Warning for those who are switching from Scottish Power

duggo1

I noticed that SP had set up a new DD titled SP Gas so didn't cancel my other SP direct debits thinking they would only take the amount to cover gas which hasn't switched yet. Electric switched almost 3 weeks ago.

Checked my bank account this morning and they have taken two direct debits which combined adds up to the previous amount I paid for dual fuel, even though the electric has already switched.

I'm very annoyed as I know I had a huge credit with them prior to switching, but as they deactivated my online access almost a month ago, and well before my electric switch went through, I can't check my account.

Surely they shouldn't deactivate online access until both gas and electric have switched, and why are they taking a DD for electric when they no longer supply it?:mad:

brewerdave

I'm in credit by ~ £160 for both gas and electric currently with SP; My switch to EON is going thru' although I haven't had dates yet for either supply to change - I have been asked via website for meter readings so all that will reduce my credit figure now is the daily standing charge til I switch.
Therefore I was going to cancel the DD to Scot.Power with effect from end of September. As far as I'm aware this does not stop SP creditting my current account with the appropriate amount when the time comes, as they will do this by BACS - Is my understanding correct??

duggo1

Not sure if they can still credit the account, but I'm quite prepared to accept a cheque to stop them getting more money. I found a print out of my account and I was £157 in credit in mid august and I'd just paid a bill and they just took another £73 yesterday, so I've cancelled all the direct debits.

Had a bit of a !!!! up with the gas transfer to EDF as well, and it now will not go through until mid October as the first transfer request did not go through. Suggest if anyone has had their electric transfer, but had no word on the gas they contact EDF asap.

1carminestocky

I cancelled my DD with SP before my switch went through and received a cheque for the (small-ish) credit accrued when the switch finally completed.

Scottish_Power

Yes Carmine is correct, any final credit balances are issued by cheque. This happens as soon as we receive final meter readings from your new supplier and your final bill is issued.

Craig @ SP

duggo1

Craig,
Perhaps you can tell us why they deactive our online accounts so quickly. Mine was deactivated at the end of august, but you will still be supplying my gas until mid October. Seems unfair that I don't have the access just because my electric switched on 4th September.

Scottish_Power

Hi Duggo,

Apologies for quoting myself, but this information from the other ScottishPower thread will give some background to my answer in this case.

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

Hi folks,

When you are a ScottishPower customer receiving both gas and electricity from us you actually have 3 account numbers. One for gas, one for electricity and a Dual Fuel summary. You only ever see the Dual Fuel summary, but the other two accounts are linked to this in the background.

Your monthly Direct Debit payment consists of two individual parts, for gas and electricity respectively.

When you apply to transfer away your Dual Fuel account is terminated and you revert to the two individual gas and electricity accounts. This is due to the fact that in the majority of cases one fuel leaves on a different date to the other. In some cases only one fuel is being transferred and this covers this eventuality also.

Your individual DD instructions will remain in place until your new supplier provides final meter readings and your ScottishPower accounts are closed.

If your final bills show a credit balance this will be refunded by cheque, not paid into your bank account as some posters have suggested.

I hope this clears up a little of the confusion surrounding the issue for you all.

Craig @ SP

Customers with online Dual Fuel accounts have their access set up on their Dual Fuel summary, so when this is terminated in preparation for the transfer of supplies they no longer have access online.

Hope I've explained this clearly enough and it's of some help to you.

Craig @ SP

duggo1

Thanks Craig. That clarifies everything for me.

joe134

duggo1 wrote: »

Thanks Craig. That clarifies everything for me.

Hi, What it doesn,t clarify is by splitting DD,s does this mean you cease to get the duel fuel discount , also if you cancel DD before the final bill exchange, do you also lose the DD discount? Craig never mentioned that by terminating your DD before termination of contract you are in breach of it.

Scottish_Power

Hi Joe,

Although your accounts are separated, the individual gas and electricity accounts are still billed on the appropriate dual fuel rates so you do not lose out in any way.

However if you cancel your Direct Debit you will no longer qualify for DD discount. It is not the case that you are in breach of your contract, it simply means you have elected not to pay by DD any longer and therefore the appropriate rate according to your payment method will apply.

Hope this clears things up a bit for you.

Craig @ SP

duggo1

So I'll now loose my DD discount even though my account is a whopping £230 in credit which is obviously enough to cover my limited gas use between early September and mid October?

How annoying, especially as yesterday SP took two direct debits from my account, which ties in with what you said Craig, about them splitting the accounts, as I suddenly had 3 SP DD instructions showing on my bank account.

What I don't understand is why they took two payments yesterday for Gas and Electric, even though my electric switched on 4th September