£50 Roaming deposit

[djbdane]

Hi Guys!
Joined today - checking My EE I noticed the first bill was £64 - £14 tariff and £50 roaming deposit.

I rang up and the lovely person I spoke to says they have removed the roaming charge after asking me if it was something I needed - I assume this turns off roaming on the account?

She did say the bill amount won't change but they will only try to collect £14 on the 28th when the DD is due - should I take her on her word or make sure there are funds to cover the £64 just in case! 
I am assuming if the full amount is taken in error they will refund?

Thanks in advance.

[Kimberley1988]

Ok will keep an eye thanks. It’s bad really that they just add it on without asking!

[djbdane]

A direct debit is essentially a BACS payment in reverse (they both use the same system) - they follow the 3 day process a BACS payment does - they are processed on day 1, sent to the other bank on day 2, and the money is transferred on day 3. Which is why some banks can tell you a direct debit is coming out the next day and for what amount. So the balance on the account on the day the process starts is what the direct debit will be for - as my experience shows - the exception to this would be if EE put the direct debits in when the bill is generated, and then set the processing date to fit in with the DD due date (the 3 days cycle) but this isn't the case as my experience shows - the £50 was removed after the bill was generated and they only took £14 which was correct.

[XRaySpeX]

That 3 day process, if it exists at all, may very well start when the DD arrives at the paying bank but it ignores:

1. EE's own internal processing & admin. time from the date the bill is posted until actually presenting the DD to the paying bank.
2. EE setting the processing date, as you say, to fit in with the DD due date as agreed & notified to its custs.

It also contradicts the DD Guarantee which includes:

If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit the organisation will notify you (normally 10 working days) in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed.

EE makes it their business to always inform users by dint of their bill of a DD being taken regardless of whether or not there are changes to the amount, date or frequency of the DD.

My BB DD, which never has any changes to to the amount, date or frequency, is always taken about 2 weeks after I get the bill, e.g. Bill 28/07/22 > DD taken 11/08/22 = 14 days. I understand for mobile bills it will be about 7 calendar days.

Anyway a DD is not BACS. Even with BACS there needn't be any old-fashioned 3-day presentation process. Most banks now manage to action an eBanking BACS payment immediately or within the hour.

[Lauxavi08]

I suppose to get this money back after my sixth payment and still nothing 

[Katie_B]

Good morning @Lauxavi08. 

Thanks for coming to the community. 

I am sorry to hear you have not yet received a refund for your Roaming deposit. 

Do you require Roaming to be active at the moment?

If not, you could give our customer care team a call on 150 who will be able to remove the service for you and request a refund of your deposit. 

Katie 🙂