My gripe would be with your car insurance company and not your bank; as Margaret-
Rose said, most companies will inform you of the first rejection and give you a date on which they plan to try again, giving you time to get the money in your account. It normally takes 2 or more missed payments before a policy is cancelled. You don't say which insurer you're with but they should have notified you of the missed payment, and their intention to cancel your cover. I would contact them to dispute this situation; your bank was only following standard procedure and is not to blame here.

"Does any one know what I can do (if anything) about this - I'm getting no luck from the "call centre" at my bank"

....

"Does anyone think I'm being unreasonable to ask for a response from my bank on this?"

I think you have to be clear as to what kind of response you are expecting before people can say whether you are being reasonable or not. It is true that the chain of events was rather unfortunate, but it was foreseeable.

You say you were unemployed for a bit, but also that your monthly salary is paid into the account. If you now have a reliable income that exceeds your outgoings, I would say the the call centre should at least consider raising your overdraft to lubricate your situation a little. But they could be reasonable in saying "no" if the pattern of salary payments looks irregular, other aspects of your account management/attitude looks risky, or commercially they can get a better deal elsewhere for the money they have to lend. The fact they bounced the DD may indicate that they think your current limit is all you are "good" for.

It might seem petty and poor customer relations to bounce a DD for what seems like just £1.19, but I suppose a line is drawn somewhere and I don't think you have any right to demand anything of them - unless they messed up in some way.

Margaret-Rose:

Very good, if useless advice. Not everyone can get an overdraft and if everyone could have this nice, cosy little buffer you speak of, these forums would be half the size they are.

Your buffer and spend depends on your income. It is your responsibility to not behave like a three year old and not grab everything that is laid out in front of you. The OP can afford to and is old enough to own and run a car ergo they can afford to maintain a bank account and they are old enough to operate it sensibly.

Infantilism is not the bank's fault.

Very good, if useless advice. Not everyone can get an overdraft and if everyone could have this nice, cosy little buffer you speak of, these forums would be half the size they are.

I am rather surprised, though, that they cancelled your insurance because of one bouncing DD. Most companies will attempt to debit a second, or even a third time, then will write and tell you that if you do not pay up to date your insurance will be cancelled.

I have an over draft thanks & as I stated it was only over by £1.19 - I'm not asking for info on how to mangage my account

That is what an overdraft is for.

If you have no overdraft facility, either keep a buffer in your account yourself or do not pay by direct debits.

Does any one know what I can do (if anything) about this - I'm getting no luck from the "call centre" at my bank

My car insurance is paid monthly by direct debit, has been for the last 10 years. Due to being unemployed for a bit admittedly my current account hasn't been in the best of order but my bank returned a DD for the sake of -£1.19! They didn't notify me and to cut a long story short it led to my car insurance policy being canelled which led to me driving without insurance (i wasn't aware I was driving without insurance), being stopped by the police & having my car uplifted!

To date I have paid £260 to get me car back from the police, £200 for a solicitor (cos you have to go to court if your car's impounded), £370 fine from the court - all because of £1.19!

My monthly salary is paid into the same account at the bank

I'm not complaining about being done for no insurance I completely understand the police/courts side of the deal & I admit I should have checked my statements but for the sake of £1.19 its cost me a total of £830 in charges/fees etc

Does anyone think I'm being unreasonable to ask for a response from my bank on this?