someone who actually told me what my rights were and not ummming and arrring.

So I hope this helps those who have paid charges which they can't afford and through no fault of they're own

I was appalled at all them charges I have paid in the past just because I couldn't get the bank to help me or to get the companies to pay. This is discusting.

Good for you and thanks for the info. However your post is a bit unlear. Is it the Abbey you are talking about or some other comapny? I'd like to put it in the right forum.

Are you going to claim the charges which you did pay?

Sorry yes it is abbey I'm talking about. I talk in riddles sometimes.

Going in tomorrow to tell them what I've been told.

Do you think I'll have any chance about the charges from last year? The ones from them are in a complaint for the ombudsman I've also let them know in writting my findings, should I leave that to them?

You can recover all disproportionate charges over the preceding 6 years - so why not.

The Ombudsman does not like to deal with things which are in process elsewhere.

However, i should just start the recovery process and be damned. If you need more copies of statements then make another DPA request.

Thanks alot for the advise. Getting blumming sick of them tbh

This topic was closed on 03/05/19.

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