Scottish power fixed price online 2009

MoscowFlyer

moses3256 wrote: »

I'm on this tariff. I've had an email from SP today saying they are increasing my monthly direct debit from £88.00 to £140.50. They did not care when I hardly used any gas last quarter due to having no heating and I built up over £200.00 credit!!. Aso, with spring/summer now coming, the usage will decrease - but they just want you to be in credit all of the while. It appears I cannot do anything other than cancel DD which will revert me to an even dearer tariff. This one is already over the odds now due to others cutting their costs so Im considering paying the penalty to break the contract. Anyone else having same problem??

Same here, put in an actual reading, went from £46 in credit to £305 in debit, despite already paying £90 a month. This is based on two months usage. They now want over £150 a month from me. When I was with Southern, they were flexible with payments as they knew that come summer everything would even out, but Scottish don't care, they say you have to pay the amount they request.

I know it's not a good time to move but I'm looking to go back to Southern even though overall they're a bit more expensive, or npower are supposed to be a bit cheaper but I don't know whether their service is any good so I'll look into it.

Oh, and Scottish tell me I'm lucky because our usage is below the average, yet I'm still expected to pay over £150 a month!

Magentasue

MoscowFlyer wrote: »

When I was with Southern, they were flexible with payments as they knew that come summer everything would even out,

This may still be true, but you may find that now, most (all?) suppliers review DDs when an account goes into debit. It's certainly a recurring theme on this board and not just SP, and seems to be something suppliers have jumped on since the price hikes and credit crunch media frenzy.

Greenr

I switch to Scottish Power last night as it was cheaper than swalec - I'm worried now reading this thread!!

nomoneytoday

moses3256 wrote: »

I'm on this tariff. I've had an email from SP today saying they are increasing my monthly direct debit from £88.00 to £140.50. They did not care when I hardly used any gas last quarter due to having no heating and I built up over £200.00 credit!!. Aso, with spring/summer now coming, the usage will decrease - but they just want you to be in credit all of the while. It appears I cannot do anything other than cancel DD which will revert me to an even dearer tariff. This one is already over the odds now due to others cutting their costs so Im considering paying the penalty to break the contract. Anyone else having same problem??

They did the same to me, and haven't bothered to respond to an email for a week !

Can't see a number listed on their website either to chase a response...

Magentasue

Greenr wrote: »

I switch to Scottish Power last night as it was cheaper than swalec - I'm worried now reading this thread!!

You should be fine switching this time of year because your DD will be set to build up credit over the summer. Work out your annual use, cost it and divide by twelve - your DD should be around this figure. Then check your usage to make sure you're on track. One of the things I like about SP is that if you put your meter readings in every month, a bill is generated so you can see exactly where you are.

miller4

Hi I am, currently with them for gas and elec, my bills have been so big, I have made a contious decisio to reduce them also now kids have left home a dramatic difference to elec only to find this 6 month bill is higher than the last! they have increased the tarrif fom 9.00 to 12.00 per unit we are currently going though a financial crisis and I kno I cannot pay the £137 pm elec and £70pm gas... has anybody challenged them on the tarrif as surley the increase did not appen eactly 6 months ago...

krissy08

I had the same problem but a simple phone call to say I was in credit and didn't want my DD increased sorted it out.
Got an email the next day to confirm there would be no increase. No complaints so far but can anyone tel me when the fixed tarriff would no longer be cost efficient, others seem to be dropping their prices.

Lovingitifitsabargain

Hi - worse thng we ever done was switch to SP - started off at 98.00 for gas & electricity last Septemeber - then December they sent letter putting it up to 123.00 then yesterday another letter saying they are increasing it again March 7th to 168.00 - what is going on ! I was with npower & BG before and paid them 68.00 and 52. a month and was always in credit come the end of the year by at least 200 with both - I thought being on a fixed rate until July 09 would mean it wouldn't be charged at the higher rate but it must be - I know the prices have gone up but this is an outrage - tried caling them but they are always experiencing high level of calls and they cut you off - I wonder why ! I have checked my documents we signed and cannot see anything regarding contract period - is there one ? if so does anyone know how long it is for and what they charge to come out early - I have got to get away from them this is daylight robbery :mad:

Magentasue

Lovingitifitsabargain wrote: »

1) Hi - worse thng we ever done was switch to SP - started off at 98.00 for gas & electricity last Septemeber - ... 2) I was with npower & BG before and paid them 68.00 and 52. a month and was always in credit come the end of the year by at least 200 with both - ........ 3) I thought being on a fixed rate until July 09 would mean it wouldn't be charged at the higher rate but it must be

1) If you switched in September, you had not built up a credit balance over the summer so your DD will be higher than normal.

2) Because you built up a credit balance over the summer.

3) Check your statement and make sure you are being charged at the correct rate per kwh.

Also, make sure you are supplying accurate meter readings and that your usage is in line - most people have used more gas this winter because it's so cold and that's obviously going to put your annual use up.

looby-loo_2

12 months ago SP put my DD up from £88 to £105 even though I was £38 in credit