Scottish Power - another increase in my direct debit

Pont

I'm with Scottish Power but pay my bills by quarterly direct debit, my readings are always accurate as I enter my readings online. I, many moons ago, paid by monthly dd but was never happy with the constant demands to up the amounts. Also it bugged me that in the summer months I was heaps in credit and so they were collecting interest on MY money. I know it should even out throughout the year but in my own little way I felt I was 'hitting back'.

Stevie1

They want to up our DD too, from £91 to £122 for dual fuel!

I have no comparison because we've only lived in the house since mid October but have paid since then £91 a month for three months and £15 a month for 2 months before that (the house was empty). It's only the two of us, no kids, brand new condensing boiler with thermostat, heating off all day. We are currently upgrading the (non existant) loft insulation so no doubt that'll make a difference, but stil!!

I was £218 in credit until I put in my meter readings yesterday, the bill was £479 and they are now saying we owe them £261 - is it me or does this not add up?

ali_p_4

Stonet wrote: »

The lady... was not helpful in the least and would not let me get my point acroos and i was vertually bullied into raising my direct debit from 88.50 to 110 a month or clear it there and then. I came off the phone feeling very upset.

It sounds like you spoke to the same one i did a few weeks ago. Call them again if you are not happy with your direct debit amount. Then ask to forward a complaint. You will be transferred to customer care where you should comment on your previous treatment and hopefully reach a satisfactory outcome.

froggy27_2

same here quite an increase again... due to unit prices etc but when i signed with them i thought prices were fixed unti aug 09? anybody else thought that? I switched just before the price hike....
what i don't understand is that with southern electric i paid the same amount for few years... winter and summer and it worked out ok. Why is Scottish power adjusting the dd as soon as we send meter readings? does that mean it will go down as the year progresses and the heating too????

Magentasue

froggy27 wrote: »

same here quite an increase again... due to unit prices etc but when i signed with them i thought prices were fixed unti oct 09? anybody else thought that? I switched just before the price hike....

Price per kwh was fixed. You can't use more and pay the same. If you signed up for the fixed price deal and the unit cost has gone up, you're being charged on a different tariff.

Forgetful

We have been with scotish power for a few years... cnnot remember how many...
We were paying £55 pm then suddenly last Oct/Nove time they increased it to £75 pm... so called them up in December and was told the fixed plan we were on had now ended and we are now on this new one...
but... she said she could reduce the dd down to £70 pm.... but I said that if I did carry on paying the £75 pm then I would be in credit and if I reduced it to £70 then we will get no credit and maybe be in debit... so really not a reduction in price per kilowatt but just a reduction in dd which makes no odds...
Anyways after 1/2 hour on the phone I just left it at £70.
Last week went to have a look at the online bill and find DD has gone up to £90 pm....

Not called them yet...
But what I find the problem with Scottish Powers online billing is... that their bills are very hard to Understand ... and u cannot just view them online... u need to print older bills out to be able to view them...

Even with my husbands cleverness at these things he spent a long time trying to make heads and tails of their bills...
!!!!!!!!!

On the phone I was trying to just basically get a price per unit of electricity and gas to compare...and standing charges if applicable...but scottish power has such a vast range of plans to confuse us....

Will need to leave soon!!!!

Quentin

Stevie1 wrote: »

) I was £218 in credit until I put in my meter readings yesterday, the bill was £479 and they are now saying we owe them £261 - is it me or does this not add up?

It is you.

It adds up.

The bill is £479. Less credit of £218 = £261!

lrr_2

now_a_mum&skint wrote: »

I got a statement from Scottish Power a few weeks ago to say that my account was in credit by £7 and I do not need to take any action on my current payments (by monthly d/d). I was quite happy although I was paying £81.50 for combined gas/elec. Ive just checked my bank statement and they've taken £109 this month with no letter/explantion/warning, nothing!! Surely they should have advised me of this increase? Im in 2 bedroom lower cottage flat with my toddler son (single parent), Does this sound right?

this happened to me and i kicked up a storm, also found out they had changed my tarriff as well without me telling them to. got it sorted in the end though

Magentasue

Forgetful wrote: »

.

But what I find the problem with Scottish Powers online billing is... that their bills are very hard to Understand ... and u cannot just view them online... u need to print older bills out to be able to view them...

Even with my husbands cleverness at these things he spent a long time trying to make heads and tails of their bills...
!!!!!!!!!

On the phone I was trying to just basically get a price per unit of electricity and gas to compare...and standing charges if applicable...but scottish power has such a vast range of plans to confuse us....

Will need to leave soon!!!!

One of the things I like about SP is that you can enter your meter readings and get a bill for the month generated. I have to say I find the bills straightforward - can't see what you mean! When you log on, and get the page 'My Account Details', it says bottom right 'Product' and has the name of the tariff'. When you click on a bill, it gives you the option to download a pdf, or you can view online. Either way, on page two it tells you how much you've been charged for each kwh.

StevenA_2

We have been with Scottish Power now and on Dual Fuel for a number of years with no complaints at all - until recently.
After reducing our energy consumption steadily over the past 18 months and being in credit with them for the past 8 months (up to £54.00), I could not beleive my eyes after I supplied them with our latest meter readings.
We have gone from being in credit to owing them £100.54.
I rang straight away, and was told by a most unpleasant and unsympathetic advisor that because we are now on "Fixed Price Energy Online" after coming off "Price Fall" and before that "Capped Rate" our unit rate has gone up by 70% in the past 12 months, and that they had no better rates to offer.
Then to add insult to injury an email arrived tonight to say the Direct Debit will increase from £70.50 per month to £107.50 per month.
Needless to say I will definitely be caling them tomorrow.