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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To cancel the direct debit

96 replies

womaninatightspot · 29/05/2017 04:35

Doing the monthly banking and have realised I am a whopping 14 quid short for the direct debits. I'm thinking that in order of priorities I should pay mortgage also building, home and life insurance. It leaves me with a choice of eon (electricity) or council tax. Does cancelling a direct debit shortly before payment come up on your credit history?

OP posts:

RedSandYellowSand · 29/05/2017 04:44

Council tax should be a priority.

Chloe84 · 29/05/2017 04:46

Can anyone lend you the money so you can deposit it on Tues?

Or call eon and ask them to take payment a week later?

Youvegotafriendinme · 29/05/2017 04:49

Ok, I'll bite!
Your serious? Your going to cancel your DD for your gas or council tax? Not paying your council tax could end you with CCJs or worse! It's £14 I'm sure your spending that on other things such as coffee out, wine on the shopping etc.
Cancel them and you'll end up in a whole heap of problems

Idratherbeaunicorn · 29/05/2017 04:55

I wouldn't cancel it, but maybe see if you can call one of them to move the payment date until the money will be in?
Do you have an over draft? Would the bank allow you to go into an unofficial overdraft? If the money came out without the funds in the account, how long would it be until the funds went in? Could you arrange a quick £50 overdraft with the bank (you can soentimes do this yourself on your online banking?)

Idratherbeaunicorn · 29/05/2017 04:57

Sorry - I realise the above looks like the Spanish Inquisition!! Was just typing as I thought about things - hope you can get something sorted, OP.

BarbaraofSeville · 29/05/2017 05:08

Out of the things you mention, Eon is the lowest priority. Council Tax have very strong powers to ensure that it gets paid on time and will take enforcement action quickly.

If you are short for just bills, how do you plan to pay for food and travel etc this month? Are you in a position where you could be referred to a food bank?

Are you always short, or is this a one off? Are you spending on unnecessary things or does your income not even cover your basic bills? Do you have debts?

Have you checked that you are getting all the benefits that you are entitled to if relevant and have you checked the cost and minimised all your bills/expenses, cancelled anything optional like pay TV, mobile phone insurance. Do you have anything you can sell, or even pawn? Do you have a working partner or are you the sole earner?

LightastheBreeze · 29/05/2017 05:16

Either get an overdraft or electricity is the lowest priority I think if you just miss a payment it could affect your credit rating though and you will get a red letter, they wouldn't cut you off for one missed payment. Don't cancel Council Tax

Best to contact bank for overdraft though.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 29/05/2017 05:19

Agreed re. overdraft; and I don't think you can just cancel a DD that easily, can you? DDs are set up by the company taking the money, so I was under the (probably outdated) impression that they had to cancel them.

But if you do have the power to cancel one then definitely pick the electricity and pay it later when you have the money. IN fact, it might be an idea to call them and plead hardship, set up a payment plan etc.
Just in case you get into this situation again.

AndNowItIsSeven · 29/05/2017 05:24

Dd are set up by the company with the account holders permission. You can cancel them at any time. Eon is the lowest priority.

hiddenmnetter · 29/05/2017 05:35

Cancelling a direct debit shortly before its due to come out is unlikely to stop it coming out. For the sake of £14 if it cannot be covered in any other way I'd be allowing contents insurance to lapse. It doesn't take long to re-establish the next month and you just have to be careful for a month and make sure nothing gets broken.

Mortgage payment do not miss- ruins your credit rating. Missing a council tax payment will make the council very aggressive. Missing electricity will just force the energy company to charge more fees for missed payments. Missing building insurance will make the mortgage company v unhappy (same with life insurance). I'd say contents insurance is the easiest to do without for a short time.

PrimalLass · 29/05/2017 06:23

Have you tried going on to the eon website and adjusting the payment? I think you can alter the monthly direct debit. Are your meter readings up to date? Perhaps the payment will come down if you put the readings in.

JanetBrown2015 · 29/05/2017 06:56

Yes just don't pay insurance renewal and then renew that as soon as you have the £14. Perhaps consider taking a second job! I am up working at 6am on a bank holiday and it certainly helps with bill paying even though a lie in bed might have been nicer.

Kahlua4me · 29/05/2017 06:57

You can't cancel a dd, only the company at the other end can. You could ring mortgage company to ask to miss a month, but probably too late for that.

In reality all that will happen is one won't be able to take their money so will try again in a few weeks, they won't charge you though. As long as as you have the money in there for next time, all will be good. That's my experience anyway....

Figaro2017 · 29/05/2017 06:58

Let's assume the OP is grown up enough to make the decision as to what is most important for her to pay.

If you can't make one of the payments (either electricity or council tax) just ring them Tuesday and make arrangements to catch up over the next few months. If you've spoken to them, neither will have you in court and it will have minimal impact on your credit rating.

londonrach · 29/05/2017 07:00

You can cancel a dd its the other one you cant. Right op...never ever not pay council or mortgage. In this case cancel eon. However the better thing to do would be phone up eon explain the situation and pay less this month (-£14 less maybe) and said it on next month.

londonrach · 29/05/2017 07:01

Add it not said it!

SaltyMyDear · 29/05/2017 07:04

Life insurance? Why have you got life insurance?

SaltyMyDear · 29/05/2017 07:06

I mean life insurance is a luxury, and it sounds like you can't afford it.

Kahlua4me · 29/05/2017 07:09

Sorry if I gave the wrong information there on cancelling dd. I was basing in on my own experience.

user1492287253 · 29/05/2017 07:11

cancel eon. unless you are on a payment arrangement its entirely voluntary to be paying monthly. whilst you are at it take a meter reading and check they dont owe you!

GeekyWombat · 29/05/2017 07:12

Salty life insurance is a pre requisite for getting a mortgage. Definitely NOT a luxury.

A bit agog at people going 'it's just £14, just don't have a couple of takeaway coffees...' like that's what people spend their money on when they are on a tight budget.

Figaro2017 · 29/05/2017 07:13

Why is life assuarance a luxury? The OP may well have family that rely on her income.

If she has had poor health since taking it out, or had the policy many years, she may not be able to get further cover unless at extremely high premiums.

Figaro2017 · 29/05/2017 07:15

*assurance not assuarance

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 29/05/2017 07:15

No, you can cancel a standing order, because you set that up.
Direct debit, I'm still not sure about (conflicting info on the thread hasn't helped)

However, even the company might not charge you for re-attempting to take a DD but the bank almost certainly will hit you with unauthorised overdraft charges.

Life insurance might be a part of the mortgage arrangement.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 29/05/2017 07:17

www.directdebit.co.uk/DirectDebitExplained/pages/cancellingpayments.aspx

You can cancel a standing order any time.

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