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Help, direct debit going up from 141.00 per month to 176.00

Hi folks, I seriously need help. I have a 4 bedroomed house and currently pay Scottish Power £141.00 per month Direct Debit for both my gas and electricity. They have written to advise that my direct debit is going to go up to £176.00 for the next 6 months. There is no way I can afford that but I don't know where to start looking about for cheaper suppliers. How do I work out my usage for both my gas and electric? :eek:

Comments

  • Cardew
    Cardew Posts: 29,056 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Rampant Recycler
    You look at your bills for the last 4 quarters to get the consumption in kWH.

    If you haven't got your bills call Scottish power and ask for your annual consumption.

    £141/£176 is pretty high, I suspect some of that is paying back a debit balance you have built up. Especially if it is increased for 6 months.

    You are not going to save huge sums by changing suppliers unless you cut down consumption.

    Don't ring another company and say I am paying £176 or they will just say we can do it much cheaper, and you will build up a debt with them.

    You can't change suppliers until you have cleared your debt anyway.
  • In my opinion you should be looking at methods of cutting down usage, rather than changing supplier. That is a large figure for a 4 bedroom house imo.

    Do you use conventional or energy saving bulbs, for example?

    LBM
    September 2006

    Yorkshire loan: £4164 >>> £0
    Amazon CC: £320 >>> £1700 (oops)
    HSBC OD: £1300 >>> £200

    Total £5784 >>> £1900 21/05/2006


  • nej
    nej Posts: 1,526 Forumite
    British Gas just jumped mine from £55 to £85. I called them and they were happy to put it down again though.

    I have an outstanding balance on the electric, but am in cerdit on the gas and they said I could use one against the other.
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