> Only vetted companies are allowed to perform Direct Debits, e.g. utilities who know your physical address.
The scenario is not fraud, that is hard(er) to pull off due to vetting, but trolling someone with fake online shop orders.
> In the UK (still a member of SEPA even post Brexit) the Direct Debit Guarantee [1] makes it easy to reverse any errant Direct Debits through your bank.
It's the same here in Germany, but you're still stuck with unwinding all of the bullshit.
> The pizza or dildo company likely won't accept Direct Debits and will require a debit or credit card for the transaction instead.
SEPA Direct Debit is mostly used for recurring payments, and the account owner must authorize the company to use it. Just knowing someone's account number is not enough, you still need that initial authorization.
In fact, in some EU countries businesses are required to publish their bank account numbers in some central, government-run registry. It wouldn't be safe to do, if it could result in having your money stolen.
The scenario is not fraud, that is hard(er) to pull off due to vetting, but trolling someone with fake online shop orders.
> In the UK (still a member of SEPA even post Brexit) the Direct Debit Guarantee [1] makes it easy to reverse any errant Direct Debits through your bank.
It's the same here in Germany, but you're still stuck with unwinding all of the bullshit.
> The pizza or dildo company likely won't accept Direct Debits and will require a debit or credit card for the transaction instead.
Here in Germany, paying with SEPA DD is the norm.