Cancelling a Visa card payment

[bld767]

I joined a slimming program in January 09 at £9.00 a month with the payments being taken on a monthly basis from my Visa Debit card. I cancelled the payment in August, I wrote to the company to advise them of this, and thought that that was it. In October 09 they took a further payment of £9.00 - I rang them up, pointed out the error, they said that they would refund the money, please write and advise them as maybe they had not received the letter I had previously sent. I did so. (I know that £9.00 may seem a very small amount of money to be making a fuss about, but we're on a very low income at present). Today I logged into my online banking and lo! and behold! they've taken another £9.00 from my account which has taken me overdrawn on an account where I'm not allowed an overdraft facility! I've rung my bank and explained the situation, and asked if there is any way I can block them from ever taking money from my account again, but the bank said - unfortunately not. Fortunately (for them!) the company concerned's office hours are only from Monday to Friday so I will have had time to calm down a bit before I talk to them. What I would like to know is, how can I stop them ever doing this again? Thanks for any help.

[spudqueen]

First of all when you write to them send the letter recorded delivery, that way they have to sign for it so you know that they have received it. Secondly, get a new debit card (even if you have to tell your bank that you have lost yours), that way it will have a new number and the slimming programme will not have the details so won't be able to take money out of your account.

[trionam]

I dont know if visa debit has a different way of operating but I had a similar problem with my visa credit card got stung signing up for a subscription it on the internet realised straight away and wrote to my bank visa dept saying that company was not to take any more money from me I got a letter back saying it would take 15 days to but a stop on them but after that they couldnt take anything the company took 3 more payments after that under differnent references but the bank had to refund each one to me because I had written to them. As I said I dont know if this works with the debit card system.

[bld767]

Thanks for your advice - I've spoken to the company concerned who are refunding the money and have definitely cleared my card number from their system! I have written again, and am sending it recorded as suggested. The only reason I don't want to get a new debit card is that I just got one last month, and they managed to take money it must have come from my bank a/c, as the new debit card has different details on it. Anyway, thanks to you both for your help.