We bought sofas from DFS a year and a half ago. Had a year with no repayments and then interest free for 4 years. Had direct debit set up and made payments each months for 6 months. For some reason, dh was looking at statements and queried a payment to 'santander cards' as he didn't recognise it. Bank said they'd hold direct debit until he'd found out. I reminded dh that it was the dfs loan and he told bank it was OK. This was about 3 weeks ago.
So turns out bank didn't reinstate direct debit so didn't make March payment. Not only that but apparetnly they took ALL the payments from santander - about £200. We didn't realise until we got a phone call on saturday from Viking debt collectors! Paid the March payment immediately as could see it hadn't left account but didn't want to pay the £200 they were claiming as it wasn't in our account. Monday dh went to bank. They said all was OK and money had been repaid to Santander (it had only been held - whatever that means!). Spoke to debt collectors yesterday after another letter and phone call. How flipping unpleasant - total 'computer says no'! Apparently it's my problem to resolve. But if my bank says it's OK and I don't have the money, why is it my debt? And how on earth do we sort this out without it affecting my credit rating???
Any help gratefully accepted!!!