Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

To not want to set up direct debits?

58 replies

Winterandspring · 20/12/2017 20:09

Does anybody else not really get on with them?

It would be fine if they all came out on the same day but as I can’t do that I find I forget about them then go overdrawn.

OP posts:

ruddynorah · 20/12/2017 20:45

The problem isn't direct debits, it's that you're paid weekly. Why does your employer pay you weekly? Weekly pay doesn't work with monthly bills.

Original poster

Winterandspring · 20/12/2017 20:45

I don’t know, it’s just weekly.

I’ve asked a few if I can change the date but they won’t, not sure why.

OP posts:

JeNeBaguetteRien · 20/12/2017 20:53

I have direct debits for mortgage, phone and broadband.
I pay other bills, ie gas, electricity, water, council tax by credit card. I use a reward card and get cash back. I pay the credit card off in full, I'm not advocating running up credit card bills to pay for essentials.

Gemini69 · 20/12/2017 21:00

I don't ever use Direct Debits.... I only use Standing Orders

ProseccoMamam · 23/12/2017 01:37

OP that's strange that some companies won't let you have a direct debit on the day you want. The whole point of them is to make it easier for the customer to pay. I would ring up any companies you're paying bills too and request a direct debit on a day that suits you. If they decline go to your bank and tell them to change the direct debit date for you and then inform the company. Also paying weekly must be costing you a fortune. Energy bills are spread more evenly if paid monthly by direct debit (they are also miles cheaper and easier to switch from to get a better deal). Do you have any family or friends who could spend the day helping you do this? It would save a lot of money and a lot of time for you.

I have all mine go out on the 1st each month, and I put away X amount each week in the month before to go towards the bills. So January's bills are paid on the 1st feb, February's bills are paid 1st March ect.

notangelinajolie · 23/12/2017 01:48

Really not understanding your problem. Why can't you set direct debits up for the dates that suit you? You know ... you are in charge of you. The only one responsible for failed direct debits is you. At the end of the day you should know when they are due out and if you know there isn't enough money to pay them you should cancel them before they fail and arrange an alternative method of payment. You really need to start making managing your money better. The only one to blame for you going overdrawn is you. Ignorance is a pathetic excuse.

Timetobookaholiday · 23/12/2017 01:52

I found out recently that America doesn't have direct debit system at all?
How can you pay every bill every month by cheque and not miss any!

Beakyplinders · 23/12/2017 05:38

I would probably get a load of late payment fines if I didn't use direct debit as I'm a nightmare for opening post and thinking i will deal with somethibg later but then forgetting.

Even if you get paid weekly, and certain direct debits come out monthly, I still don't see the issue if you're budgeting correctly and not just spending the money without any consideration about your financial responsibilities.

slashlover · 23/12/2017 05:44

I get paid weekly. Direct debits in a month x 12/52 then I round up to the nearest £5 or £10 (depending on overtime) which goes into my separate DD account when I get paid. I also have a spreadsheet of what comes out on what date and match it to my account on payday just to double check.

I did make sure I had enough in the account to cover me for the first few weeks, if a large DD comes out before enough money was built up.

Ifailed · 23/12/2017 05:53

there are many people who are paid every 28 days (in retail), so 'payday' moves slowly backwards through-out the months. Many of them seem to cope with DDs, either by opening a separate account for them or just by managing their money.

Ontheboardwalk · 23/12/2017 06:03

Ifailed I used to get paid every 28 days and I absolutely loved it.

I got a 'free mortgage month' every year. There was always one payday where I wouldn’t have to pay my mortgage till the next one. It made me feel rich for a month!

