I tried to pay Staples for a new business account I have set up.
I entered the sort code, bank account number and account reference from the invoice I received into the Bill Payment system.
I get a letter from Lloyds TSB saying Staples bank had returned the payment because of "No Account".
I also pointed out they had described it as a "standing order" which was untrue. They said that it was a standard letter. I asked if that meant that we shouldn't rely on standard letters from Lloyds TSB?
I am always very careful entering these details so I phone Lloyds TSB and ask what details I had used. They said: "We don't keep that information". Yeah, right, Mrs Call Centre Monkey. After a few minutes of arguing she agrees to find out. I'd entered the correct sort code and account number. She said I hadn't entered a reference. I point out that I have a long list of Bill Payments set up and they all have references and I always put references. They were adamant I hadn't included a reference.
I phone Staples and they told me that the account number only accepted cheques and gave me different bank details for online banking payments. This was the reason why the payment was refused.
More of the story: Don't believe what is written in a letter by Lloyds TSB or said by a Call Centre Monkey.
On a related point, I have a bank account which I check every day and transfer funds when I can see money going out that day. Despite this I get a letter from the bank saying there's insufficient funds and I need to pay money in that day. Obviously I get the letter a few days later. The letter says: "You have had an unauthorised overdraft for the last five days". I have pointed out to them that the current day is the first day. Their response is: "It's the same thing"! They read it as: "Sometime during the last five days you have had an unauthorised overdraft".