Standing order payment issued without an acc number?!

Defy Belief · 16 Jan 2012 at 18:46

Hi guys, in a weird situation here.

Not long moved out with my girlfriend and we arrived to a house in the worstt condition and they did none of the work they said they were going to do before we moved in. However, they have now taken the first months rent.

Here is the weird bit, I didn't give them my account number to set up the standing order (Due to the state of the house - we didn't want to pay any rent til they sorted it all out). The only details I gave were the sort code. But a standing order has been setup and the rent has been taken. The only other payment I have done with the card was on paper to take the house off the market + admin fees etc. This was NOT done with the actual acc number (Needed for standing order as far as I know) but the long card number across the front and expiry date.

So long story short, where do I stand? Surely they are not allowed to take the money out as they do not have permission to take it from a stated account as a sort code is the branch not the account. I have more than one account with my bank..

I rang the letting agent and they said a standing order is all done by me and they do not have the power to set it up, however she just wouldn't realise I have not given them an account number so how have they acquired such details.

Trying to ring Natwest now to see how the SO was setup, currently crazy busy lines and on hold forever so I thought i'd pick your brains.

Threepwood · 16 Jan 2012 at 18:57

but the long card number across the front

Is part of that long number your account number?

Defy Belief · 16 Jan 2012 at 19:02

shadesofgrey said:
Is part of that long number your account number?

Nope. Baffled!

mistercrabb · 16 Jan 2012 at 19:05

Wait wait wait.
A standing order is set up by account holder (you).
A direct debit is normally set up by the supplier (the letting agent) with your permission.

They couldn't set up a standing order even if they had your details.
Has your girlfriend decided to be helpful and set up the SO?

Dave M · 16 Jan 2012 at 19:09

Is it a standing order or have they just used your debit card?

Defy Belief · 16 Jan 2012 at 19:10

mistercrabb said:
Wait wait wait.
A standing order is set up by account holder (you).
A direct debit is normally set up by the supplier (the letting agent) with your permission.

They couldn't set up a standing order even if they had your details.
Has your girlfriend decided to be helpful and set up the SO?

Nope, Yeah I know a SO is setup by me, but all I did was put my sort code on the form and said i'd get back to them with the account number as it wasn't on my card (Stupid Natwest)

But then when we moved in and they did none of the work they promised us I didn't give them the follow up details because of the inhabitable state the house was in.

Defy Belief · 16 Jan 2012 at 19:11

Telescopi said:
Is it a standing order or have they just used your debit card?

Yep it's a standing order, can view the details regarding the payment on my online banking, Natwest call centres are always to busy. :mad:

Swordfish · 16 Jan 2012 at 19:14

Defy Belief said:
Yep it's a standing order, can view the details regarding the payment on my online banking, Natwest call centres are always to busy.

I would definitely phone the call centre and speak to someone AFTER you have spoke to your girlfiend in-case, as previously pointed out, she filled in/game them the details.

Only the accounts holder(s) can set up a SO.

Voltjunkie · 16 Jan 2012 at 19:15

I would double check what information you have provided and what forms you have signed. Standing orders are only set up at the account holder's request.

Tekgun · 16 Jan 2012 at 19:16

I would say the letting agent talked to Natwest using the card number and sort code.

on a side note, several years ago I used to be with Natwest and had cancelled a direct debit to my local council, this council also used Natwest as their bank and got them to make the payment anyway, I managed to get the payment refunded after going nuts and then closed my account out of principle.

Defy Belief · 16 Jan 2012 at 19:20

Tekgun said:
I would say the letting agent talked to Natwest using the card number and sort code.

on a side note, several years ago I used to be with Natwest and had cancelled a direct debit to my local council, this council also used Natwest as their bank and got them to make the payment anyway, I managed to get the payment refunded after going nuts and then closed my account out of principle.

Pretty sure they're not allowed to discuss my account due to DPA. And that was just an initial payment also, For all they know I could say my initial payment was from my savings account and I wanted to pay my rent via my current account.

Swordfish said:
I would definitely phone the call centre and speak to someone AFTER you have spoke to your girlfiend in-case, as previously pointed out, she filled in/game them the details.

Only the accounts holder(s) can set up a SO.

She definitely hasn't, we've even written to the paper (Who are interested.

) regarding the state of the house, she's more fuming than me at how the house was when we moved in.

Voltjunkie said:
I would double check what information you have provided and what forms you have signed. Standing orders are only set up at the account holder's request.

Yeah I will check this also, but I know I haven't given them the account number, I only know it when I go on my online banking as I don't get paper statements and it's not on the card.

Orangest · 16 Jan 2012 at 20:18

Did you have to do a tenancy application (credit checks, references etc.) before you moved in? as most of these you'd have to put your bank account info on.

Slade2 · 16 Jan 2012 at 20:52

I doubt they can ever do what you are saying happened to be honest. Check all the paper work you have from the letting agent and perhaps you filled it in on a credit check form or something. Also, i must state withholding rent becuase you are not happy with the state of the house isnt a good start. Perhaps you should have insisted the work was done before got the keys and if it wasnt find a different property?