Big hikes in direct debit payments - EON

jalexa

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

What I think this (and other posts) demonstrate is a complete failure to explain, possibly failure to calculate accurately on consecutive "reviews", quite apart from the unreasonableness of "sudden excessive hikes".

Go for the jugular by demading an explanation compliant with Standard Licence Condition 27.14 and bring any systemic "failure to explain" to the attention of Consumer Focus. If you cannot "agree" a specific monthly payment raise a formal complaint. If the complaint is not settled, refer the issue to the Energy Ombudsman.

Of course Eon would be stupid not to settle (with D&I compo if they have made process or calculation errors). Unfortunately I cannot say Eon is not "doof".

DirectDebacle

Entirely agree. Your DD should have been fully explained at the time you first joined Eon, at each of the tariff changes and every time there was an adjustment to the DD.

Your Eon folder should have a plentiful supply of DD explanations.

Mrs_Arcanum

DirectDebacle wrote: »

Entirely agree. Your DD should have been fully explained at the time you first joined Eon, at each of the tariff changes and every time there was an adjustment to the DD.

Your Eon folder should have a plentiful supply of DD explanations.

Also one of the reasons I prefer Standing Orders or proper fixed payments. DD sometimes feels like a licence to steal money. Though I do understand the idea of DD (can be re-claimed if incorrectly taken and suchlike). I am not at all happy with ridiculous unjustifiable increases.

Still have had no response to my initial query to E-On over a week later. I have hearing problems so prefer to have things written down and not allow staff to try bamboozle me when I miss hear things. Also having a written record is safer.


I also note no E-On rep who visits MSE has commented on my issues specifically. :rotfl:

DirectDebacle

I also note no E-On rep who visits MSE has commented on my issues specifically.

Perhaps you scared them off.

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

And for any E-on reps out there - should you take the outrageous amount suggested I will cancel the DD payment.

....I am not at all happy with ridiculous unjustifiable increases

.

You are not alone there!


[QUOTE=Mrs Arcanum;48423599Still have had no response to my initial query to E-On over a week later. I have hearing problems so prefer to have things written down and not allow staff to try bamboozle me when I miss hear things. Also having a written record is safer.
[/QUOTE]

What step are you on in their Complaints Procedure.

Do you have one of their DD explanations you could reproduce on the thread.

Mrs_Arcanum

Next step is a complaint as they have had a week to respond to my initial query.

Just sent off the complaint

Mrs_Arcanum

Finally a useless reply from E-On (repeated twice to no good purpose).

We are unable to adjust your amended Direct Debit amount. Although you have increased your payments by ??20 we have monitored that over the winter period and until next spring this isn't going to cover your consumption. If you dispute this then please contact us on 0845 052 0000 where we can discuss this in further detail and look at an alternative payment method.

I particularly DO NOT want to talk to someone on the phone or spend the money doing so. :mad:

The bit in bold is particularly irritating as it makes no sense at all.

poet123

Similar issue, awaiting a phone back from Eon in the next ten mins so any pointers appreciated.

Long story short. Input usage and payment details into swap site n Sept 2010 when we paid £200 dual fuel. Eon quoted £141 on those accurate figures. Changed to Eon Oct 2010.

No spring review done (they are trying to find out why)

Received a bill with a £450 deficit last week

Now received a request to increase DD to £256 pcm.

I never had the upfront payment of DD explained I thought all plans worked the old way where you built up a credit in summer and used it up over the higher usage months.

I am livid that they set the amount, had a chance to change it but never bothered and now we are so much in deficit. I can pay it, but I think their tactics are reprehensible.

Any advice?

rogerblack

Mrs_Arcanum wrote: »

Thanks jalexa

The electricity is high in part because I have all electric cooking including an induction hob and heat the dining room with electricity.

This will be where the large amount of power is going.

An induction hob is very efficient - around 90% of the power from the wall goes into the pan.
With gas, about half goes into the kitchen as heat - this may be welcome at some times of year, but it will of course require extra ventilation.
(this means that electricity isn't that much more expensive than gas)

This goes some way to counter the better efficiency of gas.
Unless you have the oven on for more than a couple of hours, it's not going to be using much power, compared to heating.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm//320503970289 - an energy meter - may be of use to you, to let you measure how much the heating is using.

Mrs_Arcanum

Just clicked on the Direct Debit button from the E-On site & it came up with a figure of £137 pcm??? :eek: So what on earth is going on?

Direct Debit FAQs

How does Direct Debit work?

Each year, you'll usually use more energy in winter and less in summer. Rather than paying a high bill in winter and a low bill in summer, paying by monthly Direct Debit lets you spread the cost more evenly over the year. And we give you a discount for paying this way.

We review your Direct Debit every spring between April and June. This is called your Annual Review. They wanted to make this less than the £90 I decided upon

Here's how we work out your monthly Direct Debit:

We work out how much energy we think you're going to use between now and your next annual review.
Next, we add any balance you may have
Then we divide this amount by the number of payments you'll make between now and your Annual Review. So that over the year, your payments should cover your usage and bring you back to a zero balance again in spring. They are failing abysmally as far as my bills are concerned

We also review your payments each quarter in case anything changes, for example, changes in your prices or the amount of energy you use. We want to make sure that you're not paying too much or too little for your energy. We always aim for your balance to be around zero at your Annual Review.

How do you know how much energy I am going to use?

We forecast how much energy you will use based on the amount you've used so far.

If you’ve only joined E.ON recently it can sometimes take a while for us to build up a picture of the amount of energy that you’ll actually use.

Providing regular readings will help us forecast your usage and therefore your payments more accurately, you can provide your readings by registering your account online.

We will continue to check your account each time a bill is produced, to make sure we keep your payments in line with your actual usage. This will ensure you arrive at a zero balance by the time of your next Annual Review.

Why is my Direct Debit changing?

There can be a number of reasons why we need to change your payment:

If you're using less or more energy than we expected, we'll need to change your Direct Debit
If you've changed tariff or if there has been a price change, your payments may need to change to reflect this
If you've only joined E.ON recently it can sometimes take a while for us to build up a picture of the amount of energy that you'll actually use.
If you've had a lot of estimated readings in the past, we may not have built up an accurate picture of how much energy you're using. Providing regular readings will help us forecast your payments more accurately, you can provide your readings by registering your account online.
If you've built up a credit balance we may lower your Direct Debit so that your credit is used up before your Annual Review. Precisely where they go wrong as they then under estimate for the summer so you are not in credit before the winter. :mad:

The new amount should cover the cost of the energy we think you're going to use before your Annual Review.

Mrs_Arcanum

Just realised they have reduced things by 10% so some progress. Still not happy.