Is it me or does monthly DD seem to work differently??

Magentasue

I think a couple of things have changed in recent years. Firstly, because people switch more frequently, suppliers often don't have annual kwh usage to base calculations on. Often people don't bother to keep their own meter readings so they can't work it out either.

Secondly, and more recently, I think there's a trend of suppliers reviewing DDs more frequently and adjusting them so that consumers are at zero in spring, therefore avoiding the possibility of debt.

I switched at the end of summer so have been paying a higher than needed DD over this winter but don't mind because I got my credit balance back from my previous supplier.

silver-birch

Despite being (very)well in credit at the end of the year Southern Electric wanted to raise my direct debit from £50 to £54 for gas. When I looked at their estimate they had assumed that I would use 20% more gas than the previous year. Why would this be? Do they know something about my circumtances that I don't? There are only 2 of us as there was last year and I actually have less gas appliances than last year. I checked with them, they couldn't tell me how they had arrived at the new figures, in fact the assistant said she would have been happy to leave it at the previous level. Yes, I know its only £4 and I could ask for the credit back but I was happy to leave it there as a buffer in case prices went up again but they wanted even more!!!

Glad to see they are bringing the price down in March. Not very much but better than nothing, will be even more in credit.:rolleyes:

peachyprice

claireac wrote: »

e.

In the good old days (maybe 6-8 years ago) I used to get my gas from BG and for a 3 bed end of terrace (2 adults, 2 kids) used to pay the staggering sum of £12 a month (oh for those days again). I used to get in credit during th summer when the heating was off and in debit during the winter. The thing is, my dd was never increased, it just went back into credit during the warmer months!

I gues I'm one of the few lucky ones, my DD's do seem to work out like that. Electricity is a £10-£20 deficit by the end of winter and a £30-40 credit by the end of summer. Gas is usually £100ish deficit by end of winter and breaking even by end of summer.

Rusty!

claireac wrote: »

Perseverance is the key!! My partner spends a long time on hold, and we also have the online account.

Changed my payments with British Gas via the 'Contact Us' link on my online account. Got a phone call off them 2 days later agreeing that I was paying too much, and it would be reduced immediately, got a letter confirming it a couple of days later.

A hassle free result :beer: