Energy Direct Debits: Get money back & your payments lowered Discussion

Flt._Lt._Biggles

Erica51 wrote: »

OveEnergy pays me 5% interest on my credit balance. I know of nowhere else I could get that so I'm happy to have my account well in credit!

Only as you are now in your third consecutive year with them.

I feel sure what will have overpaid for 3 years (compared to other suppliers) will more than offset any small interest payment you will receive on any credit balance

Flt._Lt._Biggles

anniedebrake wrote: »

I!!!8217;m with OVO and like many energy companies they pay 3% interest on credit balances. That!!!8217;s better than I can get anywhere else. I deliberately overpay and use it as a savings account. Rather than paying for appliance insurance, I use my built up credit to replace any appliances which breakdown or any plumbing or electrician bills.

I earn more than 3% lending my money to others, legitimately ... and have immediate access without any lengthy phone calls explaining how/why I want the money returned.

LiquidStool

Hi all

I'm with Scottish Power on a dual fuel MSE tariff. I was "happy" with the level of DD, £80 a month for a 4 bed semi. None of us like it warm so the heating is rarely on, in fact it's not yet been on once yet since the Beast From The East earlier in the year. Most of the time it's just myself here during the day - 9-5 6 days a week.

Now when we had the heatwave, due to a medical condition, I was left with no choice but to buy a portable AC unit and it was running 24/7 for the length of the heatwave, once temperatures returned to normal, then it was switched off and not been on since.

My first bill after the period increased by £50, no problem there, it was about what i was expecting, however the subsequent bill jumped from £80 to £160 which was not acceptable. I spoke with the supplier and told them that the amount was not sustainable, it was pushing me rapidly in to debt, something i've never been in before and i wanted it lowered. They asked for a current reading and then adjusted by DD down to £120 but have refused to lower it further - even though i told them i knew exactly why the usage had increased and it wouldn't be at that level again unless we had similar temperatures.

I'm REALLY struggling to cover this DD now, is there any way i can either cancel it and pay on a quarterly bill or force them to lower the DD to the original level?

Thanks for any help

Nigel_Tufnell

After being with AVRO energy for less than 6 Months, they have racked up nearly £700 of credit (overcharged my Direct debit far more than needed). I have tried to call(no answer) and email (no reply).
I have complained via the ombudsman but wondered if I can simply cancel my direct debit until my credit gets lower?

Thanks in advance

LiquidStool

I haven't as yet as I'm moving home shorty however I can't see any reason why you couldn't just pay on receipt of your quarterly bill, that said if you're on a "online tariff" that it may be a condition that you pay by direct debit, also as paying by DD often gets a discount, you might lose that...

wavelets

Nigel_Tufnell wrote: »

After being with AVRO energy for less than 6 Months, they have racked up nearly £700 of credit (overcharged my Direct debit far more than needed). I have tried to call(no answer) and email (no reply).
I have complained via the ombudsman but wondered if I can simply cancel my direct debit until my credit gets lower?

Thanks in advance

Have you agreed a final resolution with the ombudsman?
If so, you will need to act in accordance with the resolution you agreed.

wavelets

LiquidStool wrote: »

I haven't as yet as I'm moving home shorty however I can't see any reason why you couldn't just pay on receipt of your quarterly bill, that said if you're on a "online tariff" that it may be a condition that you pay by direct debit, also as paying by DD often gets a discount, you might lose that...

Maybe the first line of the article is a big hint

Paying by monthly direct debit cuts bills by up to £90 each year.

Also, many people today get paid monthly, aften a fixed amount, direct to their bank account ... and so prefer to pay a fixed amount per month from their bank account on a fixed day rather than say pay nothing for 2 months, and then get hit with a £500 bill that needs settling withing a few days.

But its a huge market, with lots of options available. If you prefer to pay on receipt of bill, those options still exist with some suppliers, and usually at a cost.

tripcode

Hello

Am looking for other people's experiences of being overcharged by an energy company through a single 'mistake' direct debit charge. What has happened is that instead of an amount of xx being taken an amount of xxxx has been taken. So thousands instead of tens. I have been told to go to my bank and fill out a direct debit indemnity form to stop the money coming out but this need to be done today, otherwise I am without money for up to 8 days, they say.

I visited my bank today and they said to speak to the energy company. I don't have time to go back today and also don't have internet banking or phone banking as yet due to just switching to the bank.

I will get the money back but does anyone have any experience here over compensation levels for bills bouncing and also being without money?

Gerry1

The bank is obliged to give you a full and immediate refund. Ring the bank right now and tell them to read the Direct Debit guarantee, warning them that you will go to the Ombudsman if they refuse. It shouldn't matter if you don't have telephone or internet banking.

tripcode

ok thanks Gerry, so that's without even submitting a 'direct debit indemnity' where you claim back the money or basically stop it going out if you do it fast enough?

I kind of think that the bank should have stopped it anyway using common sense.

I am looking for compensation too from the energy company, which I won't mention just now but plan to later on.

It's such a massive amount and has caused such hassle that I feel it's worth a substantial amount.