The ways of paying the rent.

I came home tonight to a letter from the letting agent that informs me that I must give them permission to Direct Debit my account to pay the rent.

Why is this? Why do I have to use Direct Debit? 

I do not use Direct Debit with any bill because I disagree with the fundamental logic of the process. As far as I can see, it is basically permitting them to stick their hand in to get their funds at their discretion. I much prefer to do the electronic equivalent of paying them. Like every other bill I pay.

Today being, of course, Friday, I now have to wait until Monday to call them up and tell them I don’t to Direct Debit.

Of course, I have to send them a form to enable it. The letter says nothing about what will happen if I do not nor if the older method (DEFT which I pay using BPAY) will stop working, both of which strike me as a major omission and suggests to my cynical mind that they can’t force me to switch to Direct Debit.

Thoughts?

Wade.