@Dave A and @Justloadit, yeah you guys are right, its probably not easy for "anyone" to do it. So perhaps large fraud is not so much a threat. However the system remains open to abuse, even if the source of abuse is incompetence, errors or cynical marketing tactics - rather than outright fraud. I mean, how many of these debit orders are for obscure insurances or initiated by marketing agencies or from call centres? We're hardly talking about an overly ethical group here.

As a consumer, the end result in terms of hassle remains pretty much the same. It is a ridiculous system IMO. How on earth can the bank release funds from my account without my authority or without the authority of a court of law, and then charge me to correct their error or that of their customer. The fact that they control access to this system makes it worse in my view. It means they endorse it. I still don't see the logic behind it.

@Blurock, when is this likely to change ? Sounds much more sensible.

@Phil, well if guvmint are forcing the banks to correct this ridiculous system, I may just have to vote for them

In the mean time I think I will start some research on the process for setting up a debit order run on Sim Tshabalala's account. Something with a medical reference, you know - getting some of his own medicine