Forum Discussion

alanwils's avatar
alanwils
Tuning in
2 years ago
Solved

Is it 'safe' to instruct your bank to cancel your Direct Debit?

Is it 'safe'; in other words - doesn't contravene any contract obligations, to instruct your bank to cancel your Virgin Media Direct Debit, if you don't agree/ dispute what they propose to take from ...
  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    2 years ago

    I would advise against this as Vm will most likely just assign your debt to collectors.  It will also be on your Credit score as a debt.  Best to keep paying until the dispute is sorted out and then seek any relevant compensation.

Adduxi's avatar
Adduxi
Very Insightful Person
2 years ago

I would advise against this as Vm will most likely just assign your debt to collectors.  It will also be on your Credit score as a debt.  Best to keep paying until the dispute is sorted out and then seek any relevant compensation.

  • Martin342's avatar
    Martin342
    Tuning in
    2 years ago

    on the contrary! Virgin Media have for the last 4 months and, still are trying to take money for a service I do not have despite the wealth of evidence I have provided and their own letter to me that they have removed the service from my account last month. Without hesitation I have cancelled my direct debit to stop the continuing theft. Virgin Media Billing Services are absolutely shocking, as is (as evidenced by their words and actions to me) their internal communication. My advice to anyone with an issue with Virgin Media Billing Services is cancel that direct debit immediately.

  • alanwils's avatar
    alanwils
    Tuning in
    2 years ago

    ...but your answer is basically giving the green light for Virgin Media, and other companies for that matter, to take the hell as they please from your bank account!? Most people, understandingly, can't go through the tiring and seemingly non-ending process of telephoning to hear the same script, sending countless emails etc...and VM knows this!

    Citizen's Advice Bureau has told me that I can take 'back control' and, while I'm at it, let the bank know what's going on. They mentioned that VM are using their own bad administration methods, favourably...to suit them. They also informed that they have had many VM customers contact them and, without sounding too dramatic, I smell a sense of a 'Post Office Scandal' about it all. A visit to my MP may be called for.

    • zudecke's avatar
      zudecke
      On our wavelength
      2 years ago

      Did the criminals from vm come after you for cancelling the dd in the end? I want to do the same... 

      • goslow's avatar
        goslow
        Alessandro Volta
        2 years ago
        zudecke wrote:

        Did the criminals from vm come after you for cancelling the dd in the end? I want to do the same... 

        Your posting history shows a complaint about unreliable broadband. Cancelling your direct debit for that reason would only likely result in VM launching its debt recovery procedures against you.

        If you wish to leave VM, on the basis of lack of service, your route would be a formal complaint to VM first of all (a required first step but most likely a waste of time) followed by escalation to the ombudsman as per this procedure

        https://www.commsombudsman.org/our-process

        In your complaints you would request to be able to leave with no EDF.

    • japitts's avatar
      japitts
      Very Insightful Person
      2 years ago
      alanwils wrote:

      ...but your answer is basically giving the green light for Virgin Media, and other companies for that matter, to take the hell as they please from your bank account!?

      In theory, paying the amount you deem correct while withholding the disputed amounts, is a reasonable course of action.

      The issue is that with VM, this - in practice - can cause further complications that are simply best avoided. VM's credit management processes are notoriously efficient - do a search of this forum for "credit file" or "default" and you'll find multiple results of people who have cancelled their regular payments and then find entries on credit files that are (in law) correct, and cause complications with credit applications and mortgages for years to come.

      If you're comfortable accepting that risk, then go right ahead and follow the CAB advice to cancel your regular payments. Having a sympathetic MP, if indeed they are interested, is not going to help you when you're applying for a mortgage or other lending in 4-5 years, and the missed/late payments on your credit file cause complications.