Let me tell you about the day I finally lost it with direct draws. They market them as “easy” and “convenient,” and I fell for it. But let me be clear: that convenience is a trap.

Here’s what happened.

I had DirecTV set up on a direct draw from my Pichincha bank account. When I got tired of the service and tried to cancel, it was a nightmare. They demanded paperwork, then more paperwork. I finally said, “Screw this,” and marched down to my bank, confident I could just cut them off at the source.

I asked to speak directly to the bank manager. I sat down in his office and laid it out clearly: “I’m your customer. I am sitting here in person, showing you my ID, and I am telling you I want you to stop paying DirecTV. Remove their authorization. Now.”

The manager shook his head and gave me the same corporate line. “Sorry, sir,” he said. “We can’t.” I argued, I pleaded, but the answer was the same. The bank, whom I paid to hold my money, wouldn’t let me stop a payment I no longer authorized. The “convenience” had locked me in.

So, I did the only thing I could. I walked out of that manager’s office, straight into a Bank of Guayaquil branch across the street.

“I want to open a new account,” I said. The banker, a friendly guy named Juan, showed me the minimum amount. I pulled out my Pichincha bank statement and said, “Great. I want to transfer all of it.”

He handed me the paperwork. I walked right back into Pichincha, told them I was closing my account, and to transfer every last cent to my new bank. And just like that, it was done.

That was the day I learned my lesson.

And it’s not just DirecTV. I hear this same story all the time with CNT. You can go in to cancel, and everything seems fine. Then, a bill shows up next month. Or worse, you’ve moved to another city, and the bills keep coming to your old address, piling up with late fees because, for some reason, it never really got canceled.

Look, if you’re down here—especially if you’re retired—it is incredibly easy to just walk into any number of locations and pay your bills in person. You can even transfer the money yourself from your bank’s app.

Do yourself a favor and keep control of your money. Pay your bills on your own terms. Do not, under any circumstances, set up a direct draw. Trust me on this one.