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

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Comments

  • Xs500
    Xs500 Posts: 17 Forumite
    Sixth Anniversary 10 Posts
    swfcowls said:
    They don't, but who says it should be monthly and an amount that is more than actually needed. They could just bill once a month in arrears the exact amount due. That would be fairer. Fancy paying a bill that is accurate, it's so 1980's and means the customer isn't paying out more than they can afford, whereas the 2020s is about looking after the business, not the customer. It wouldn't be a shock if you save regular into your own account and then use your money for the payment that is due. Its what i do, never had payment issues and anything leftover stays in my bank, where i can access it instantly, if something else needs it. 
    Quite agree.
     If my phone/broadband company can bill me each month for that months usage, so can my energy company. Can't see in this day of paperless billing and smart meters that the additional cost would be significant. They already give me the cost of energy used each month. One simple extra transaction - send a DD request to my bank for that sum.

    What's  next folks?  Is Tesco going to estimate my grocery bill for next year and demand regular DD payments? Imagine Tesco customers response to that.
  • Xs500 said:
    swfcowls said:
    They don't, but who says it should be monthly and an amount that is more than actually needed. They could just bill once a month in arrears the exact amount due. That would be fairer. Fancy paying a bill that is accurate, it's so 1980's and means the customer isn't paying out more than they can afford, whereas the 2020s is about looking after the business, not the customer. It wouldn't be a shock if you save regular into your own account and then use your money for the payment that is due. Its what i do, never had payment issues and anything leftover stays in my bank, where i can access it instantly, if something else needs it. 
    Quite agree.
     If my phone/broadband company can bill me each month for that months usage, so can my energy company. Can't see in this day of paperless billing and smart meters that the additional cost would be significant. They already give me the cost of energy used each month. One simple extra transaction - send a DD request to my bank for that sum.

    What's  next folks?  Is Tesco going to estimate my grocery bill for next year and demand regular DD payments? Imagine Tesco customers response to that.
    Imagine Tesco’s response if you insisted that it was their job to keep your cupboards stocked at all times ready for use on demand and you decided that you wanted to pay a month in arrears only for the food that you have actually eaten that month.  Do you not notice how absurd your comparison is?
  • Your comparison is absurd, using Tesco. Broadband, Mobile Phone, Land Phone etc.. are more suitable comparisons to use. They manage to take what is owed each month in arrears, so why can't energy firms? There is no valid reason for Energy firms to take more than that which is due. If they can do a monthly dd, they can easily do a variable DD each month for what has been used the previous month only. 
    Electronics Engineer & Quality Manager
  • swfcowls said:
    Your comparison is absurd, using Tesco. Broadband, Mobile Phone, Land Phone etc.. are more suitable comparisons to use.  
    Those are not variable costs, or at least are not for most people, but fixed costs.
    swfcowls said:
    They manage to take what is owed each month in arrears, so why can't energy firms? 
    They can, monthly variable Direct Debit, rather than monthly budget Direct Debit.
    swfcowls said:
    There is no valid reason for Energy firms to take more than that which is due. 
    There is, customers want a fixed monthly direct debit, so in some months, usually in the summer, they take more than usage, and in winter they take less.
    swfcowls said:
    If they can do a monthly dd, they can easily do a variable DD each month for what has been used the previous month only. 
    They already offer that.
  • t0rt0ise
    t0rt0ise Posts: 4,384 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    swfcowls said:
    Your comparison is absurd, using Tesco. Broadband, Mobile Phone, Land Phone etc.. are more suitable comparisons to use.  
    Those are not variable costs, or at least are not for most people, but fixed costs.
    swfcowls said:
    They manage to take what is owed each month in arrears, so why can't energy firms? 
    They can, monthly variable Direct Debit, rather than monthly budget Direct Debit.
    swfcowls said:
    There is no valid reason for Energy firms to take more than that which is due. 
    There is, customers want a fixed monthly direct debit, so in some months, usually in the summer, they take more than usage, and in winter they take less.
    swfcowls said:
    If they can do a monthly dd, they can easily do a variable DD each month for what has been used the previous month only. 
    They already offer that.
    SSE no longer does, which is the whole point.
  • swfcowls said:
    Your comparison is absurd, using Tesco. Broadband, Mobile Phone, Land Phone etc.. are more suitable comparisons to use. They manage to take what is owed each month in arrears, so why can't energy firms? There is no valid reason for Energy firms to take more than that which is due. If they can do a monthly dd, they can easily do a variable DD each month for what has been used the previous month only. 
    I was responding directly to your comparison. “What’s next folks”.Not my fault that you made the comment.

    You can pay monthly in arrears. Pay by cash, cheque or standing order.

    A supplier has no obligation to make the particular way that you happen to wish to run things the default option, or even an option at all.
  • QrizB
    QrizB Posts: 15,358 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Third Anniversary Photogenic Name Dropper
    t0rt0ise said:
    MattMattMattUK said:
    swfcowls said:
    If they can do a monthly dd, they can easily do a variable DD each month for what has been used the previous month only. 
    They already offer that.
    SSE no longer does, which is the whole point.
    OP could switch to another supplier, then, one that *does* offer exact monthly DD.
    Octopus are still offering referral payments, so they could switch and be better off for doing so.
    N. Hampshire, he/him. Octopus Intelligent Go elec & Tracker gas / Shell (now TT) BB / Lebara mobi. Ripple Kirk Hill member.
    2.72kWp PV facing SSW installed Jan 2012. 11 x 247w panels, 3.6kw inverter. 33MWh generated, long-term average 2.6 Os.
    Not exactly back from my break, but dipping in and out of the forum.
    Ofgem cap table, Ofgem cap explainer. Economy 7 cap explainer. Gas vs E7 vs peak elec heating costs, Best kettle!
  • Comparing food isn't the same as comparing energy etc., as food is many different products that a user can have, whereas the energy is only three choices of Gas, Electric & Duel, plus they would remain the same for the period of the contract, unlike food. It is not just my wish to run it that way, it's the fact that something was working and then you're told you can't have it that way as it's better to have a monthly debit, where in fact, that isn't the case at all. To have the monthly debit they state I need to have, is well over what I have ever needed and I only put £150 a month into my own account and still have left over money for other utilities. I don't know why SparkyGrad is focusing on my own situtation, rather than the point of a perfectly working method has been removed, so the engergy form can take a money grab from the customer, at a time when people are having to watch every penny they have.
    Electronics Engineer & Quality Manager
  • Because it’s not a money grab. It’s a perfectly normal method of business, particularly in a period of market stress, to consolidate operations and remove duplications of process that don’t need to be there.

    If you want your supplier to be providing an option that they don’t have to, then move to one which does.  That’s called consumer choice.
  • Of course it is by definition, taking more than is needed to pay a bill. Can't think of anyone else who takes more money that is needed and builds a pot of cash in the account and still increase direct debits. My in-laws have over £600 in credit, yet they doubled their direct debit from £250 to nearly £500 a month and they are pensioners.
    Electronics Engineer & Quality Manager
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