Direct Debit > Using Direct Debit > Cancelling a Direct Debit

Cancelling a Direct Debit

Any Direct Debits on your account are yours to control, and they’re very easy to cancel.

You can either get in touch with your bank or building society and tell them which one you want to stop, or you can cancel online or via your banking app.

To make things simple, it’s also worth telling the organisation you were paying that you’ve stopped the Direct Debit. If you still need to pay them (maybe you’re just changing the way you pay, not stopping the service), they’ll be able to tell you about alternative payment methods. If you’re ending the relationship, you’ll be able to make that clear.

Make sure you cancel at least a full day before a Direct Debit is due to be collected. Otherwise, it’s possible that the payment might already be what’s called “in flight” and can’t be stopped. The best thing to do if you aren’t sure is check how much notice your bank or building society needs.

	It’s important to remember that cancelling the Direct Debit simply stops payments from going to the organisation you are paying. If you still owe money for something you’ve bought, or are still receiving a service, you’ll need to organise another way of paying.

 

Money should not be collected from your account after you have cancelled the Direct Debit but check your bank account, just in case. If you do see a payment, contact your bank immediately and claim a refund under the Direct Debit Guarantee.