Co-op Energy not taking direct debit..

Micflair

Hey guys and girls.

I received a direct debit review from Co-op yesterday and they have increased my monthly direct debit to £120 from £55. I checked my online account and they haven't taken any direct debit payments for 9 months allthough it's all setup correctly.

After ringing them they agreed to knock by payments down to £90 a month and gave me a £90 refund. I'm still not happy with this though as I'm still almost doubling my monthly payments due to thier incompetence. They admitted responsiblity for the problem but couldn't really offer me an explanation as to why it happened. I didn't check my payments as that's the whole point of direct debits is it not that you can rest assured it's being paid.

Do I have a case for further discussions with them?

teddysmum

If you knew you were underpaying, you should have put money aside and contacted them earlier about payment not being taken.


The increased payments are only for services you have used,but not yet paid for, so you have, in fact, had a few months of free credit.

Micflair

That's the point, I wasn't aware the payments were not going through. They have been fine for years but suddenly stopped due to a mess up at their end.

I don't regularly check all outgoings of my direct debits as Ive never had a problem with none being paid before. I obviously will now..

matelodave

According to my calculations £55 x 9 months means that you should have nigh on £500 sitting in the bank ready to pay the bill. If you haven't then what did you do with all the extra £55 that you had every month

I really find it hard to have a lot of sympathy for those who don't bother to check their bills or bank accounts and then whinge when it all goes pear shaped. Do you not check that your salary gets paid or that any payments due to you are being credited - it's just common sense to make sure that your accounts are correct

I agree that Co-op have messed up but it wouldn't have taken nine months to notice the problem had you been a bit more proactive in making sure that your bank account was in order.

Autumnella

You have to take some responsibility here, you haven't bothered to check your bank account or even your bills in 9 months! What if someone had been using your account fraudulently? You would be none the wiser.

I don't understand how they've given you a £90 refund when your account will be well in debt?