Energy Companies Allegedly Misuseing Direct Debit Scheme

1carminestocky

BallandChain wrote: »

Settle down and don't let the blood pressure get too high. It's admirable that you are Eon's spokesman. No, really it is. I just hope they are paying you handsomely for your loyalty. lol @ "grow up." This coming from a guy who calls himself Brysiewysie. :rolleyes:

Have to say I did laugh at this. :rotfl:

1carminestocky

BallandChain wrote: »

What I find strange is the way people feel they have a loyalty to their employer, so much so they spout their company mantra as if it's the gospel truth,without any thinking on their own. What happened to free thinking?

That's why I find it so suspicious. To be fair, there are exceptions - the afore-mentioned WhistleBlower and littletommytucker are 2 that appear to have retained their individual thought processes despite all the induction courses they must have attended. I suppose a forum such as this will tend to attract the real jobsworths, the ones who are more loyal to the company than they will ever be to them. Aspirational types. The sort who if they worked for Asda would be still bemoaning the demise of the morning sing song...

Norty_Rascal

Booger me, 1carminestocky - you're right! Bunch of cowards, the lot of 'em, hiding behind desks, pomposity, the company and an over inflated sense of importance. A murrain on the lot of them!

Incisor

brysiewysie wrote: »

And other daft comment. So you've obviously read all the comments from people who work for energy suppliers and seen that they're all tainted and corrupt and none of us help anyone.

We're also not entitled to be able to express views on an industry we know about and we're all 100% loyal to everything our emplyers do.

Grow up.

On reflection, by raising the temperature with this one, you are in fact drawing attention away from an issue which is beginning to be more serious than energy costs in determining peoples' relations with the energy companies.

Please do not use your freedom to post here to derail consumers' discussions.

DirectDebacle

brysiewysie wrote: »

Why should suppliers set a review at summer or early winter? Eon give an 8% discount typically for the benefit of the customer. Where's the benefit to Eon if the DD scheme creates debt and credit in equal measure over the year? Suppliers struggle with the amount of debt customers create particularly when they then default. Customers have a choice about payment methods, if they don't like DD schemes there are sevearl alternatives.....

Whether intended or not it is these sort of comments which attract criticism from other posters. I am not having a go at you personally or your company in particular. However to me these sort of posts re-inforce my opinion that the energy suppliers have in general an arrogant attitude towards their customers which at times borders on contempt.

The big six have a captive market between them. There is no where else customers can go for their energy and it is a product we are all forced to buy. Therefore there is little competition between them. Whilst various enquiries have not found them to be operating a cartel the perception is that they do. Price adjustments are roughly in line with each other and occur almost the same time. Now we see complaints (whether real or mistaken) about DD alterations. Again the DD reviews all bear the hallmarks of collusion. These complaints are levelled at most of the suppliers who are once again perceived to be acting in unison.

Dismissive remarks like....'if they don't like DD schemes there are sevearl alternatives..... ' are not helpful. Many tariffs have a DD built in as the only method of payment. Customers then feel trapped as they have a tariff with a price they find agreeable and a payment method which they are forced to accept. They then see the DD abused by the provider. they can choose different payment methods but then see the remainder of their benefits denied.

I see no reason for these discounts in the first place. They are unfair on customers who do not wish to choose this method or are unable because they do not have access to this facility. The same goes for online accounts. Unfair on those who do not have access to a computer.

Much of this is created by weak regulation. Prices, tariffs and methods of payment have become too numerous and complex to be easily understood and therefore open to abuse.

The water industry is privatised but there is not the mess of pricing as seen in the gas and electric market. One reason for this is that Ofwat is a much tighter regulator than Ofgem. Mainly because in many respects water is still a monopoly and treated as such.

Ofgem need to take hold of the arrogant and lazy energy suppliers and shake out all these confusing and complex tariffs. None of them are related to the price of energy as such and are merely marketing ploys. The energy companies should be competing on the price of energy, (though there is not much scope for this) excellent customer service and conducting their business with a proper social conscience. there is much scope for this. I do not accept the concept they have a responsibility to their shareholders above the responsibility to their customers. Unlike other industries they have a captive market and are providing a necessity, not a luxury, for life in modern day Britain.

