Banking

I have just joined a small cafe chain as the bookkeeper. Quickbooks on-line is new to me but I have a strong finance background. I need help in understanding postings from the Nat West physical bank to Quickbooks. The problem is this.

On several supplier accounts payments TO suppliers, eg direct debits taken by the supplier, then transactions downloaded from the physical bank appear as if they are an ‘expense’ to be paid. For example £1,000 was paid to one supplier four times over but not matched to invoices. When these 4 payments out were downloaded they appear as ‘expenses’ and coded as purchases with a transaction now sitting on the supplier account with the same signage as a ‘bill’. (I assume debit purchases credit trade creditors). In this case the £1,000 x 4 has ADDED to the supplier balance not reduced it. I would have thought the transactions would be debit trade creditors and credit bank. I really do not understand the transaction flow whatsoever. The same issue has occurred with a supplier who direct debits us; these direct debit payments out have come through as ‘expenses’ some debiting purchases and strangely some debiting creditors. Please can you explain the transaction flow and how to correct it because not only are purchases significantly overstated, the supplier balance is wrong as is the QB bank balance too? An accounting technical response would be great. Thank you