Agree weekly pay is a bit grim. When they switched us over to 28 days though they paid us 28 in arrears that was even grimmer

SadieContrary · 23/12/2017 06:23

Set up another bank account. If it doesn't have any credit facilities such as overdraft etc then it doesn't require a credit search. All your DD's should be set to this new account.
Then arrange a standing order from your main account for a set amount off your weekly wage to move over. So, if your DD's amount to approx £90per week then move £95. That way, you have a slight buffer and by the end of the year (with any luck) you'll have an extra little amount for Christmas shopping etc, or even an unexpected bill.
I worked for a large bank for years and set this up for many customers who found it so helpful.

dancinfeet · 23/12/2017 07:25

I have some things on Direct Debit but I refuse to pay council tax by DD after the amount for the entire year was taken instead of the monthly payment. The full amount of cash was in the bank at the time (just), but was needed for other things such as rent, other bills etc. It left us without money for food and unable to pay my rent on time. When I rang the council to tell them of the mistake they said that the refund could take up to 14 days. Lesson learned, DD to local council cancelled and I pay council tax by BACS these days so that I am in control of what goes out of my account and when.

MrsMoastyToasty · 23/12/2017 09:07

dancinfeet you could have asked for the council to refund you under the direction debit guarantee via your bank. (If a beneficiary changes the amount or date they debit your account they are supposed to give you 10 days notice ).
OP if you are up to date with council tax then your local council may agree payment over 12 months instead of 10 which is the norm.

Onlyoldontheoutside · 23/12/2017 09:20

I pay all my bills by direct debit,mainly because some(for example gas/electric) give discounts.
They all go out on first of the month and have never had a problem changing them to that.

ILoveMillhousesDad · 23/12/2017 09:23

A spreadsheet will be you friend in this situation.

I do love a good spreadsheet. It keeps me on top of everything.

SimonBridges · 23/12/2017 09:26

I found out recently that America doesn't have direct debit system at all?

I’ve just read up about that. Hardly any other countries had direct debits as we understand them. What a complete arse ache to go and pay all the bills.

Firesuit · 23/12/2017 09:31

It would be fine if they all came out on the same day but as I can’t do that I find I forget about them then go overdrawn.

The simplest solution is to stop regarding a zero balance as the point where you must stop spending. Work out what the direct debits will take in the most expensive month and regard yourself as overdrawn if you ever go below that balance.

Allthewaves · 23/12/2017 09:38

I have separate account just for direct debits with small overdraft.

CrabappleCake · 23/12/2017 09:38

I have my bank account set up to text me every day with balance and what’s gone out and in.

I use a budgeting app with all regular payments set up so I know how much 8 have left even if the payment hasn’t gone.

All direct debits.

Feel more control this way and expenses aren’t a surprise.

Littledrummergirl · 23/12/2017 09:39

I hate them as in the past I have found them being taken a few days early each month. Eg- one year my energy supplier took the January payment on December 23. My Xmas food shop was fun when I went to pay, I had to go to the bank to get it stopped then go back to the shop to pay for the food.

I switched supplier shortly after. Now I use standing orders where possible.

IsaSchmisa · 23/12/2017 09:45

Years ago my mum used to pay a lot of our bills with stamps that you got from the post office. £2 weekly towards TV licence etc. Do they still have that system for anything? Might suit you.

ByTheSea · 23/12/2017 09:47

I love them and pay all my bills (and there are a lot) this way. Never miss a payment or anything that could mess up my credit rating. That said, they don't confound me; I know how they work from the inside as am an IT person in financial services who has done a lot of work on on BACS.

mustbemad17 · 23/12/2017 09:52

I hate DD & rarely use them. My car insurance is a DD but from another account that has the set amount going in two days prior.
My two debt payments are also DD but that's purely because they wouldn't let me use an SS.

My phone bill I pay manually - get a reminder 7 days prior. Same with Sky.
Rent, council tax & water is paid via SS.

I avoid them wherever possible because if there is a day where the money isn't in there you get charged. Doesn't happen often, but i'd rather avoid it!

Summerisdone · 23/12/2017 09:59

I’m with you OP, they just end up being more hassle than they’re worth.
Saying that I used to find them easier when I was paid on a set date each month as I could arrange for them all to come around payday, but now I’m paid 4 weekly it’s just become a PITA, so most of my bills now I wait till I get the email of bill due within so many days and then pay it online.

Flip

1 2 3