Caught out by amount to settle account when I've switched

Daisy-girl_2

Few weeks ago, I followed the advice in this site and switched my gas and electricity. The calculation said I would be £260 a year better off.(plus I get a case of wine) Unfortunately, I didn't take into account that as its been the winter. I pay by direct debit and I always ensure any credits are returned to me whenever I get the bill. Unfortnately, my old energy company has just taken £260 out of my account to balance the direct debit payments with the amount outstanding. And they did this the without warning! Funnily enough, they have written to me to tell me they are returning £82 that I have overpaid on my electricity account - but they :mad:have kindly written to tell me that this will take 14 days!

Cardew

Welcome to the forum.

They are not allowed to take amounts(other than the 'normal' direct debit) from your account without notification. If they have given no notification then you can demand your bank refunds the £260 under the Direct Debit Guarantee. The bank must do this on your instruction.

However it is highly unlikely that your old utilty company would take the money without giving you the requisite prior notification. Often this is just a line on a bill and can easily be missed. They don't need a separate letter.

anamenottaken

Cardew wrote: »

Welcome to the forum.

They are not allowed to take amounts(other than the 'normal' direct debit) from your account without notification. If they have given no notification then you can demand your bank refunds the £260 under the Direct Debit Guarantee. The bank must do this on your instruction.

However it is highly unlikely that your old utilty company would take the money without giving you the requisite prior notification. Often this is just a line on a bill and can easily be missed. They don't need a separate letter.

Or an email to a registered email address notifying the date and amount or as an email alert to visit their website secure area to access the bill. Have you checked all your email accounts?

chanz4

It would say on the clossing bill that payment of the balance would be taken

Green.Lander

Daisy-girl, the same thing has just happen to me. Moved from British Gas to Scottish Power. Owe something like £220 on gas and they owe me £34 on electricity. Wish i had done this in the summer thinking about it now.

Green.Lander

forgot to say go and look at your on-line account you will see a future payment listed hence i know to expect this.