Re: BT & DD

At 15:43:51 on 19/03/2007, johannes delighted uk.legal by announcing:



Alex Heney wrote:

On Mon, 19 Mar 2007 09:57:16 +0000, MM <kylix_is@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 18:33:59 +0000, Alex Heney <me8@xxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 06:48:55 -0500, Madden <Madden@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On Sun, 18 Mar 2007 10:23:19 +0000, MM wrote:

On Sat, 17 Mar 2007 18:33:22 GMT, johannes
<johs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >>>> wrote:



Stuart B wrote:

[...]

Another problem with DD is if something goes wrong, then it
can be a >>>>>> >headache to get it sorted out.

Even if you do get it sorted out, you wont get refunded any
overdraft >>>>>> >penalty charges if the bank didn't cause the
problem.

The first "problem" can be sorted before it happens by
keeping a check >>>>>> on your phone bill online and asking BT to
reduce the payment .

The second "problem" isn't a problem .If a DD is taken
wrongly tell >>>>>> the bank and get it refunded and let the bank
sort it with the >>>>>> originator.

The last "problem" can be avoided by keeping a check on
your bank >>>>>> account balance .

How? If the overdraft was caused by a company charging an
incorrect amount?

Indeed so. I just got an electricity bill with a reading at
least DOUBLE >>>> the real reading. The woman when I rang couldn't
explain how the mistake >>>> had happened. Instead of around £70
that I would have had in my account >>>> had I had DD in force,
Southern Electric would have stung me for £172 >>>> and I'd have
been overdrawn through no fault of my own, with a nice >>>> letter
from the bank, ka-ching. DD can "go hang" as far as I'm >>>>
concerned.


Indeed!

All that shows is that he is not interested in using DD.

A VERY large majority of those using DD to pay their utility
bills do so using a budget account - where they know exactly
how much will be taken each month, and it is the same each
month. (with periodic checks and adjustments if it is getting
out of line).

Some (maybe even most) utilities don't even have the facility
to pay each bill by a variable DD.

It is not the convenience I am missing. I just hate the idea of
letting some organisation poke into my bank account every month
and help themselves. I want to receive a bill, consider whether
it's accurate, then pay it in the way I choose with legal tender,
i.e. money, i.e. pounds sterling.

That is your choice, and perfectly reasonable.

I do NOT expect to be fined for using an
"inappropriate" method.


They have a perfect right to vary the charges according to the
payment method used.

I don't actually think they have freedom to set the charges at
anything they like. The customer is buying the product (whatever), he
is not buying the payment service. Hence any charge in relation to
payment for the product can only be the actual costs incurred for
processing. And that cost is NOT £4.50 when customer pays promptly
and using an electronic method.

That only applies if it's a penalty charge (e.g. if the DD is missed).
.

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