No, there is no protection like that in the US and that was what the article was basically stating. If you allow direct debits you're basically trusting the rec

No, there is no protection like that in the US and that was what the article was basically stating. If you allow direct debits you're basically trusting the receiver with full access to your account. If they dick around and wipe you out you have no recourse accept to ask for the money back. If you want to stop payment you have to close the account to be absolutely sure. As long as they have your account details they can go in and take whatever, whenever they want. I learned this the hard way when I let my mobile operator take payments directly. Someone stole my phone and called fuck all. In the end my rent, car insurance, and utilities weren't paid because the operator took all the money available. And the bank didn't care one bit as the dinged my account for NSF fees for weeks.