Direct Dbits

[DutchOma]

AIBU in hating direct debits which hand the control of MY money over to an organisation which may decide at its convenience when or how to take that money?
I have no problem with sending them a standing order every month, to pay on receipt of a bill, but I would like to be the one who is in control of what to do at a time that I find convenient.
I understand that it is much more convenient for said organisations to bully us into paying by direct debit, but feel that my convenience should be taken into account

I agree...sort of...but also find DD really convenient as I forget to make payments!! But yeah, I hate setting them up for things like council tax as I feel they have me over a barrel although obv could cancel anytime I want to.

I thought Standing Orders were harder to cancel than Direct Debits but I could be dreaming.

totally agree - just what i'm working on at the moment feels as though everyone and their granny has access to my personal finances

Standing Orders are super easy to cancel, Direct Debits are a pain in the bum though! You can cancel them at your bank, but the company can still claim the money, they just need to use a different reference number from the one you have cancelled!