OVO Energy Direct Debit Problems

andyavery

Just thought I'd warn people clear of OVO Energy.

It turns out they like to keep at least a months worth of your cash on their books...

I started with them in October/November and my balance is now £6 in arrears.... Their response is to increase my direct debit by £50 - at the start of the summer.. Or I can pay them £130 to bring myself back into a month in advance credit - to stop them increasing it further... Surely at the start of the summer with that track record, my bill needs to decrease - I did a winter barely going into debt now I've got a summer ahead!

Martin's comparison tool tells me I can save £60 a year, on fixed AND get cashback... Downside is OVO want £60 for me to leave early...

Andy

DUTR

Ovo and Spark seem the ulitmate cheapest on paper, but the hidden charges bring them back in line with what many had left , then coupled with reported poor customer experiences, makes it seem like you say to look elsehwere twice before considering.

andyavery

I just paid up my £6 debt online then pressed the re-calculate direct debit... it dropped.... then I recalculated again... and again.. each time the calculation dropped... Now I'm on £89 per month and it sort of ties in with my predicted use...

Better to work with computers than people!!

Andy

ChrisFilter

I had a similar query when I joined but it makes sense when you realise they pay 3% interest and the DD increase is just a recommendation. I just called and said I'd rather not.

Customer service is the best in the industry, the dedicated green energy companies aside.

Wywth

andyavery wrote: »

Just thought I'd warn people clear of OVO Energy.

It turns out they like to keep at least a months worth of your cash on their books...

I started with them in October/November and my balance is now £6 in arrears.... Their response is to increase my direct debit by £50 - at the start of the summer.. Or I can pay them £130 to bring myself back into a month in advance credit - to stop them increasing it further... Surely at the start of the summer with that track record, my bill needs to decrease - I did a winter barely going into debt now I've got a summer ahead!

Martin's comparison tool tells me I can save £60 a year, on fixed AND get cashback... Downside is OVO want £60 for me to leave early...

Andy

Yes, Ovo explain on their website that they do not want customers owing them money.
They also explain they pay 3% interest (tax free) on any credit balance ... so better than you could get almost anywhere else.

Increasing your monthly DD by £50 a month seems wrong if you are only currently owing £6 on the account
Follow this MSE article (taking into consideration Ovo's unique approach to setting monthly DD values as explained on their own website) to request a more appropriate payment
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits

(To be honest, I'm surprised they are bothered by just £6 in arrears, especially if you are already paying them something like £130 per month. I never had any real issues with Ovo when I was supplied with them and found their telephone customer services most helpful when I did have the odd need to contact them)