FU DD Increase query

JAHL

HI - Despite being in credit with my duel fuel account First Utility have emailed to to say they are increasing my monthly DD payments. I cannot reach them by phone (massive queueing times) and they dont reply to emails for weeks (although I have emailed them three times about this). Also when I went to submit the asked for meter readings this morning all my previous electricity readings were marked 'invalid' (even though they sent someone out to read my meters last month!) Also when I tried to input my electricity reading a message kept coming up saying it wasnt as high as they expected! I eventually persevered and managed to input it. My question is since I dont want them hiking my payments without discussion - (I need to make sure they dont take money for fuel I havent used as I am on a low income and live very frugally to cope) could I cancel the direct debit and set up a standing order instead? How would that be received do you think? (I bet Id hear from them then dont you?) Thanks

naedanger

JAHL wrote: »

HI - Despite being in credit with my duel fuel account First Utility have emailed to to say they are increasing my monthly DD payments. I cannot reach them by phone (massive queueing times) and they dont reply to emails for weeks (although I have emailed them three times about this). Also when I went to submit the asked for meter readings this morning all my previous electricity readings were marked 'invalid' (even though they sent someone out to read my meters last month!) Also when I tried to input my electricity reading a message kept coming up saying it wasnt as high as they expected! I eventually persevered and managed to input it. My question is since I dont want them hiking my payments without discussion - (I need to make sure they dont take money for fuel I havent used as I am on a low income and live very frugally to cope) could I cancel the direct debit and set up a standing order instead? How would that be received do you think? (I bet Id hear from them then dont you?) Thanks

Are you on a tariff that requires payment by direct debit? If so then they may well put you on to a more expensive tariff if you stop your dd.

System

I agree with Naedanger. Cancelling your DD may well put you onto your supplier's standard variable tariff. These are OFGEM's rules on direct debit payments:

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/ofgem-publications/64013/directdebitleaflet.pdf