Scottish Power Direct Debit Inflation - Check Yours!

joolsrools

Scottish Power recently decided to put up my monthly direct debit payment by almost 20%, and explained this was because it had added up my bills for the past 12 months and divided by 12 to get a reliable monthly figure.

When I checked, I found they had added up 14 months worth of bills, including two winter bills. During the year my bills were quarterly, except for one that they slipped in after two months. So their "12 month total" included two Novembers and two Decembers. Not surprisingly, this inflated my supposed direct debit quite a lot.

Be aware of this. I would call it fraudulent, but no doubt SP will blame "computer error" when I call them about it. If you have a SP account, check your "direct debit forecast" and see if they've done the same to you.

Scottish_Power

HI joolsrools sorry you seem to have an issue with your Direct Debit forecast. If you e-mail details to [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] we'll happily take a look for you. Thanks David

spcustomer

I tried emailing Scottish Power once when I discovered they were in effect fiddling the accounts. They replied that they had indeed overcharged me by £1300 and would sned me a cheque. They sent me a chaeque for £300 and have wriggled this way and that ever since to avoid paying the other £1,000

The representative who called on me to try to explain matters could only do so by showing accounts fro some years previously - when nobody was living in the house! This was intended to prove that they had undercharged me and where now helping themselves to my bank account.

They have been evading the issue for so long that we have passed the 6 year dealdline for claims - and they still pester me for more!

It is very peculiar. These firms are supposed to provide services.

I rather think this message will not appear.

Scottish_Power

Hi spcustomer if you want us to look into this for you again, please e-mail details to [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] Thanks David

spcustomer

I suppose I ought to reply to this Scottish Power rep's message otherwise they will eventually use it as yet another excuse for not resolving the matter.

I expect some of you readers may remember a time when some people in the accounting offices of Scottish Power were caught in some fraud, and it is possible that my problem is in some way linked with them. At the time of my catching SP I had not heard about this and therefore assumed that SP themselves (for company ends) were working out a selection of ways of fiddling their customers, but now I realise that it could just as easily be some fraudsters within their organistion, who, having been caught, could not find the other £1000 (because they had spent it) and so tried this other strategy.

Tell me, rep, as the only strategy your accounting department have used so far is to keep on demanding money (with various written menaces and at least one menaces phonecall) without doing anything else in recent years to try to find out what is going on, and in the light of the fact that I made a standing order to pay your company the rep's estimated annual account and at the same time reduced my consumption - are they really likely to take any blinkers off and look in all seriousness at a matter that can only result in their having to make a refund?

I should point out that I am a very valueable customer to them because not only am I paying too much but I cannot even get a quote from another supplier whilst arrears continue to be alleged! They have a strong interest in not resolving the matter, and as I am quite old the time may soon come when I die and SP demand the money from my estate.

Scottish_Power

HI spcustomer if you send in your account details I will review it for you. Thanks David

CRISPIANNE3

In my experience I found them them a very good company. The only issue I have is the online dd forecast never appears anymore.

I took the matter up with the complaints dept who after about the 3rd email lost interest and decided not to reply anymore.

However I have always found the front line customer staff very helpful but no one can sort out the dd forecast problem so will just have to live with it.

acebanditcat

I did a meter reading at christmas and I've been paying £69 a month. They then replied that my direct debit was being increased to £107 a month.
I phoned their customer services and the guy said well you have used £300 since october! i had to point out that my account was £350 in credit all year (which they refused to send back to me) and that at the end of November I had switched the heating on! He then said well we have had a price increase. My reply was that I was well aware they had had a 7% price increase but even my poor maths doesnt stretch to that. He went away and said err we can change it to £80 a month and review it again in 3 months.

I'm so angry with them. I've now turned all the heating off in the house. I have an oiled filled radiator that I have if im watching tv and then just go to bed early. the whole house is freezing and I even switched off the water.

Where do these people expect us to magic that amount of money a year!

I'm definateley switching as found them most unhelpful and they seem happy to hold my money all year and then try and get more!

fishybusiness

Scottish Power have increased ours from £110 to £141 based on the last 12 months usage.

I thought it a bit much, but considering we are all electric, and off the gas grid, even at £141 it is reasonable.

Looking at our usage, their estimate is very close, and I give readings every month, or sometimes more often so it wasn't really a shock.

Even so, it is frustrating, the increases seem never ending!

Scottish_Power

fishybusiness - have you got a fixed tariff or are you on Standard monthly Direct Debit?

acebanditcat I'm happy to review your account if you want me to help?

Crispianne3 remind me have I looked into this issue for you before, I've just checked my own account and can see the DD forecast but a couple of people have mentioned it so I'll collate some data and get the tech guys to investigate.

Please folks drop me an e-mail at [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] I'm more than happy to help.

Thanks David

CRISPIANNE3

scottishpower_company_representative wrote: »

fishybusiness - have you got a fixed tariff or are you on Standard monthly Direct Debit?

acebanditcat I'm happy to review your account if you want me to help?

Crispianne3 remind me have I looked into this issue for you before, I've just checked my own account and can see the DD forecast but a couple of people have mentioned it so I'll collate some data and get the tech guys to investigate.

Please folks drop me an e-mail at [EMAIL="onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com"]onlinecomplaints@scottishpower.com[/EMAIL] I'm more than happy to help.

Thanks David

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