Direct Debit has more than doubled!!

stelarge

My direct debit for e.on has amazingly just more than doubled from 73.00 to 157.00 !!! is this legal, it takes the !!!!, in my opinion 73.00 is far too much anyway, what steps can i take to reduce this ammont, The letter claims we are 428.00 in debit, I don't understand, To top it off the wife is no longer at work due to having a baby and it wouldnt make economic sense to work just to pay child care, so, from this week we will be living on only my wage 1200/month...... Is there a cheaper electricity supplier, than the robbingb !!!!!!!s at e.on??
HELP!!

KimYeovil

If you are £428 in debt then it is of course perfectly reasonable and not at all amazing to have the debit increased. If you are not happy you can switch to quarterly billing - then you'll have seven days instead of six months or twelve months to pay back any debts. From the figures you give £157 is an understandable payment to be requesting.

How long did the debt build up over?

If you can't afford your current usage then use less.

There may be cheaper suppliers - but they'll only be £42.80 cheaper, not £428 cheaper.

KimYeovil

(Lots of people underestimate how much underpaying will affect new monthly payments. Let's be generous and presume your debt built up over 12 months and you are being given a whole 12 months to repay - that would end up with new monthly payments of £145 per month.)

((12 x £73) + £428 + £428) / 12 = £145

magyar

Can you let us know roughtly what your usage is, what size house you have etc? Can you explain how you got so far in debt? Were you simply using a series of estimated readings?

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Hi stelarge :hello:

From your post it sounds like your monthly payments have not been enough to cover the amount of energy that you have been using, therefore, leaving the account in debt.

Have all of your bills been charged to accurate readings or have some of these been estimates? Is the most recent bill accurate?

Your Direct Debit willl have been increased to cover your usage and pay off the debt over a number of months, as you have said this amount may be unmanageable, you could ask if the debt could be spread over a longer period of time.

The other alternative is to pay off some or all of the balance, this will enable E.ON to re-calculate your Direct Debit.

If you can also reduce the amount of energy that you use, this will help, we have an energy efficiency department that will be able to help you with this.

Have you also checked that you are on the best tariff for you? this can make a difference.

Please talk to us and see if we can come to an agreement.

Hope this helps you.

Helena

mrcow

E.on have a really good online facilty where you can see exactly what you are paying and how your account is looking.

You need to start monitoring your bills better.

And cut down on your useage if you can't afford what you are using.

space_rider

Stelarge, If you can find a utility supplier that charges less than you are using based on actual meter readings then let me know as I`ll be in the queue.

jimexbox

stelarge wrote: »

Is there a cheaper electricity supplier, than the robbingb !!!!!!!s at e.on??
HELP!!

If it makes you feel better, you could think of it that Eon give you a 6 month interest free loan of £428. Try getting a bank to match that rate....

delain

scottish power get in touch with me if my direct debit is not covering my usage. They read my meter every 12 weeks like clockwork and adjust my direct debit accordingly!

neas

i cant believe how stupid some people are... I mean god sake we see this on the forum every day pretty much..

So ijit pays a DD for 12 months and never once thinks aout checking the meter or his usage...

jimexbox

neas wrote: »

i cant believe how stupid some people are... I mean god sake we see this on the forum every day pretty much..

So ijit pays a DD for 12 months and never once thinks aout checking the meter or his usage...

I think you are a little harsh. Unfortunately the vast majority of UK residents have the wrong mindset, where they believe their utility company should takes the lead in billing and energy monitoring. Where in fact they/we are adults and its our responsibility, not our energy suppliers. It seems most of us can raise children successfully, though not monitor our energy usage ourselves.

Ive already suggested Eon start an information campaign entitled, 'We are not here to hold your hand'.