Ofgem Tell Energy Giants To Justify DD Payments.

billsavings

"Ofgem issued a statement on Friday saying: 'We have today written to all the major suppliers asking for details of their direct debit arrangements and how they communicate with customers. It is already clear that suppliers need to improve their communications.

'We have also called in the head of the Energy Retail Association, the industry body that oversees the energy suppliers’ billing code, to establish what action they are taking as a result of customers’ concerns about direct debit arrangements."



Source: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/article-1092456/Energy-giants-told-justify-debit-charges.html

1carminestocky

My God, has Ofgem's order finally arrived?

wakeupalarm

What is really interesting is the comparison with the water industry.

(Water) Regulator Ofwat said that under its rules, water companies must inform customers if they are in credit.

'Water companies are obliged not to overcharge customers over the course of the year. If there is any change to a customer’s direct debit, the water company is required to inform the them and this includes if the customer is in credit after paying their bill,’ it said.

dogshome

Ofgem ? Could this be the energy regulator who were consistantly saying 'Competition' was working when thier co-regulator Energywatch were saying it wasn't ?
Is this the Ofgem, which customers are denied direct access to,
who 2 weeks ago issued a statement in answer to a furore in the press about Direct Debits, saying that they had not recieved any complaints?
Don't rely on Ofgem to do anything - If you have an issue with your energy supplier, don't phone or E.mail them -
WRITE TO THEM and head the letter COMPLAINT

1carminestocky

I believe it's also the same Ofgem who refused to appear on the recent Channel 4 Dispatches programme. Why, I wonder? What have they got to hide? It does beg the question if they don't appear on this type of programme, whose interests do they really have at heart - the energy industry or the public?

Cardew

wakeupalarm wrote: »

What is really interesting is the comparison with the water industry.

(Water) Regulator Ofwat said that under its rules, water companies must inform customers if they are in credit.

'Water companies are obliged not to overcharge customers over the course of the year. If there is any change to a customer’s direct debit, the water company is required to inform the them and this includes if the customer is in credit after paying their bill,’ it said.

I didn't understand what they meant about the water industry billing.

With my company(Severn Trent) I have an annual bill from 01 April with two choices of payment method.

The bill for the year ahead is payable immediately, however I can pay it in 2 instalments - in April and October.

or

I can pay it by monthly Direct Debit.

So given that you are apparently liable for the year ahead I can't see how I can ever be "in credit" except at the end of the year if I have used less water than they estimated.

However as the Daily mail couldn't possibly get anything wrong - perhaps I have made an error?