Continuous credit card authorities can cause problems. While they go right, they are very convenient.

When they go wrong, it is sometimes hard to sort the problem out.

This is because, in order to cancel them or get mistakes put right, you have to contact the originator, not the bank. The bank may be prepared to intervene on your behalf, but it doesn't have to. This is unlike direct debits, where the bank has got to take on the responsibility of sorting out errors.

If a company has made a mistake with your continuous credit card authority, how confident will you be that they can be trusted to sort it out? Especially if they are based abroad?

So look before you leap. Only give a continuous credit card authority to a company you really can trust. Otherwise, consider a direct debit.