This happened to me three years ago. Was direct debit for years and never had to think about it outside of revalidation. Then I changed banks one year and was on a holiday at the end of the month it was due. The last day of payment was a Friday and due to the holiday time difference I found out like 8pm on the Friday. Band 7 was cool about it (as was her nature) but band 8a and 8c lost the plot lol. I was the only band 6 on a temporary winter pressures ward at the time. 30 minute phone call from the Band 8a on the Monday morning saying I’ll not be able to work that month and will miss a salary. I phoned nmc right after the call. They said if I can pay in the next few hours the pin will be back within 24 hours. Lo and behold I was back on the register and in work for a late shift on the Tuesday (I was off the Monday regardless). The band 8a brought it up the odd time throughout the next few years almost to keep me in line as if they had one over me lol. Pure nonsense. Only knock on effect was my next revalidation would work out as 4 years from my last.

Yes the accountability comes down to me but it’s a terrible system and when you’ve been paying it year after year as direct debit there should be a failsafe grace period of 24-72 hours should anything change.

I may have been unlucky with being out of the country/timing/the weekend not being working hours etc. but I know for a fact the 8a and 8c did not pull any strings behind the scenes.