Halifax Building Society

[David Priestman]

I went into the Halifax Building Society personally in August and cancelled my direct debit for my Villa insurance. They have however still taken it out! As I am in England until 22nd Dec I can only speak to someone over the phone and I just seem to be getting "fobbed off!"Any advice or suggestions of a course of action would be much appreciated

[Alyson]

With Direct Debits (in any country) it is the company that its paid to who takes the money out. That's who you should phone!
If possible, in future, pay by Standing order - you control that and can stop or alter it at your bank!

[Doublet2]

How do standing orders deal with monthly fluctuations in the amount demanded i.e water, electricity etc.

[Alyson]

They don't! That has to be a variable Direct Debit.

[WENDY G]

Almost all Spanish banks will return any money they pay out on DD's etc if you request it within 14 days of payment, not sure about the Halifax, closed my account with them they are nowhere near as good as the Soanish banks
Wendy

[Doublet2]

MMMMMM then perhaps Standing orders are not the answer then as suggested

[Alyson]

Almost all Spanish banks will return any money they pay out on DD's etc if you request it within 14 days of payment, not sure about the Halifax, closed my account with them they are nowhere near as good as the Soanish banks
Wendy

Under the Direct Debit Guarantee, which is printed on all Direct Debit forms, Banks anywhere HAVE to refund the money for payments deducted incorrectly. HOWEVER, in practice, they are often extremely reluctant to do this and you have to be VERY insistant!

[Alyson]

MMMMMM then perhaps Standing orders are not the answer then as suggested

Not for monthly amounts which vary but, surely, if one has been paying for water, etc, for a complete year, one can AVERAGE the monthly consumption payment required and set up a Standing Order for that!

[Doublet2]

Sorry Alyson, but you seem to be wrong again, you don't have a property in Spain I asume, because both Electric (3 monthly)and water bills(2 monthly) vary on each occasion they are presented by the various utility companies and they dictate to you what you pay to them, not your estimate of what it should be. If you ever get a property in Spain you will soon learn this is Spain not the UK, so be careful with the advice you offer people

[WENDY G]

Twice at my bank (the Cam) I have gone in and asked for the money to returned it was done immediately, and I have also done it on line no problem, so they will do it.

[Alyson]

Sorry Alyson, but you seem to be wrong again, you don't have a property in Spain I asume, because both Electric (3 monthly)and water bills(2 monthly) vary on each occasion they are presented by the various utility companies and they dictate to you what you pay to them, not your estimate of what it should be. If you ever get a property in Spain you will soon learn this is Spain not the UK, so be careful with the advice you offer people

You're right! I don't yet and it's fascinating to find out the differences with no logical reason for them!
I have, however, had a Spanish Bank Account before with Unicaja - around the time when Spain was changing from the peseta to the euro - and they ripped me off something rotten so I was just trying to help. Sorry!

[Alyson]

I was, however, correct in saying that with direct debits, it is the Company to whom they are paid that one must get on to to stop them, NOT your Bank!