WBDC Finances Options

[Ron]

Are WBDC finances in such a poor shape that they have had to claim rates paid by SO/DD before the first of the month?

[On the edge]

Appears to have been an error. However Dave Rendel is blaming the Tories - its all their fault. Bet some 'erbert in accounts is mighty relieved at that!!!

[Ron]

Appears to have been an error. However Dave Rendel is blaming the Tories - its all their fault. Bet some 'erbert in accounts is mighty relieved at that!!!

So do you recon WBDC will accept a claim for any overdraft interest charges?

[Richard Garvie]

It's not the Tories fault on this occasion, but the officers who run that part of the council. But don't worry, nobody will be punished or held to account. There should be an independent review to prevent it happening again, but we will get a report drawn up by the officer who was responsible for the mistake and it will probably be down to BT or whoever wrote the computer programme they use...

[Andy Capp]

Or it could be just a low paid, poorly trained, demoralised, public servant, who was distracted by the worry of how they will afford the new pension policy.

[NWNREADER]

Or it could be just a low paid, poorly trained, demoralised, public servant, who was distracted by the worry of how they will afford the new pension policy, not able to afford to take the day off as a strike, and wanting to be a nuisance'by accident'

[Andy Capp]

Quite.

[dannyboy]

So do you recon WBDC will accept a claim for any overdraft interest charges?

They won't have to - the Direct Debit scheme is covered by a guarantee scheme precisely to cover such errors. Your bank will refund any charges.

[Sidney]

They won't have to - the Direct Debit scheme is covered by a guarantee scheme precisely to cover such errors. Your bank will refund any charges.

There seems to be some confusion over DD schemes here. It works like this - WBC request the money, on the due date, and the bank gives it to them. If you were charged for being overdrawn and went into your bank, they would tell you to contact the originator ie WBC. The DD guarantee covers bank errors - and this is not a bank error, its some poor so-and-so in WBC who made a mistake.

If the WBC error caused you to go overdrawn, then WBC must cough up, but will of course require proof that you were charged in the first place. (Your bank can provide you with a letter - probably cost you though!)

I must say I am surprised at the dramatic coverage of the situation. Politicians blaming each other etc all quite pathetic really. The bottom line is some poor soul made a clerical error, god knows we have all done it at some stage in our lives and been in the SH1T - it's only the depth that varies

[Strafin]

I agree with Sydney, it would only be a bad reflection on WBC if they tried to cover it up, or lied about it. They have come clean straight away; and so long as they cover the costs incurred to the people affected I don't think it's worth going on about. Unless it ends up costing millions.

[Andy Capp]

I wider point is that it is out of order that a Direct Debit instruction can easily be broken without authorisation. For me, this is more about the fallibility of the bank and the Direct Debit system than WBC finance department.

[Bartholomew]

There seems to be some confusion over DD schemes here. It works like this - WBC request the money, on the due date, and the bank gives it to them. If you were charged for being overdrawn and went into your bank, they would tell you to contact the originator ie WBC. The DD guarantee covers bank errors - and this is not a bank error, its some poor so-and-so in WBC who made a mistake.

You are wrong. The Direct Debit Guarantee is in place to cover any payment made by the bank or originator in error. The bank is simply acting as an agent and is unaware of the arrangement made between the account holder and the originator. If a payment is made in error, the account holder is entitled to instruct the bank to return the payment. Error means money taken on the wrong day or an incorrect amount taken.
The error is from WBC stating the date the money should be taken and the day it was taken.

[Bartholomew]

I wider point is that it is out of order that a Direct Debit instruction can easily be broken without authorisation. For me, this is more about the fallibility of the bank and the Direct Debit system than WBC finance department.

Agreed. The direct debit scheme has a number of flaws, the prime one being that the bank takes authorisation from the originator and not directly from the account holder. The bank assumes that the originator has got authority.

[Berkshirelad]

Luckily, I decided some years ago not to let WBC anywhere near my account with a DD. I pay electronically and I have control over when the money leaves my account.

[Andy Capp]

For me, a Standing Order is a more sensible method of payment for fixed amount payments.

[user23]

For me, a Standing Order is a more sensible method of payment for fixed amount payments.

Do you get a Direct Debit discount with a Standing Order?

[Strafin]

Do you get a direct debit discount from WBC at all?

[user23]

Do you get a direct debit discount from WBC at all?

No, were were talking about generally about Direct Debits and Standing Orders.

[Sidney]

You are wrong. The Direct Debit Guarantee is in place to cover any payment made by the bank or originator in error. The bank is simply acting as an agent and is unaware of the arrangement made between the account holder and the originator. If a payment is made in error, the account holder is entitled to instruct the bank to return the payment. Error means money taken on the wrong day or an incorrect amount taken.
The error is from WBC stating the date the money should be taken and the day it was taken.

The direct debit guarantee isn't worth the paper it's written on ! If you go into your bank they will send you back to the originator every time. The bank considers to originator to be in control, and will pass the buck accordingly. I have in the past, cancelled a direct debit, and the originator has re-instated it ! Plus of course, if you read the small print, a lot of DD's say "on, or around, such and such a date".

Andy is totally right - the only way to be in complete control is with a standing order - because you call the shots.

[Richard Garvie]

Sidney, the Lib Dems are the only party throwing mud at the Tories (misguided as always). This is a non political mistake, and I have personally been calling for action against whoever is responsible. There is no accountability at WBC, so if I was the person responsible I wouldn't worry too much.