Can a Bank Stop Recurring Debit Card Payments?

by deuces81

Posted: 11 years ago 13 replies

OFF TOPIC

Signed up for a 6-month gym member then I moved out of state 2 months later. I cancelled my membership and I was assured that I would not be charged again but I could tell from the guys voice that he was lying.

Anyways, I ended up getting charged this month again even though a recent email from the gym guy assured me that I wouldn't be.

What can I do?

I emailed the bank 2 weeks ago and told them that I'm expecting them the charge me. They said they can't stop it and they suggested that I cancel the card and get a new one.

That just sounded too extreme.

I emailed them again today telling them the payment is fraudulent

I guess I'm just gonna have to suck it up and cancel the card or is there any way for the bank (CHASE) to stop it?

It's $60/month.

Alexa Smith Banned 11 years ago

I'm in Europe and it may be different here(?), but if it's a debit-card, the payment instruction must have been given (probably to your bank, via the gym's bank, via a form you filled in and signed while at the gym?) in the form of either a "standing order" or a "direct debit" in writing, I think? If so, it can surely be countermanded in writing directly with your own bank? That's how it works here, anyway.

Do you have a copy of the original?

What you say above (about needing to cancel the card, to circumvent this) is something that can only ever apply to credit-cards, here, not to debit-cards, as far as I'm aware.

Forgive me if the distance has made my observations unhelpful - and good luck!
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garyv 11 years ago

That's why I never put recurring charges on my debt card - only on a credit card. So if I have any hassles canceling, they can pay a charge-back fee from the credit card company.

I have no idea why though you shouldn't be able to stop that kind of payment from your end. Makes no sense.
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KimW 11 years ago

Banks will always pay the business instead of stopping it.
When I had my business I used a well known company (rhymes with wiccan" to be my cc processor/merchant account.
When my business had to close I sent them all the paperwork I should need explaining that the business was shut down and I was cancelling the service. I kept my bank account open to finish up any late bills I had to pay.
Turns out "wiccan" kept debiting my account. I went to the bank and filed unauthorized transaction forms and got it recredited. A few days later the funds were taken out again. I went back and forth with the bank and over this till I finally spoke to the bank manager who said that any corporation contract overrides my written instructions.
Turned out the only way I could stop the improper actions by both "wiccan" and the bank was to completely close my account,which I did.
I hope you don't have to take that drastic measure.
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- Kay King 11 years ago
  
  The agreement was between you and the company - the bank's only involvement is processing payments you authorized. It is not the bank's business to deny payments you originally authorized so they won't help.
  
  Call the gym and don't stop until you speak to the manager. Be firm but reasonable. If no help there - get the number for the corporate office. It could be the employee you talked to meant to cancel but didn't do it or did it wrong.
  
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KimW 11 years ago

Kay,that was my whole point, the bank should do what you tell them to, it is your money,nbot theirs. But if the goal is to stop the imporper transactions,then he may have to take drastic action and stand up for hias rights another time.
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- jimbo13 11 years ago
  
  It is up to you to cancel the payments with the bank, usually after you have informed the billing company.
  
  I always do both as can never trust a company not to try and get an extra month.
  
  Normally one would cancel in writing though. You mention tone of voice so that would imply you did not do it in writing, either letter or e-mail form.
  
  In addition what where the T&Cs? You said 6 month membership which you broke.
  
  Was the contract for 6 months then rolling.
  
  Too many other factors.
  
  To your thread title though, the answer is yes but only if you inform them.
  
  Dan
  
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yukon

Banned 11 years ago

I have a Visa debit card from my local bank (checking account), all I have to do is make a phone call to the bank & they'll stop/reimburse the payment (been there, done that).

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seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by yukon

I have a Visa debit card from my local bank (checking account), all I have to do is make a phone call to the bank & they'll stop/reimburse the payment (been there, done that).

You didn't understand the question. You used a word that does NOT apply!!!!!!! " they'll stop/reimburse THE payment.".

The problem is that they are not stoping OTHER payments.

Steve

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yukon

Banned 11 years ago

Originally Posted by seasoned

You didn't understand the question. You used a word that does NOT apply!!!!!!! " they'll stop/reimburse THE payment.".

The problem is that they are not stoping OTHER payments.

Steve

Lol,

Your going to tell me how my bank deals with debit card transactions?

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Kay King

11 years ago

the bank should do what you tell them to, it is your money,nbot theirs. But if the goal is to stop the imporper transactions,then he may have to take drastic action and stand up for hias rights another time.

He told the bank to honor recurring payments. The bank didn't create this contract and can't cancel the contract...and it was a contract.

We are assuming it can be canceled - but we don't know what he agreed to as payment terms. If they are installment payments, canceling may be quite difficult.

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seasoned

11 years ago

Originally Posted by Kay King

The bank is SUPPOSED to be working for their customer! Let's say that you are right and it was an IRON CLAD contract! In would be STUPID and unconscionable to REQUIRE that it be done in EXACTLY that manner! Maybe that is part pf the reason that I have NEVER heard of such a thing. ALSO, it is ILLEGAL to obligate a third party outside of the contract. AGAIN, I have NEVER heard of such a thing.

So a contract would say that the OP would pay them and NOT that the bank was obligated to pay. After all, if the OP had NSF, they likely would NOT pay!

So the bank should honor THEIR fiduciary duty and cancel the payments!

That said, I was once in a case where it was 100% fraudulent, and it took me MONTHS to get it to stop.

On another note, I had something VERY close to what the OP had. As I said here before, a bank tried to steal about $500 from me. I got it back, but INSTANTLY closed the account.

********SURPRISE******** I had a gym membership that was debiting my account even while I didn't have time to use it. ONE GUESS as to what the bank did, when I closed my account. Want to guess? ***YOU*** essentially said they would keep paying. Well, THEY STOPPED!

The gym had the AUDACITY to send me a nasty letter threatening to destroy my credit(over ONE payment being a bit late). I shut down ALL business with them, and told them that check would be the last they would ever see from me.

Steve

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HeySal 11 years ago

I've never had a problem with this either. Either the company gives the money back, or I write to them certified mail and CC the bank on it. Then I have the copy to give to the claims dept. I had one they really went in-depth on to get straightened out for me. Still don't trust banks in the least - but if I have to have one, might as well be one that actually does something for you.
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Dennis Gaskill 11 years ago

I had to cancel a credit card years ago because a web host kept charging me after I'd left them. I fought the charges and got some of the money back, but not all. My bank advised me to cancel the card too, they couldn't stop the payments from being taken out.
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Can a Bank Stop Recurring Debit Card Payments?

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