Debit Card authorisation costs
 

Can anybody in NTL billing please look into this for me?

I pay my bill as soon as i recieve it by my debit card. On each of those occasions i make sure i write down my authorisation number and to date, it's only been used for that Months payment.

Went to my bank today to get some money out but it seems that NTL did not close the last authorisation on there computers and have taken the money for next months bill even though i've had no paper request for it.

I did speak to cs today and they apologised and promised the money would be paid back with 72 hours and that they couldn't help me any further.

The problem is that the unauthorised payment they took today is going to incur a £50 bank charge for going over my overdraught limit and to cover a smaller bill that was due out today via dd.

I estimate that because ntl acted illegaly and took monies from my account that they are not due or entitled to do, this could cost me £50 and maybe more if i don't have enough money to cover my fine from the bank next month.

Again, is there anybody from billing who can look into this for me?

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

Have you advised your bank of this?

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

Yes but as far as they are concerned an authorisation was allowed. I did try to explain that ntl had no consent to withdraw this Months bill from my account but they just told me phone ntl.

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

Was the latest amount debited the same amount as your previously paid bill?

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

I thought that whether open or closed, each authorisation was valid for a single transaction. If not, it effectively becomes a monthly direct debit.

If that's the case, then I would have thought the Bank should refuse the debit, and therefore be liable as it was debited anyway.

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

A direct debit mandate is guaranteed by the banks themselves...

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

it wouldnt be a direct debit as you would have given your account number and sort code, what may have been set up is a continuous credit/debit card payment which wouldnt be covered under the DD guarentee. was it a broadband account by any chance?

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

Just wondering here - if you give your card details each time, where are you getting the authorisation number from?

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

They tell you on the phone. :) You can then check your bank statement.

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

You are spot on.

An Auth code is valid for one transaction only, whats best to do would be to call ya bank up and ask them to do a charge back to NTL.

If ya need any advice just PM me, i used to work for Natwest Streamline so kinda have a good knowledge of how these things work.

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

Yes it was. Been in touch with the bank again and they realise it was a mistake on ntl's part so i won't be charged for going over my od limit but i'm still waiting for ntl to repay the money. How come they can take it out instantly but tell me to wait up to 72 hours for a refund?

They've left me proper skint for my end of week shopping. Looks like beans on toast for a few days :(

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

because when it come back to your account it will be done via a BACS payment and they take up 2 three day

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

This happens as depending on what billing system your on, its very easy (if fact, its the default option) for any card payment taken to set it up as a continuous authority card payment, unless it is specified by the agent otherwise. There are a few companies that will take your money off your card each month rather than set up a direct debit - although generally these companies have advised you of this beforehand.

Its almost certainly a mistake by the agent who took your payment last month - I would suggest ensuring that the cont auth payment instruction is cancelled with ntl, however I don't rate your chances of getting your money back any time soon as being particularly great. Best chance I would say is sending a letter explaining the full situation, the charges and how they are broken down the customer concerns and expecting them to refund the charges to your ntl account - at least your next bill will be a bit cheaper that way.

HTH

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

That is impossible ya cant use an AUTH code twice period

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

It wouldn't have used the same auth code.

You can set up a debit card payment so your bill gets taken every month on the card but each time it would get a diff auth number

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

on one of the billing systems i am on we can set up a manual card payment (ie one-off) or a continous payment....IF and it is a big if ....you are billed on that system that is what could have happened. This billing system deals with moslty NG, OX, CO, CV, TS postcodes...

Sorry to hear about that...but at least the bank wont charge u for that mistake

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

Yes I know your talking about Harmony - and that I believe is what the OP is probably billed from. Its not so much a big IF that it happened - its the default option in Harmony v7, which I know is the last major release of the system - used to be a Harmony agent in Swansea myself. When setting up a new card payment, on more than a few occasions agents did not carefully select the correct payment type when taking new card details.

And secondly, the bank can charge for that mistake - whether it be the card payment taking money I had reserved for a dd, thus causing the dd to be returned unpaid - or as is the case with my bank, a 'card misuse fee' every time a card payment takes me over my account limit. The op has already explained that they have incurred such charges from the card payment taking money from the account that was reserved for other things.

For the benefit of those who aren't aware of continuous authority card payments and exactly what they are (seems to be some misunderstandings in this thread) - see this, section 'recurring transaction'.

HTH

Re: Debit Card authorisation costs
 

A quick update: NTL didn't refund the charges within 72 hours. Had to phone again Saturday to be told the previous person i spoke to had not entered the details on the computer (they still get paid for that!) so now have to wait up to a further 72 hours for a refund.

Rewarded them today by cancelling my phone and tv services. Sky here i come :)