car tracking devices

[911newbie]

Morning PHers

I guess I'm having a moan but this is also a word to the wise as well -

I sold my 911 more than 18 months ago, and now 'enjoy' the performance delights of a large diesel auto family-bus...hey ho.
However the company who provide the tracking service for the devie fitted on my old 911 are still trying to take the money for a renewnal - for the second time. It's one of, if not the, biggest tracking device companies.

My problem, and a warning to you all, is that this company make it very difficult to speak to them to cancel their service.
And since payment is via direct debit you <cannot> get your bank to stop payment. (They can refuse it once but ultimately have to pay up if the company insists).

This year, like last, I tried several times to speak to them but have been put into phone system limbo and eventually cut off. They are not open after 5:00 pm nor on Saturday mornings. I tried their website contact form this year like last, but I hold no hope...
I have also sent them a 'strongly worded email' in best PH style...

Just be warned signing a direct debit with this company is going to mean you'll have to fight to cancel it.

[p4cks]

You're wrong about Direct Debits. Read this bit of the Direct Debit Guarantee:

*You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify the organisation.

[soad]

I've always managed to cancel direct debits via online banking in the past - no issues there.

[FA51CAM]

I work for a bank, you are covered as previously stated, if they take funds and have not provided the service or have taken this without authority you need to raise a direct debit indemnity!

The bank will refund you ANY of the previous transactions taken and they will recover the funds from the company themselves! Your bank will also be able to cancel the DD its you in control not the company!

[911newbie]

Thanks guys, I thought that should be the case too. Surely I can stop anyone from taking money out of my account right ?

I spoke to LLoyds this moring and was told what I wrote above, ie they can cancel the DD, but the company can come back and take it a seocnd time. They say the DD agreement was between me and the comapny, not the bank. At which point they will in their words 'try to get the moeny back on my behalf'.

Anyway - anyone else had a similar experience with tracking companies ?
Difficult to contact ?

[D1ngd0ng]

911newbie said:

I spoke to LLoyds this moring and was told what I wrote above, ie they can cancel the DD, but the company can come back and take it a seocnd time. They say the DD agreement was between me and the comapny, not the bank. At which point they will in their words 'try to get the moeny back on my behalf'.

Difficult to contact ?

Thats a crock of st, just cancel the DD and write to the company saying you have. Thats your bit done, once you inform your bank you wish to cancel (as long as you don't do it the night before payment is due) there is no way in hell that they'll let the originator continue to take funds.

[valiant1]

Are you sure you havn't set up sort of rolling authority payment? (for the life of me I can't remember its proper name!) It's similar to what the AA do where you have to call the company to cancel rather than your bank. It's not the same as a DD.

[AmitG]

Is this a direct debit or a continuous payment authority (CPA)? It sounds like it might be the latter. Ask your bank.

A direct debit can be cancelled by notifying the bank as others have said. But a CPA can only be cancelled by the company taking payment. The bank may get involved, but only if the company has stopped supplying the service or broken the terms of the agreement in some other way.

From what has been said so far this sounds like a CPA.

Suggest you read this link for more info

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/theoneshow/2010/02/cont...

and check your documentation. Is there any mention of Direct Debit? Is the Direct Debit Guarantee printed anywhere?

[gowmonster]

and while you are at it, change bank accounts, it sounds like your current bank is a bit poo.