Contact the card issuer to get the charges 'charged back' to your account, they should give you advice how to do this.  As far as I am aware the same rules apply as to the credit cards which although they are to do with the credit protection legislation the banks make the same contractual rules apply to both credit and debit cards.

Card 'charge back' is part of the 'Merchant' agreement between the banks and the merchant that accepts the card payments.

You should also have protection by 'Trading Standards' if you are a private individual, contact your citizens advice for free advice on this.

You can also get simple redress through the County Court as a last resort and the court fee is refunded if the other side fails to defend and if you file against them then they would probably admit liability and pay into the court which would also include your court fee.  You need to write to their registered head office to warn them of your intentions if they do not give you a refund, tell them they have 14 working days to pay or you take court action.  Put it in writing, much better.  You can take action online:

www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk

court action is the last resort though but the small claims you don't need a solicitor and for such small claims it is unlikely they will defend.

I joined Pipex in March 2003, and cancelled my account in October 2006 as I moved back home. I never had a problem with thier services at all until 2007, eight months after I canclled my account.

On 10th May 2007 Pipex took an unauthorised payment from my debit card of £38.86. I was shocked when looking at my bank statement as I thought that my account with Pipex was cancelled over eight months ago and no other payments have been taken. So I called Pipex (after exchanging emails and getting no where and after 10 attempts at calling them and 30 minutes on hold I got through) explaining the situation, and the gentleman told me that my account was still "Live" and was not cancelled. I was puzzled because if my account was still "Live" why are there not more payments? The reply I recieved was 'its to do with the finance department, nothing to do with me'. Obviously I asked if my account could be changed to cancelled as I did not want an account, and if I could be refunded for the unauthorised payment. I was told that my account was changed to canclled and that the finance department would refund my card. I thought this was the end of the situation.

On 20th June 2007, I decided to call Pipex as I had not yet recieved my refund on my card. To my amazement I got through straight away and and spoke to a gentlemam who was called James. I asked James when I would get my refund back, and he told me that my account was still "Live" and the person whom I had previously spoken to did not cancel my account properly. James told me that he would cancel my account for me and I recieved a cancellation email, I was then told that I would have to call back in 10 days time before I could claim my payment back.

I called Pipex on several occasions, and hung up as I refused to wait 15 minutes before my call got answered. I was not that bothered about getting my money back, because I really did not think it was worth the stress.

To my annoyance on the 21st July 2007 Pipex yet again took another unauthorised payment of £23.32 from by debit card.

I really dont know what to do now, as it seems no matter how many times I cancel my account Pipex still take unauthorised payments from my debit card.