Saturday 5 December 2009

Credit card holders get recurring payments advice


The UK Cards Association has advised customers on what they can do if they are trapped by recurring credit card payments.

Under current rules a bank does not have ultimate responsibility for the transactions, the BBC reported.

Recurring payments occur when a contract is made between a company offering goods and services and a cardholder.

The recipient company takes the long debit or credit card number from the customer, rather than just the account number and sort code.

Some cardholders who try to cancel could be left disappointed if the recipient firm refuses to recognise their request.

Speaking to the broadcaster, UK Cards Association spokeswoman Sandra Quinn said: "The bank isn't involved in these payments; it's the company you've got a contract with. So that's who you have to cancel it with and you have to rely on them following your instructions."

The expert advised customers who have trouble cancelling the payments to keep records of the refusals and then inform banks that further transactions from the company are not authorised.

"Essentially that then means that it was a fraudulent transaction and it shouldn't have been made on your account."

Ms Quinn also warned that the payments are ultimately the responsibility of the recipient company rather than the bank and that these problems can be avoided in the first place by a customer setting up the transactions in the form of a Direct Debit or standing order.

These payments carry guarantees allowing the customer to cancel them at any time, without getting the recipient company's permission.

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