Setting Up A Direct Debit To A Relative

[needawin]

Due to the present cost of gas I want to help my daughter to cope.
I want to set up a direct debit so I can put money on her account each month. I don't want her to know in advance as she will protest.
Problem is I do not know her account number.
I rang the gas company with all her details except the account number. Asked to set up Direct Debit but was told they could not do it due to secrecy laws.
Is there any way this can be done?

[dannyk13]

Without your daughter's sort code and account number I would say no.

[andy-hughes]

If you can get sight of her bank card discreetly, copy the account number and sort code, but there is unlikely to be an 'official' way of getting that info.

[davebro]

I don't think you should attempt to do this without asking her first.

[dannyk13]

If you can get the account and sort code numbers you coud easily psy money into her account by 'money transfer' from your account.

[bhg481]

You can ask her for her account details so that you can "send her some money for Christmas", or some other excuse.
Once you have the details you can send money whenever you want. If you want to make it a regular payment it will be a Standing Order, not a Direct Debit. A Standing Order is a payment YOU make regularly, a Direct Debit is an authorisation you give to your bank to allow someone (or a firm) to take a variable amount of money from your bank whenever it wants.

[davebro]

I think maybe the OP wants to pay into her D's account with the gas supplier rather than to he bank a/c.

[Redhelen72]

Do you want to pay the gas company or your daughter?
If it’s the gas company you could do as we have done and contact them and explain that you just want to add some money to your daughter account we do this for my MIL.
However it will show up on her bill and I would imagine she would question it.
Best be upfront and perhaps buy her grocery vouchers so see can divert the money from grocery to gas’s bill

[DTCwordfan]

I agree - why the need for the subterfuge - be straight up with her and she should appreciate what you are trying to do.....

[THECORBYLOON]

Even if you get her details, she could transfer back to you any amount you pay if she doesn't want your help.

[needawin]

Thanks all

[bobbinwales]

I'm not sure they'd want 2 different direct debits for one account but no harm in asking. What happens if bills go up... which dd to change?

[gingejbee]

It's been said before by bhg...it's a standing order you're talking about, not a direct debit.

[needawin]

People are getting confused here. I do not want her bank details.
I want to make the money paid from my bank account directly to her gas provider. Her bank account is nothing to do with it.

I provided her name, address and asked them to accept the money monthly. No other bank is involved except mine!

[needawin]

There is no other direct debit. She has a card that she tops up at the post office. Doesn't matter if gas price goes up or down.

[needawin]

Red Helen. Once I had set it up I would have told her.

[needawin]

Red Helen. Once I had set it up I would have told her.
Davepro has it right.

[gingejbee]

It's still a standing order you need to use. You tell your bank that you want to pay, say, £50 per month to the gas account (no contact with the gas provider needed). However, you will need the gas account number and the sort code of the gas company's bankers...maybe sneek-a-peek at daughter's gas account details in some way.