On 09 Jun 2008 19:26:21 GMT, Klunk  wrote:



>As far as credit and debit cards go yes, I have them. I never use them 
>for anything at all other than cash withdrawal.
Same here 
> When I need to use a card 
>online I stick with a pre-paid Virgin Mastercard and add funds to it for 
>just that transaction. It may seem an expensive and quirky way to do it - 
>but that is how I operate.
You forgot to add AND THE BEST WAY .
>There is no valid argument for direct debit being of any benefit to the 
>customer. The idea of 'set it and forget it' is clearly abused by some 
>companies. If a company needs to give you a couple of weeks notice before 
>they call for funds by direct debit then they might as well send a paper 
>bill! Perhaps they could then give you a discount for prompt payment via 
>online banking. The amount is direct and to the same account, but the 
>control stays with the customer.

My building society have a very suspect way of working regarding DD's
I have my car insurance set to come out on the 15th of each month and
has I understand it a bank should only pay out on the set date or
AFTER .This month the 15th falls on a Sunday and if my insurers claim
payment on the 13th and if I have money in the account the society
will and have paid out in situations like this week .The account is
only used for the odd one or two DD's I have where I have been forced
to use DD or pay extortionate rates for not dong so and I only put
funds into the account when needed  and only the day before a payment
is due to be taken .
I think it is wrong that any bank or BS will pay out before a DD's due
date but apparently some do the Yorkshire BS does I have proof of this
happening at least on three occasions and had more money in the
account than I needed to have .
My pension gets paid into the Yorkshire and I religiously make a point
of going to the branch and drawing the lot out every Saturday morning
and paying it into my main current account at the Abbey .