[GLLUG] Broadband/cable provider [OT]

[John Winters]

On 12/02/13 06:27, Christopher Hunter wrote:
[snip]
> He ceased Virgin after two months of fruitless argument, but they tried
> to bill him for the whole year.  He took them to the Small Claims Court,
> and the case was moved to the County Court because he was persuaded to
> also sue for misappropriation of funds - Virgin simply took the money
> out of his account!  He won, of course, and the only up-side to the
> whole sorry tale is that the Court awarded him significant damages (for
> damage to his property, misappropriation, nuisance and inept supply of
> service).  Virgin had to pay him back the money they stole and damages
> of just over £3500!

On which front, it's worth remembering that if any supplier ever debits 
money from your account which they shouldn't there's no need to go to 
all this trouble.  Simply instruct your bank to refund the money.  Under 
the terms of the DD agreement they *have* to do this.  It's up to them 
to go away later and get the money back from the supplier.

I have done this on several occasions, most notably when Demon's billing 
department went completely rogue back in the late 90s.  Chances are the 
first person you speak to will say they can't do it, but they can and 
indeed must - persist.

For this reason, DDs are much safer than repeating debit instructions on 
a credit card.  Never grant one of the latter.

John