Hey Criminals,try thinking a bit harder for something actually believeable...A Council Tax Rebate...yeah right.

Blimey the council calling to give you a refund. Why would anyone believe that - to collect yes.

If, as proposed, the cheque is phased out, I can only seeing this happening more frequently, as every payment will have to be made electronically, so people will become far more accustomed to handing out their bank details.

Black Flag

Giving someone your bank sort code and account number only does not give them access to your bank account. Much more than that is needed.All it does do is enable them to make an account credit and nothing else.

Electronic payments are the way forward. Live with it.

Knowsleyman: "Giving someone your bank sort code and account number only does not give them access to your bank account. Much more than that is needed."

It would probably be enough to enable them to set up a Direct Debit with a company which uses paperless Direct Debit Instruction lodging, which I imagine is the majority these days.

"All it does do is enable them to make an account credit and nothing else."

Do you think these scammers are some kind of Robin Hood outfit, setting out to give money to people?

"Electronic payments are the way forward. Live with it."

Electronic payments are very useful, but that doesn't automatically make them the best approach in every circumstance. Live with it.

Black Flag

Having worked in the Financial Services industry for over 30 years I understand how the system works. Clearly you do not.

Yes, there are companies which are enabled to set up direct debits without a written authority, but these, firstly, are approved bodies, not the type to take thousands and run. But if that did happen there is the Direct Debit Guarantee to get a refund on demand.

For my part, I am not prepared to give anyone access to my account giving a direct debit authority.

Knowsleyman: "Having worked in the Financial Services industry for over 30 years I understand how the system works. Clearly you do not."

I do and quite well.

"Yes, there are companies which are enabled to set up direct debits without a written authority,"

Exactly as I said.

"but these, firstly, are approved bodies, not the type to take thousands and run."

But many of those businesses will still be liable to fraud. I'm sure, if you're as knowledgeable as you say that you appreciate that it is possible for a fraudster to start a relationship with a business, set up a paperless Direct Debit using somebody else's bank account details, obtain goods or services fraudulently and then disappear.

"But if that did happen there is the Direct Debit Guarantee to get a refund on demand."

Yes, the customer can, but that doesn't guarantee that the DD originator will be able to get the money back from the fraudster.

"For my part, I am not prepared to give anyone access to my account giving a direct debit authority."

What do you mean by that? Do you mean you aren't prepared to open an account which allows direct debits? If that suits you then that's fine, but many people would find it difficult to operate with such a limited type of account and it could make operating an universal electronic payments system, which you think is the way forward, very difficult.

Black Flag

I do not believe for one second that you do not understand what I said about me not allowing direct debits on my account.

Clearly, current accounts, with the authority of the account holder, can have direct debits deducted. All I said was that I am not prepared to give any such authority. Simple as that.

Just by way of a change you are reading into statements things which just have not been said, or even suggested remotley, but you manage to see the invisible.

The details asked for are on every cheque you have ever issued.

I was the victim of identity theft were the thief used my bank details to get a TV from a well know high street chain and set up a DD on my account.

The bank cancelled the DD, but the thief still got the TV for free.