Scottish Power more than doubling Direct Debit

jaxkesa

Scottish Power notified me a couple of days ago that they are increasing my DD from £47 to £100, despite my bills being less than £30 a month and my account having constantly been in credit (currently £67).

Does anyone else think this is unreasonable, especially as it's not as if it's winter or anything and do I honestly have any chance of getting this reversed?

I have emailed them a strongly worded letter asking for an explanation but the reply I got was:

[FONT=&quot]Thank you for your email. I confirm that your Direct Debit amoujnt has been set on the basis of the readings given by you[/FONT].

I submitted accurate meter readings so I don't see why I should pay more than 3 times my usage, when I am already paying for more than I use and it's the middle of smmer! I'm probably going to switch supplier if they won't change this as I can't afford £100 a month on gas+elec when I always watch my usage carefully.

Magentasue

If what you say is correct, it looks like an admin error. However, it's interesting that they have revised the DD following your submission of meter readings - could there be an incorrect digit that makes it look as if you're using more than you really are? I'm assuming your readings are in line with what had been estimated previously, and the £67 credit is based on accurate readings?

jaxkesa

I'm not sure where they got the £47 figure from initially. But I basically pay it every month and then get charged about £30 after I submit meter readings. So the in-credit amount is going up by about £17 a month.

Annoyingly, the reason I submitted readings every month was in the hope that they would reduce my direct debit amount!

Magentasue

Are you saying that your annual bill last year based on accurate meter readings is about £360?

Or are you saying that you are using about £30 a month now, but that our winter bills are higher? If this is the case, it makes more sense as you should be in credit and your monthly payment should be about 1/12 of the annual bill.

pegginout

Has your tariff changed?
Mine went up alot when the capped tariff I was on came to an end

cakeordeath_2

jaxkesa wrote: »

I'm not sure where they got the £47 figure from initially. But I basically pay it every month and then get charged about £30 after I submit meter readings. So the in-credit amount is going up by about £17 a month.

Annoyingly, the reason I submitted readings every month was in the hope that they would reduce my direct debit amount!

I'm confused, this sounds like you send meter readings every month and they need you to pay £30 on top of your £47 direct debit, thus meaning that your usage is £30 + £47 = £77 per month ... so it sound to me as though they are wanting you to pay a £100 direct debit to even out the payments before the winter usage months kick in.

jaxkesa

My winter payments are higher, but since I have lived here (nearly a year) there has been no month where I have used £100 of gas+electricity. I'm only one person living in a one bed flat and only use gas for central heating in the winter.

I'm not on a capped tariff, jsut the online energy DD tariff.

I keep track of my usage each month and in January, my gas usage should have cost around £20-£25. If I keep paying £100 a month, and my gas usage for the next 5 months is my peak winter usage (which it won't be just yet!), by December I will be nearly £300 in credit.

So surely there is something wrong?

Magentasue

cakeordeath wrote: »

I'm confused, this sounds like you send meter readings every month and they need you to pay £30 on top of your £47 direct debit, thus meaning that your usage is £30 + £47 = £77 per month ... so it sound to me as though they are wanting you to pay a £100 direct debit to even out the payments before the winter usage months kick in.

No, I think OP is saying she only uses £30 a month, so of the £47 DD, £17 of that is building up a credit balance.

It's not clear if this £30 a month is constant over the summer and winter, or if it is just summer months.

Magentasue

jaxkesa wrote: »

I keep track of my usage each month and in January, my gas usage should have cost around £20-£25.

So .... annually about 12 x £30 for electricity and say, 6 x £20 for gas? Total £480, DD of £48 a month should cover it.

Check how much you are paying for each kwh and work out the projected costs - it would seem your DD is about right and shouldn't be increased, but you need to check carefully and have the figures to hand when you contact them.

jaxkesa

Cheers, I will add some more figures to my spreadsheet Thanks for all the replies!