The energy companies should climb down from the pedestals they have put themselves on and start providing a decent service for the paying customer instead of trying to boost profits by treating them as idiots.

Rant over.

Incisor

DirectDebacle wrote: »

.... Rant over.

That is no rant, it is sound.

Cardew

As usual a measured post by Direct Debacle and I am sure that everyone would agree about the ‘confusion marketing’ on all tariffs of the ‘big 6’ and in general the way the industry operates.

However I believe that we are in danger of ‘demonising’ all those utility company employees who make a most valuable contribution(including Brysiewisie) to MSE.

They are not as far as I can see, in policy making appointments. Surely the points made in their posts should be debated on merit, and not dismissed because they are Utility company employees.

Or is post #104 the way forward?

Joyful

1carminestocky wrote: »

Ooohh, I rest my case again. You people have had it all your own way on here for too long. Many of you post during traditional office hours as well, which I also find highly suspicious. If you don't think you should make it clear you DERIVE YOUR LIVELIHOOD FROM THE INDUSTRY YOU DEFEND ON HERE, THEN ALLOW ME TO PUT PEOPLE RIGHT AFTER EACH OF YOUR POSTS! Deal?

To truly rest your case you need to show where in the Forum rules it says Employees need to show who they work for.:rolleyes:. Otherwise stop quoting it and change to "I would like to know".
I have nothing against people knowing who I work for ( British Gas) but don't feel the need to constantly publicise it. I will help if I have the knowledge to help others like many on this board. This does not mean I agree with everything my company does but it does mean that I may have a bit more understanding on certain points than someone not working for the company. If I defend ANY company it is because I personally agree with what I hear.

I think ridiculing anyone one this board is infantile. People should be thanked for helpful input without whose help there would be less knowledge on this Forum.

For your information people work at all different times and also have breaks. My Office has Computers in a separate area to be used in breaks. Other than that people are too busy to be on this Forum while they are at work! Must go now as I'm off to the same place.

If you decide to post after every post of mine you will be reported as a Stalker. Now please go and do your homework and if you find rules I will certainly conform.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I'm with ScottishPower who told me that they were intending to up my direct debit from £59 TO £112,even though I was over £200 in credit.I emailed them and said I was'nt going to pay it and would cancel my direct debit if they tried to change it and change suppliers.I received an e-mail back that very day saying they would allow me on this occasion to do that but would be monitoring my account closely in case they considered I should be paying more.
I e-mailed them back and said I could monitor my own account thankyou,(I do I put a meter reading in monthly).I told them if I owed more I would pay that months excess at the time but no way were they putting up my DD.They have'nt been in touch since and I'm still in credit.

DirectDebacle

MRSTITTLEMOUSE wrote: »

I'm with ScottishPower who told me that they were intending to up my direct debit from £59 TO £112,even though I was over £200 in credit........

Complaints such as these are almost totally avoidable. They are, in the main, caused by customers failing to understand why their DD debits have increased so much. This is because the energy companies fail to communicate properly with their customers.

If the DD alteration, which is usually an increase (but could be a decrease) were accompanied with a statement setting out the mechanics of the alteration in an easy to follow way, then the bulk of the time and money wasted by energy companies fielding complaints about them would be prevented. The cost of a simple statement would be far less than dealing with the complaints.

Not all customers are as savvy in understanding bills and DD as some of the posters on here are. A statement would help them or friends/family in explaining it to them. Of course it would also assist in identifying any errors in the projected required payments and simplify rectification.

The letter I received simply said,' we review you account every 3 months and this review shows payments are not in line with usage and we have revised your DD to ..'(paraphrased). I am sure MRSTITTLEMOUSE received similar. Not good enough. A breakdown of figures should be accompanied with this in order that the reasons for the change are understood.

Perhaps the energy industry employees who read these posts could put in the suggestion box where they work that fully informing customers of how and why deductions from their customers bank accounts are varied from the initial agreement might be of benefit to the company and customer alike.

I would appreciate a little more time spent on the basics and less spent on the next latest super tariff which seem to appear more frequently than a DFS sale.