Penalty charges for not paying by direct debit

[Spire]

Hi All

Penalty charges for not paying by direct debit​

Did you know that if you do not pay your bills to the following companies by direct debit they charge you a penalty fee, Bt being the latest to go down this route with a whopping £4.50 per bill.

Well I am one that does not pay by direct debit as I like to manage my own money, and not let someone else have unfettered access to my bank account and take money as and when they choose.

So I am going to send the std letter that has been made available on the BBC WatchDog web site (link below)
to protest at the way they are treating some of their customers.

I hope there may be some of you that will join with me and download the letter and send it to any or all
of the companies in the list below and protest with me.

If there is anyone out there that knows the email address of the MD of any of these companies I would be pleased
if you could let us all know.

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Link for letter download
http://www.bbc.co.uk/consumer/tv_and_radio/watchdog/reports/services/services_20070314_letters.shtml


Phone Company addresses:
BT
Customer Services
BT plc
Correspondence Centre
Durham DH98 1BT

VIRGIN MEDIA
Virgin Media - Watchdog Complaints
Matrix Court
Llansamlet
Swansea SA7 9BB

Talk Talk (mobile)
TalkTalk Telecom Limited
Customer Care
1 Portal Way
London W3 6RS

3
3 Customer Services
Hutchison 3G UK Ltd
PO Box No 333
Glasgow G2 9AG
Email: [email protected]

O2
Jonathan Attwell
Arlington Business Centre
Millshaw Park Lane
Leeds LS11 0NE
Email: [email protected]

T-Mobile
6 Camberwell Way
Doxford
Sunderland SR3 3XN
Email: [email protected]

Vodafone
Vodafone Customer Care,
Vodafone House,
The Connection,
Newbury,
Berkshire RG14 2FN

Orange
Orange Executive Office
Senhouse Road
Lingfield Way
Darlington
County Durham DL1 4YG
Email: [email protected]

Utility company addresses:
British Gas
House Contact Centre
PO Box 50
Leeds LS1 1LE

Powergen
PO Box 7750
Nottingham NG1 6WR

Npower
PO Box 93
Peterlee SR8 2XX

EDF Energy Customer Service Team
EDF Energy Customer Service Team
Freepost 3814
London WC1V 6AJ

 

[DuaneJackson]

I saw this on Watchdog last night. I really must stop watching watchdog as it's starting to p*ss me off.

If BT or any other company wants to charge your for not paying by Direct Debit, then that's up to them. If you don't like it go elsewhere.

I heard it being compared to the whole bank charge thing - ridiculous comparison.

Bloody whinging consumers!

 

[Astaroth]

Absolutately agree that you should vote with your feet not with a whinging letter.

Dont get peoples issues with DDs - you have to be informed before changes are made so no lack of control of your money and you can instantly get a DD returned if there is a mistake (or even if there isnt a mistake but you want to claim there was)

 

[Adam H]

Watchdog is a load of pants anyway now, they get some half-arsed comment from a company and go "There you are, job done!". As if.

 

[Gillie]

The direct debit system is such that, you are sent by law, a bill dated some 10 days before collection telling you how much you are paying and when, so to say you prefer to be in control of your money is a strange thing to say!

You are in control of your money .... unless of course you forget about the direct debits coming out and then thats hardly BT or anyone else fault is it??

Direct debits are the best way to pay your bills, convenient, time saving and yes you control your money as when you set up with debits you decide on the best date for them to come out of your account, so no, I wont be sending a letter to complain about it ....

 

[Exclusively You!]

Hi All

Penalty charges for not paying by direct debit​

Did you know that if you do not pay your bills to the following companies by direct debit they charge you a penalty fee, Bt being the latest to go down this route with a whopping £4.50 per bill.

Well I am one that does not pay by direct debit as I like to manage my own money, and not let someone else have unfettered access to my bank account and take money as and when they choose.

There is a few simple reasons why these companies want you to pay by direct debit;-

1 Cut down on paper based invoices to help the enviroment.

2 A simple easy transaction each month that you don't have to worry about.

3. To save you the extra £4.50 that you are moaning about, which is only put on to allow for paper, ink and postage.

I don't think you will get very far with this petition because as far as I can see paying by DD is a good way of doing things regarding utilities and phone bills etc.

 

[DuaneJackson]

I think people should be grateful that these businesses still offer ways to pay besides DD. They obviously don't want to, hence the penalty if you use any of the other methods.

 

What about all those companies that charge a "handling fee" for cheques? They will have a template for this next week

 

[Astaroth]

I am sure there already is one

 

[Exclusively You!]

I think people should be grateful that these businesses still offer ways to pay besides DD. They obviously don't want to, hence the penalty if you use any of the other methods.

I couldn't agree more Duane, Imagine how many customers these companies have and to have to send out paper based bills to these customers and then wait to see if they get paid and if they don't get paid have to chase them for payment. I know DD is not guaranteed as one other postee said a DD can be reclaimed if you feel there is a discrepency but at least these companies have some form of guarantee of regular payment each month with a DD.


Also with the facility of online banking it is so much easier to have your bills paid by DD and then quickly check them each month via online banking to double check everything. I personally prefer not having loads of bills coming through my door and then having to find the time to go the bank or post office and pay them.

Just my thoughts on it

 

[DuaneJackson]

You guys have no idea how much of a relief it is to see I'm not the only one with this attitude. I was getting worried I'd turned into a capitalist anti-consumer pro-business pig. Good to see I'm not alone at the trough!

Poor Spire (OP) though! Sorry!

 

hehe, I can see this being Mark Batemans next adventure... How to claim back penalty charges for not paying by direct debit!

 

[Shay]

Have you not seen that you can claim back your council tax charges if you have been allocated in the wrong band??? goes back to 1993. My inlaws have been paying £175 more a year then their neighbour on a lower band.lol

 

[sharpie1664]

I know this is an old post but i was wondering if anyone still has the letter i can have cus i am having the same issue with t-mobile

Thanks