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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:

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 29/05/2017 07:19

And I know I've already said it, but call Eon and explain, plead hardship and try to arrange a reduced payment, or a way to pay it monthly, or weekly, or some other way.

PedantHere · 29/05/2017 07:19

GeekyWombat You have to have mortgage life insurance. Life insurance is something different.

Trb17 · 29/05/2017 07:24

You can cancel direct debits. I've done it many many times. Just did it recently when I moved mobile phone suppliers. I don't like the idea of a previously used company still having an active DD option on my account even though they are not permitted to use it. You can cancel DD's in online banking or by contacting your bank direct/in person.

LadyWhoLikesLunch · 29/05/2017 07:25

If your online banking gives you the option you can cancel no problem. Assuming that you get paid quite soon I'd cancel it and when you get the letter just phone up and say you must have cancelled it in error when cancelling something else.

mistermagpie · 29/05/2017 07:25

You can cancel a direct debit but if you don't do it on time the company can still request the money. You absolutely can cancel it yourself though. I've got a friend who is crap with money and she does what you're proposing all the time.

I wouldn't do that though. Phone eon and explain. Most companies would rather put your payment date back a bit or add it to next month than have you not pay it.

Council tax will vary depending on your area but I didn't pay mine for a bit when I was very poor at one point. It took them six years to chase me for it, despite the fact that I work for the council and had paid my tax for years following the period of non-payment. It was a faff to sort out though so I wouldn't advise doing this, just wanted to counter the comment that the council would act fast if you didn't pay. It really depends where you live.

Speak to eon or get a temporary overdraft, they are your best bet.

daisychain01 · 29/05/2017 07:26

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

Um last time I looked this thread has been set up by the OP to ask for this advice. What's it got to do with being "grown up"?

mistermagpie · 29/05/2017 07:28

Meant to also say - council tax is an annual bill so they are very likely to be willing to let you pay double next month and not pay this month. I've done that before with no issues. Again, might depend where you live.

twattymctwatterson · 29/05/2017 07:31

Oh ffs so much drama. Op I work for a bank. It's absolutely fine to cancel a DD. You won't get charged. Cancel the EON one, call them and explain why. They will be absolutely fine about it and won't add any charges providing you are making an arrangement to pay

Toysaurus · 29/05/2017 07:32

You can cancel a direct debit but don't do the council tax one. They are complete bastards getting thief money. Utility companies are much more flexible.

Littlepond · 29/05/2017 07:33

I think there's a bit of over panic about council tax on here - they are very reasonable if you call them and won't take action immediately, I've been in proper financial trouble in the past and have missed council tax payments several times, and yes I have cancelled the direct debit with council tax more than once. They send a letter, I call them up, we re arrange payments so the missed one is spread over remaining months. I even had a grumpy red letter from them once and a single phone call fixed it.

I've never missed an electricity payment but I'd be concerned about the electricity being cut off!

If it were me I'd cancel the council tax DD, then call them up next week to rearrange payments and set it back up. You pay council tax 10 months out of 12 anyway so they may well just add another month onto your payment schedule (so you'll pay next Feb when normally you wouldn't)

Hope it works out OP, I sympathise, that feeling of not having enough money to pay bills is horrible :(

daisychain01 · 29/05/2017 07:33

Depending on how your Council tax bill is settled there would have been a payment 'Holiday' in April with May being the first month of the new tax year. Could you ring the office tomorrow and ask if they can let you delay for a week while you get the £14 together. Hopefully this is a one off blip?

Ameliablue · 29/05/2017 07:33

I've cancelled dds before through online banking only to discover the company has just reinstated it. So I'd speak directly to bank if you do want to cancel.

FruitBadger · 29/05/2017 07:35

You don't have to have life insurance for a mortgage. It was that case many years ago but it certainly hasn't been for over 15 years (which was when I qualified to advise and sell mortgages and mortgage related insurances).

OP if you have to cancel something the EOn but try taking a visit over to the Money Saving Expert website to see if there's any suggestions the posters there have. There may be other payments that are better re jigged, or there may be ways of making the £14 via selling something, or cashback on something you need anyway. In the longer term if you're this tight on a month to month basis they may help you be able to reassess your outgoings to fi d other ways to save for stuff not going according to plan.

daisychain01 · 29/05/2017 07:37

I've never missed an electricity payment but I'd be concerned about the electricity being cut off!

I don't think you need to worry on that score Littlepond I think it's actually illegal for them to cut off eleccie at least not for a considerable time, including multiple reminders.

As with all utility bills, the best thing is always to call and explain the circumstances and they are always very helpful and supportive of genuine hardship.

CaulkheadUpNorf · 29/05/2017 07:46

Check that if you miss a payment, they won't charge you.

IME you need 3 days to cancel a DD. I do it occasionally and if I've left it too close then I can't cancel it.

ToothTrauma · 29/05/2017 07:48

Pay the council tax. They don't fuck around.

insancerre · 29/05/2017 07:51

Can you not just arrange a temporary overdraft with your bank, so all your direct debits are still paid

Littlepond · 29/05/2017 07:51

daisychain that's actually very reassuring! I have visions of me being sat in the house and suddenly it all going dark and it hits me I didn't pay the electric bill, a la Everybody Loves Raymond lol

Bitchywaitress · 29/05/2017 08:00

Don't fuck with the council tax, they will send round high court enforcement agents quicker than you can say, 'the cheques in the post, honest'.

The electricity wouldn't be on your credit file. I would not pay that.

Or alternatively tap up the woman in the next village who spends £30K a year on takeaways.

Hope you get things sorted OP

Bluetrews25 · 29/05/2017 08:05

If a DD bounces, they will just come back a week later and take it then. No issues whatsoever. I'm hoping your pay will have gone in by then and that will work for you? Can you speak to bank and agree to go a little over in advance?

nokidshere · 29/05/2017 08:07

Gosh what a lot of misinformation about DDs!

If you are paying a monthly dd for utilities the only thing that will happen if you cancel it is that you will get a bill in the post. At which point you can pay it, or reset the dd. Unless your actual bill is due it won't count as a missed payment.

The same applies to council tax.

You can cancel direct debits and standing orders anytime you wish either online or by phone. Nat West online banking lets you do it up until the day it's due.

OffcialMalbecTaster · 29/05/2017 08:11

Yes you could cancel it in online banking but if the money is owed then the company can simply reinstate it. Standing orders are set up & controlled by the customer where as direct debits are set up & controlled by the company your paying

MooPointCowsOpinion · 29/05/2017 08:12

About 10 years ago I wanted to cancel a direct debit and I left it too late, I tried to cancel it 3 days before and was told they needed 5 days notice. So I think this all depends on when the d/d are coming out, if it's Thursday the 1st, I think it's too late. But the bank will allow you to arrange a quick overdraft of £14 on the spot.

Violetcharlotte · 29/05/2017 08:13

If you cancel a DD (which you can do v easily with online banking) all that will happen is you'll get a letter from
The service provider. I've had to do this once or twice when money's been really tight, it's better than the DD bouncing as if this happens you'll get bank charges. Energy providers won't charge you a missed payment fee either, just give them a call and explain what's happened and they'll help you sort it. It won't affect your credit rating at all.

EnglishGirlApproximately · 29/05/2017 08:13

Council won't send bailiffs round for one missed payment. When I moved jobs and my pay day changed I cancelled it then rescheduled for a different date, the missed month was then spread between the remaining payments.

Op, just make sure whichever you do you do it with time to spare. You need to be 5 days before to cancel.

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