SSE - crazy logic on account

altocumulus

Hi guys , long time since I've needed to vent about utility company !

Took out a 1 year electricity deal with SSE in early Summer . Figures etc were based on annual consumption of both day & night usage .

For some crazy reason SSE keep reducing my monthly dd based on my Summer use . I can see us ending this year owing an awful lot of dosh as the heavy-usage Winter period kicks in .

And yet their website states that monthly payments are to spread the load over 12 months , so why do I feel I am banging head against brick walls trying to get them to understand that a Summer of lightish use is pointless in working out figures for the whole year ? :eek:

Anyone else in the same boat ?

Warmly Geoff
N. Scotland ....

Smodlet

Are you not able to either (as, I believe, with Eon's website) adjust the DD amount yourself or just contact your provider and tell them what amount you wish to pay, especially if it is an increase? You are the customer, not them. Make your wishes clear in a firm but polite manner... and ask for a transcript of the call the moment you get through; it is amazing how this can focus their minds.

daveyjp

Why bother banging your head against a wall with the supplier? Save the extra yourself for when the higher bills come.

footyguy

altocumulus wrote: »

Hi guys , long time since I've needed to vent about utility company !

Took out a 1 year electricity deal with SSE in early Summer . Figures etc were based on annual consumption of both day & night usage .

For some crazy reason SSE keep reducing my monthly dd based on my Summer use . I can see us ending this year owing an awful lot of dosh as the heavy-usage Winter period kicks in .

And yet their website states that monthly payments are to spread the load over 12 months , so why do I feel I am banging head against brick walls trying to get them to understand that a Summer of lightish use is pointless in working out figures for the whole year ? :eek:

Anyone else in the same boat ?

Warmly Geoff
N. Scotland ....

Does this help you at all?

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits

It's actually written (I believe) for those that suffer unfair increases in their direct debit amounts, but it would work both ways

footyguy

Smodlet wrote: »

Are you not able to either (as, I believe, with Eon's website) adjust the DD amount yourself or just contact your provider and tell them what amount you wish to pay, especially if it is an increase? You are the customer, not them. Make your wishes clear in a firm but polite manner... and ask for a transcript of the call the moment you get through; it is amazing how this can focus their minds.

You cannot just request what you want to pay without explanation (which needs to be agreed)

Suppliers are under an obligation to monitor the amounts consumers pay so that large credit (or debit) build ups are avoided as far as possible.

I don't know of any supplier that offers, on request, a transcript of a telephone call you make to them. They will provide you with a recording (assuming it is recorded, which ivariably it is) - but there is a charge for that service which is capped by law at £10 (inc VAT where applicable) - it might be easier to just record the call yourself if that is what you want (don't forget to mention you are doing so at the start)

badmemory

It is in the suppliers interest to reduce your payment enough to make you REALLY owe them money. That way they have an excuse not to release you to another supplier. The best way to mess with their heads it to ALWAYS know what their bills will be (even if they are too incompetent to know) and to ALWAYS have sufficient funds to pay that amount on demand. If you land up owing them £1000 then as long as you have that (with their name on it) in a savings account at a measly 0.35% (Halifax's latest reduction) then you can pay it and give them the proverbial 2 fingers.

The only "secret" to this is always know what your bills SHOULD be even if they do get it wrong.

footyguy

badmemory wrote: »

It is in the suppliers interest to reduce your payment enough to make you REALLY owe them money. That way they have an excuse not to release you to another supplier. The best way to mess with their heads it to ALWAYS know what their bills will be (even if they are too incompetent to know) and to ALWAYS have sufficient funds to pay that amount on demand. If you land up owing them £1000 then as long as you have that (with their name on it) in a savings account at a measly 0.35% (Halifax's latest reduction) then you can pay it and give them the proverbial 2 fingers.

The only "secret" to this is always know what your bills SHOULD be even if they do get it wrong.

What excuse would that be? :huh:

An account in debit means effectively an interest free loan by the supplier to the customer.
But it is not the same as an account in arrears which would be an excuse to prevent you leaving.

It would be very unusual for anyone paying monthly by DD to have an account in arrears, because any shortfall should be catered for by the supplier increasing the monthly DD collected

Smodlet

footyguy wrote: »

You cannot just request what you want to pay without explanation (which needs to be agreed)

Suppliers are under an obligation to monitor the amounts consumers pay so that large credit (or debit) build ups are avoided as far as possible.

I don't know of any supplier that offers, on request, a transcript of a telephone call you make to them. They will provide you with a recording (assuming it is recorded, which ivariably it is) - but there is a charge for that service which is capped by law at £10 (inc VAT where applicable) - it might be easier to just record the call yourself if that is what you want (don't forget to mention you are doing so at the start)

Well, of course they would have to agree it, that goes without saying (until you said it) and the OP has an explanation. According to the Eon online person here, their website allows customers to change their DD amount by + or - 10%, I think it was. They don't just let you pay £1 a month.

The transcript thing is to let them know one is not to be messed with lightly; demanding to speak to a manager works just as well, at least with my supplier.

E.ON_Company_Representative:_Helena

Smodlet wrote: »

Well, of course they would have to agree it, that goes without saying (until you said it) and the OP has an explanation. According to the Eon online person here, their website allows customers to change their DD amount by + or - 10%, I think it was. They don't just let you pay £1 a month.

The transcript thing is to let them know one is not to be messed with lightly; demanding to speak to a manager works just as well, at least with my supplier.

Morning Smodlet,

You can use the the Direct Debit manager with E.ON it's on the online account.

You can change your payment amount by up to, or down by 20% as long as you've got accurate reads on there and by 5% if you don't pop an accurate read on.

Any changes over 20% we'd need to discuss it with the customer.

Thank you

Helena

csgohan4

The other thing to do is to give regular meter readings so you pay what you use than pay what you want

Smodlet

Apologies for misquoting, Helena, and thank you for the correction. At least I now know I did not dream up your DD manager.