[QUOTE="dog"] right. you don't usually hand over your address for trivial transactions, which is the ony missing piece needed for the direct debit fraud, but you usually supply this data at the same time for any transaction that requires a delivery. the banks really are well behind the curve here. they need to introduce a new, secret piece of information, known only to the bank and to you (a password, if you want). this information *cannot* be required for any 3rd party transaction, but *must* be supplied directly to the bank by you as confirmation of any instruction. so basically, no 3rd parties can helpfully set up a direct debit on your behalf. this limits any fraud to yourself and bank staff.[/QUOTE] I have had this arrangement with my bank over movement of monies from my credit and debit cards over a certain limit. Also from what countries any amount is charged from. To help them I always inform them (with the code words) where I am going and for how long. They have often stated when I phone them up to tell them of my next jaunt. "We only wish more people would do this."
