> On 09/01/2008, Srini Ramakrishnan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Any idea how the prank was done? Giving out one's account number and > sort code to receive payments is rather common in the UK. Is the > technique "portable" to say, ICICI Bank in India?
Yes. Somebody used the information to set up a "Direct Debit" from his bank account. It's a system in the UK where you can pre-authorize companies to deduct sums of money from your bank account directly. It's usually used to automatically pay mobile phone bills every month or make monthly charity donations (as happened to Clarkson - only it was £500 a month I think). It's a "pull" system - initiated by the company receiving the money - it's not a "push" system where the money is sent from your bank account. The company taking the money is supposed to tell you how much they are taking from your account atleast 3 days before they do it, but I would guess that Clarkson just ignored that letter as junk mail (or they didn't send it at all). Not aware of a similar system in India so it should be fine. Even for the UK - you would also need the person's home address (as used by the bank), and even then there is the confirmation letter which Clarkson probably ignored. B
