2 week direct debit instead of monthly

[RosieMunro]

Hi, I recently signed up for Sky Broadband and my contract states £26/month for 24 months, then £46/month after that.

However, I've had two payments taken recently:

• £21 on the 2nd of September (I moved in on the 19th August)

• £26 yesterday, 19th September

When I checked my Direct Debit, it shows as set to collect every two weeks, which doesn’t match the contract terms.

Can you please clarify:

1. What the £21 charge was for?

2. Why the Direct Debit is showing a biweekly schedule instead of monthly?

3. Can you confirm my correct billing cycle and make sure I’m not being overcharged?

I have seen that the first two payments for sky can be different (still confused about it, as I've only got it for Wi-Fi), but doesn't explain why the direct debit still stays every 2 weeks.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[caesarome]

@RosieMunro 

If you are new to Sky then you are billed twice in your first month as your first bill covers the period from your activation up to the second bill and the second one covers the next 4 weeks as you can read about here under the "When you'll be charged for your first bills" section::

https://www.sky.com/help/articles/understanding-my-bills

After that second bill you will then be billed monthly.

[PandJ2020]

Bills are fully itemised - so you can check exactly what you've been charged for, especially the period of time.  (In advance charging means initial bills can be larger than perhaps expected).

[MightyQuinn]

Hi @RosieMunro   The £21 will be for 19 August up to your billing date. The £26 will be your normal month in advance. Unlike standing orders, direct debits can be taken at any time, there is no fixed schedule. Where are you seeing this "every two weeks"? Please note that you are not talking to Sky customer services here. Please see Welcome below, for information about the Sky community.

[Mark39]

@RosieMunro banks often make an assumption about direct debit frequency based on recent activity. So if you've had 2 direct debit taken in your first month of subscription, banks will assume it's a two week direct debit.

Once your Sky account settles into its normal monthly payment your bank will update its record to show the direct debit as monthly.