Help! I need to cancel a direct debit

[KathieFerrars]

Hello all

My 90 year old mother is selling her car. I've discovered that she's been paying her car tax by DD to the DVLA. Her voice recognition is no longer working on the HSBC account and all we get is 'you can do it on line'. She has no access to internet. The local branches have all closed. Does anyone know how I get to speak with a human being at hsbc? It's a simple job but seems herculean.

The DVLA will stop calling in the DD once the sale is registered. They automatically refund any tax for the remainder of the year.

Thank you. That is what I thought but wanted to check but have also found a phone number at the local city big branch for 'new customers' so spoke to a real person. Honestly, though, there is a generation of people who are severely disadvantaged

As a general rule, refusing to answer a bot’s questions often gets you through to a human. It can sometimes take several goes to find a way through the options that doesn’t end up in an automated black hole.

Nat West/RBS have a dedicated phone line for the over 60s. Some other banks may do the same.