New broadband contract not allowing to pay by direct debit? Is this new?

[KatyMac]

Looking for cheaper broadband rang Now Tv

They want my card details rather than my bank details

I want to pay by direct debit as I like the direct debit guarantee

Have I missed a big change or something? It doesn't feel right paying bills by card

It’s not new across the board, it’s just that Now TV don’t offer direct debit payments. Instead they work in a similar fashion to a Netflix or Amazon prime subscription in that you pay month by month via a continuous payment taken from your card and can cancel via your account when you choose, no tie in.

Cool, can you pay by direct debit with them? If not she lied to me as apparently I can swop after I have the box/engineer

Thanks for clearing that up @babblingbumblingbandofbaboons

Apparently I can't have broadband unless I pay by card for any provider!

Im taking info from here https://help.nowtv.com/article/change-my-payment-method-or-billing-address

The drop down section on payment methods does not have direct debit. Paying via PayPal may be your closest alternative to the Direct Debit guarantee for the refund process should a payment be taken in error, though it’s not the same thing.

@KatyMac as far as I know only the big providers such as Virgin, BT, Sky etc who “tie” you to a contract with a minimum period and cancellation terms will take direct debit. The month by month ones like Now offer the flexibility of not having to stick to a long contract if you don’t like them, but only offer payment by card/PayPal.

I'm probably an old fogy but everytime I set up a regular payment on the card it causes problems

The card gets lost or expires I forget to update everything (dart charge I'm looking at you!!) and it all causes a Hiccup

So direct debit is better for me

So I just need to find a new provider (my least favourite thing) poo!
The fact that she lied twice doesn't endear me to NowTV either

This was for broadband so I was tied into a contract anyway

How strange, I've just signed up to Now TV although they haven't installed it yet. I didn't notice the payment method! I paid 9.99 for something (installation or equipment maybe) but I don't know how they are going to take ongoing payments. I had better investigate!

Oo @Crumbcatcher let me know if you find out

I'd hate to accuse a call centre person of lying if they weren't

However a) you can change to direct debit after the first payment appears not to be true & b) you can't buy broadband unless you pay by card also appears not to be true
...so

Here's what it says when I log in, it has stored my card number:

For TV Membership, you can pay with Mastercard, Visa or American Express (Amex), or via PayPal.
For NOW Broadband & Calls, you can only pay with Mastercard or Visa.
Good to know - You can use different payment methods for your TV Membership and NOW Broadband & Calls. So you can pay for your TV Membership using Amex, and your NOW Broadband Membership with Mastercard or Visa.
Signed up using your PayPal account? If you switch your payment method to pay via debit or credit card, you won’t be able to switch back to PayPal in the future.

Thanks @Crumbcatcher

So she did lie! & I can't swop to direct debit

So which company next!!

They don't tell you that your payment declines when you get a new card, and obviously you forget about it, so you get cut off and have to spend 4958 hours on hold to be reconnected.

Totally @daffodilandtulip

Happened too many times for different things so direct debit is the any for me

This is not a great start for me because I've lost my debit card and Now TV are coming this week to connect, I've had a box delivered. I need to request a new card (it's somewhere in my house so no risk of it being used!). Aarghh!

Eek @Crumbcatcher that's what would happen to me

I don't know how Zen broadband compares on price to NOWTV, but you can set up a DD to pay. I've been with them since 2006 and the service is so reliable and Customer Service so good on the rare occasions I've had need to call them, that I've never once thought about changing.

Zen Broadband

Thanks @NotMyFIrstTIme - they look fine - I've sent you a pm