ScottishPower huge increase with DirectDebit

Creag

SP have recently proposed more than doubling my monthly DD because they say my usage has increased.

I was convinced that my usage hadn't increased, so checked my bills and account.

It looks like usage is consistent but that SP stopped taking the DD from my account for many months in 2005-2006 causing a balance to build up. I guess this balance has triggered the proposed increase.

I haven't changed the account the DD comes from, there have been no problems with the balance, and the original DD has recently started again so it looks like a problem with SP.

Have written to complain and will see what the end result is. If the above turns out to be correct, I certainly won't be accepting the increase on their terms.

For those who have also suffered increases, I'd say it's worthwhile checking. It might be a muliplte customer issue.

wearside_2

SP increased mine from £48 to £72 despite agreeing the figure allowing for three winter months in Florida and continuing the three £48 payments. I have emailed them three times now without a response apart from them saying that they cannot confirm my bank details. If I do not have a response this week I shall complain using a brilliant site https://www.howtocomplain.com that has given me great results and financial compensation!

Other than that I shall be on the phone to SP when I return to the UK in late January as I am not phoning from Florida!

Creag

Good link. Thanks. May come in useful if SP's Customer Services can't help me.

wearside_2

Customer Services did not respond to further emails, so I complained through https://www.howtocomplain.com. Within 24 hours, I received a reply and after two more days matters were sorted and my Direct Debit reverted to the original amount. I also received compensation!

mrnkar

Just received a letter from Scottish Power and my monthly debit debit is being increased from £77 to £156 a month. I have dual fuel no standing charge, which I have been on for quite a few years, and do it all online, sending my readings every 3 months. I don't usually even look at the bills but know usually at this time of year I am in credit of about £250 which covers me for extra winter usage. My last readings where sent 7 days ago and at present it says I owe them £390. I don't undersatnd how this can be. I am not on capped or anything as looking online the kws price etc has been going up every bill. I have just checked the July-September bill and I has used £150 gas and £110 electric. Present bill Sept-Dec is £245 gas £120 electric. What I don't understand is I have a combi gas boiler only 5 years old. I have just put my heating back on after more or less not using since June with the good weather. How can I have used so much Gas for basically Hot water. My circumstances and useage is more if not less than it always has been. I have checked both meters and my last reading is correct. Looking at price increases it says their gas has gone up 17% and electric 10%, seems from reading the other posts that something is very wrong somewhere. I hate to think what my bills are going to be now my heating is back on.

Esoog

Well, Scottish Power changed us to a meter and it costs us £6 a day roughly, we've spent £500 in 2 months on gas and electric! Time to change methinks

broxis11

The original Scottish Power Capped deal was an absolute cracker, you will have saved a fortune over the past 2 or 3 years and if it the one I am thinking of you will have received a £36 loyalty bonus as well.

I worked it out at the time that the difference in the rate was roughly 44% between the one you signed up for and the current one at the time I checked (a few months ago).

I know Scottish Power lost a lot of money on the customers who signed up to this because of the unprecedented price increases.

Cardew

Esoog wrote:

Well, Scottish Power changed us to a meter and it costs us £6 a day roughly, we've spent £500 in 2 months on gas and electric! Time to change methinks

Presumably you mean a pre-pay meter?

£500? 2 months = 61 days@£6 = £366

As they changed you, was that because you owed them money? If so your rate will be set at a higher than normal rate to recover that money and you probably will not be allowed to change supplier until the debit balance is cleared.

mrnkar

Just thought I would do a check seeing as they want to up my payments so much. Firstly annual usage which was previously £800 and last year it amounted to £1200, I couldn't understand it as I have been using more or less the same, until I checked and found how much their prices have increased. Last January for my gas I was paying 2.65p per first 1000 and 1.64for the rest. My last bill just received I am paying 3.45 first 1000 and 2.49 for the rest plus increases in Electric prices to of about 20%. How they can say their prices have gone up 17% beats me as one of mine is almost 50%. Think I may be changing my supplier very soon. Where can I find out how much different companies charg per kwhs.
Here is quick example from Jan-April I used 416 units of Gas and was charged £255 Sept-Dec I used 298 units charged £245 almost the same yet over 100 units less.

Cardew

mrnkar wrote:

How they can say their prices have gone up 17% beats me as one of mine is almost 50%.

17% was the last rise! Since January there have been 2 or 3 rises!