Watch the Direct Debits

Sharp_Watch

3 months ago I changed my supplier of electricity to Scottish Power and to a fixed deal. based on previous usuage I agreed a DD of £80 per month. First qtr I used only £60 per month but Scottish Power notified me that they would be increasing my DD to £100 per month from Oct. As I was already in credit and my usage per month is constant I challenged this. They have agreed not to increase my DD. It strikes me that the ultility company was trying build their own bank balances in determent to mine.

The lesson is WATCH carefully the actions of your supplier, especially if you have got a fixed deal ahead of the latest price increases. You may be getting a bad deal!!

brysiewysie

You don't have to choose DD as a payment method if you don't agree with the way SP want to set it up. You should have credit on your account now to help with the large winter usage and it's very unusual that someones usage won't increase dramatically over the winter period.

I guess you're don't have a problem with the DD discount SP are giving you for the method of payment you currently have?

Magentasue

Apparently, the OP's "usage is constant" which seems very unusual - unless the house is empty for a lot of the winter, maybe?

For most of us, a £20 credit isn't going to go far over the next couple of quarters.

KimYeovil

Why is it unusual, with our current mild climate, to have constant usage? If anything, my usage goes up over summer due to needing extra showers!

As to having a choice over using DDs - with the grotesquely inflated surcharges (up to ONE HUNDRED pounds per year) - yes, most of us do have to choose DD as a payment method.

Magentasue

KimYeovil wrote: »

Why is it unusual, with our current mild climate, to have constant usage? If anything, my usage goes up over summer due to needing extra showers!

I don't know anyone who has higher bills in the summer.

epsilondraconis

Magentasue wrote: »

I don't know anyone who has higher bills in the summer.

I do - see KimYeovil's posts above.

Dreamnine

My electric usage is marginally higher in the summer.

epsilondraconis

Our energy usage is far less in the summer than winter.

I can understand people's energy usage being higher in the summer if we needed air conditioning units to be used, but this is Britain.

I'm not too sure if I have more showers in the summer or winter. I probably have longer showers in the winter, just because I don't want to get out.

Perhaps some of these folk need some tips on how to save energy - especially during the summer months.

clairew37

Can I ask, at what point did you agree to that amount for the direct debit?

brysiewysie

clairew37 wrote: »

Can I ask, at what point did you agree to that amount for the direct debit?

The utility company have the right to select a DD sum themselves, they may be willing to listen to customers requests to change a DD sum but they don't allow customers to agree to a DD sum.