Lower a direct debit amount?

Former_E.ON_Company_Representative:_Malc

Luckypenny wrote: »

Hi, I don't know if EON is alone in this, but I switched to them in December from NPower. Our payments began at £83 a month, based on our annual usage with NPower, and the switch meant we would save £322 a year. I submitted a meter reading after one month of everyone in the family making an effort with switching off unwanted lights and appliances. I rang and was told I could get a recalculation online. I did this and it recalculated at £53 per month in order to achieve a zero balance after one year!!! I was then able to adjust my DD on their system to that amount!!! Very impressed with EON!!! Have a note in the diary to keep submitting monthly meter readings so we know our usage. It was a very simple process.

Hi Luckypenny

Glad you like our new online Direct Debit Manager.

Once you enter meter readings, we'll let you know whether or not any proposed change keeps you on track for a zero balance by the time of the annual review.

If the gauge stays round about the 'perfect' mark, you'll usually be ok.

As Consumerist says, watch out for any sudden increases particularly if the weather takes a turn for the worse.

By doing what you're doing and entering meter readings on a monthly basis, you'll be able to keep an eye on the account balance. Any sign of a credit/debit balance building up will be able to be seen and payments can then be adjusted accordingly.

Hope this is of interest.

Malc

Luckypenny_2

Thank you for my replies! Consumerist - we only have electricity with EON as we have an oil tank for heating. So I hope £53 might be right but thank you for the note of caution. We have one electric radiator in a garden office on a low setting most of the time and that won't be working hard in this mild weather. Malc from EON - yes I love the system and as you say if I submit monthly readings I can adjust the DD up or down as necessary! Many thanks to both of you.:o

jaylee3

OP, I would leave the credit there for now, as we could get some kick-!!! nasty cold weather in Feb and March. Usually, the energy companies will refund the money if you're over £100 in credit by May. If they refuse to give it back to you, I would cancel the DD, and then use up the rest of your credit, and then reinstate the DD, or even change suppliers, as they are not playing fair.

[Deleted User]

blastarhymes wrote: »

so regards your only turing it one when needed, is there anything anywhere that has compaired the...leaving the temp at say 18 deg permanently (24hr) vs only turning on when needed (more work to do to get to level) ?

I know what you're saying, and for some people this may work, but I don't believe it does and we are lucky that it does not take long for our heating to heat up our house.
Your house would have to be able to hold it's heat well if you were planning on doing this, and your thermostat would have to be placed in a relatively warm spot, ie not in the coldest hallway where your heating is then constantly on to try and get up to 18.C. Our house is toasty warm when I have the thermostat set to 15.C(!) and it takes less than 30 mins to warm up, so within an hour I am turning it off and then the house keeps it's heat well. I think it would cost us more money leaving it on all the time.

jaylee3 - I will do that, I'm not going to mention it now until then and we will see how much I am in credit then. Like you say, it could be very cold over the next couple of months and then at least I have the credit and the option to have the heating on a bit more if needed. Thanks for your help.

P.S. Why can't I add smilies to my text anymore?!