Important information about your Direct Debit payments
What follows is important information you need to know about your Direct Debit payments.
The Direct Debit payments do not include any outstanding balance you have already agreed to pay to us. Please ensure you continue to pay any outstanding balance by the agreed payment method.
When we take the payments from your bank account we will use your payment reference number. These Direct Debit payments to London Borough of Lambeth will be clearly shown on your bank statements.
If you have any questions about the amount that has been taken please contact us immediately. If an error is made in the amount taken you will receive a full and immediate refund. See the Direct Debit Guarantee.
Please note that we will be taking monthly payments. Your rent statements may show a small debit or credit because the rent balance is calculated weekly. These credits and debits will cancel each other out during the year, and the total amount of rent paid will not change. Please contact us if the balance is large or you have any concerns.
If arrears build up on your account we will adjust your monthly payments to reduce these arrears. You will receive 14 days’ notification of any changes. If there are arrears on your account you should contact your Income Officer via the Lambeth Service Centre on 020 7926 6000 as soon as possible to discuss suitable repayment arrangements.
How Standing Orders differ from Direct Debit
A standing order is an instruction you give to your bank to pay a fixed amount to someone else on a regular basis. If the amount changes you must issue a new instruction to your bank.
A direct debit is an authorisation from you to allow a particular organisation to collect sums from your account, provided that organisation gives advance notice of the collection times and amounts.
The advantage of Direct Debit is that, as and when your rent changes we can calculate your new payments, inform you of the changes, and then adjust the amount we take without you having to give your bank new instructions. Direct Debit also protects you under the Direct Debit Guarantee Scheme which ensures that any amounts debited in error are refunded immediately.