Ovo PAYG electricity price increase

Loubc

Ive only moved over to Ovo last month to supply electricity only on their standard Smart PAYG tarriff (I have no gas supply) they have now sent me an email advising me that electricity costs more to supply to customers so increasing by a staggering 29%! Although they advise a decrease in their standing charge of 11% this is a nominal saving compared to the massive increase for electric. They also don't show these new rates on any price comparison websites so new customers are not able to make an informed decision for the best deal for them, I would not have changed over knowing their increases after only 1 month. They must have known a while ago of planned increases but failed to advise me or even making it known now to anyone. Their changes will be applied as of 09/03/2016. I will now be looking for the best fixed deal.
Has anyone else been affected or do they reel you in with good rates and then once they have your custom then change the goalposts', if its the latter OFGEM will have my complaint. :mad::eek:

Lucee

Hi Lou

I posted this earlier this week, as like you I find it an unbelievable increase.

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/5400841

Have you moved to their smart meter? I have managed to sign up with another provider but they need to change the meter.

I phoned OVO for clarification of why I couldn't move to credit and it is because they are now credit checking new customers on credit meters and need to let the system 'bed' in before they offer that facility to existing prepayment customers.

L x

System

Loubc wrote: »

Ive only moved over to Ovo last month to supply electricity only on their standard Smart PAYG tarriff (I have no gas supply) they have now sent me an email advising me that electricity costs more to supply to customers so increasing by a staggering 29%! Although they advise a decrease in their standing charge of 11% this is a nominal saving compared to the massive increase for electric. They also don't show these new rates on any price comparison websites so new customers are not able to make an informed decision for the best deal for them, I would not have changed over knowing their increases after only 1 month. They must have known a while ago of planned increases but failed to advise me or even making it known now to anyone. Their changes will be applied as of 09/03/2016. I will now be looking for the best fixed deal.
Has anyone else been affected or do they reel you in with good rates and then once they have your custom then change the goalposts', if its the latter OFGEM will have my complaint. :mad::eek:

A couple of points. No energy company will advise you of a pending price change until they make a public release. They do, however, have to inform you of a tariff increase to give you the opportunity to switch tariffs/suppliers.

If you want to complain then you have to go through Ovo's complaints process, wait 8 weeks and then go to The Energy Ombudsman. Alternatively, you can report your concerns to consumeraffairs@ofgem.gov.uk. They will note your comments but they will not take any individual action against a supplier.

[Deleted User]

Thanks Lucee, thats a new one ! they can t get you on a credit tariff because the system needs to " bed in ". I wonder how long that " bed in" period is. Can they not just let you leave and the meter changed to credit mode so you could then switch to someone like EDF who dont credit check. Surely the meter can be flicked over to credit mode.
I ve read about these tactics from Ovo before that once they have you on a prepayment meter, paying top whack of course, they come out with excuses to do nothing..Ombudsman complaint may be a good idea if nothing is resolved in 8 weeks