RIAS / Nationwide Direct Debit - Unauthorised Debit

Why continue to deal with either of them? Go to the banking ombudsman.

CJB wrote: ... AND NEVER DO DIRECT DEBIT.

You have no idea how close I was to bursting out laughing at that. A couple of weeks back I started a new account, for one of my boys but my name. Somewhere along the process I ticked a box to transfer ALL the direct debits from my current account to the new one, without realising it. They sent me a few letters in the meantime and I thought I'd open them when I needed the account running, about now I suppose. And then I discovered that all my standing orders had gone over. I've spent the best part of six HOURS on the phone today to various mortgages, credit cards, subscriptions, even PayPal, getting them all set back to their original bank. And I've not finished yet... As an aside, you know that annoying platitude "Your call is important to us and will be answered shortly" followed by "we're experiencing very high call volumes at the moment"? Even the sodding WDCS had "high call volumes" today! If call volumes are ALWAYS high, shouldn't they got some more bloody staff?

CJB posted

You haven't yet told us what response you have had from either of them, so the question does not yet arise.

In principle, what you do is call Nationwide, tell them your account was debited in error, cite the DD guarantee, and require them to reimburse the money. They should do so immediately.

They may not; they may instead tell you to contact RIAS. But just keep repeating that it is an error and the DD compels them to do what you ask. Get a copy of the DD leaflet and quote it to them.

If they refuse, then it is time to consider contacting somebody else. Alternatively - and what I'd do personally (assuming there is an overdraft facility on the account) - withdraw all your money in cash plus the disputed amount, then write to them closing the account and tell them you'll keep the overdrawn amount in lieu of the amount lost through the fraudulent DD.

I agree, but I don't think it solves the problem. As you've already noticed, a company can DD your account without your permission. So even if you never set up any DD with anybody, you're not entirely safe from their depredations. The system is out of control, as could have been predicted some time ago.

Hope you have learned to read what you are filling in then ?

WDCS ?

Ummmm, yes :( Its bloody irritating though that you can take them all AWAY with a single checkbox, but that there is no process in existence with my current bank to bring them all BACK!

West Derbyshire Dyslexia Association

Has anyone on the Group had any problems with the insurance company RIAS?

I wrote to these people after my husband died to tell them to stop all mailings.

They then added my name to their mailing list so I just send their rubbish back in an envelope without a stamp. I've signed up with the Mailing Preference Service but they keep writing - it's driving me mad.

Splodge

If traders start playing 'fast and loose' with verbally authorised DD's, Parliament should outlaw the practice, ie a bank forbidden to action a direct debit unless there is a written authorisation from the customer for that particular creditor. New Zealand banks require that written authorisation in each instance before allowing direct debits.

Now that internet / telephone banking is becoming quite common, there seems no reason why DD authorisation cannot be confirmed via these means.

"Frederick Williams"

My thoughts too.