>>Direct debit is dangerous. If anything goes wrong, say they double dip, you have limited legal recourse to fix it.


You're right about that, Craig. It needs more safeguards before it can be more widely used.

If you think about it tho, letters of credit were used for centuries and what were they but debit authorizations?

I use it in cases like the HOA where risks of fraud are low and there's plenty of time to correct any problems that might arise. At least 90% of the 300 members here use direct debit and it saves the HOA a lot of money- our money.
I also pay insurance premiums and real estate taxes that way, because I know the other party is honest and I can control the exact date that it will hit my account and I know they will be paid in time. Checks can be lost in the mail or lie around in a inbox- direct debts are more controllable.