Contact your bank or building society and tell them which one you want to stop, or cancel online or via your banking app.

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 are unsure is check how much notice your bank or building society needs.

No. If you do see a payment after cancelling, contact your bank immediately and claim a refund under the Direct Debit Guarantee.