Using Direct Debits for Energy Bills

Lizk57

I'm not sure if I've posted this in the right thread but can anyone tell me what rights I have, if any, if an energy company don't collect my direct debit payments?
Very briefly, Scottish Power sent me a bill 9 months ago indicating I was paying quarterly. I'd been paying monthly by direct debit since setting up the account so I immediately alerted them and I thought it had been corrected. I received a new bill - 2 in fact! - stating I was paying monthly and how much my monthly payment was. However, they failed to collect the payment and I didn't realise until they sent another bill yesterday indicating I owe nearly £1,000.
I appreciate I have to pay for the energy I've used but in not collecting my direct debit (and not telling me), I'm now faced with my direct debit payment doubling! I've recently had to reduce my working hours to care for a sick relative so am now on a very low income and this will represent a huge proportion of my monthly income.
Do I have any rights at all in this or do I have to accept that I should have checked that the direct debit was being collected?

giraffe69

If it is their fault then you might be able to get them to agree to being paid off in reasonable installments but you do have a duty to check and eventually will have to pay this.