MSE News: Toto Energy hikes winter direct debits by 50% and admits to 'misprint'...

Former_MSE_Callum

Toto Energy customers have reacted furiously to the supplier's decision to bring in a 'seasonal direct debit' which will see some households' bills jump by 50% over the winter, hot on the heels of an eye-watering price hike which was revealed last week...

Read the full story:
'Toto Energy hikes winter direct debits by 50% and admits to 'misprint' over price guarantee'

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phillw

It's possible to have a variable tariff with a price guarantee.

They could guarantee to increase the price on a specific date.
They could guarantee to increase it by a certain amount.

What exactly was the price guarantee that they referred to?

If they actually said the price was guaranteed not to change, then that is pretty serious.

System

A Perfect Storm.

Geminijane

Hi

I have just received my notification from Toto! I am staggered at the jump but more so as the change comes into play immediately so the first inflated payment comes out of my bank on 27th December straight after Christmas. Christmas is always expensive so i have budgeted but this takes effect well before i get paid! I have tried the approach of negotiating a lessor amount as i will struggle to find the extra £60 between now and then (two weeks) I have offered to meet them half way and review my contract at a later date. I will let you know what they say.

Theta101

If I were you I'd switch to a proper energy company.

Oh I already am!!

incesticde

It’s almost as if they’ve run out of cash...

Caddyman

Yet another unfavourable story concerning a small independent energy company that justifies my own decision not to switch away from my 'Big Six' supplier with whom I've had no problems with for years. Plus, I'm on a dirt cheap tariff anyway and I always know how much my gas/electric is going to be because I religiously submit monthly meter readings.

That being said, I've just had notification from CheapEnergyClub, that another supplier can finally undercut my present supplier by a massive £25 a year (that was a sarcastic comment). The energy supplier is brand new, a company I've never heard of. I won't be switching.

Theta101

From the OFGEM web site:

Complaints about Ofgem-accredited energy price comparison sites
Price comparison sites accredited under the Confidence Code must operate an effective complaints process.

If you have a complaint, you should first contact the comparison site to tell them and so they can try to resolve it.

If your complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, you can then contact Ofgem so we can investigate the issue. You can do so by:

Email: consumeraffairs@ofgem.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 7901 7295

Theta101

CAB website...

How to avoid the increase

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-bill/your-gas-or-electricity-supplier-has-put-up-its-prices/

Consumerist

With a "Regulator" like Ofgem licensing these suppliers, none of this surprises me.

It wouldn't surprise me, either, if a few of these smaller suppliers go under in the not too distant future.

I suspect this is due, in no small part, to the exchange-rate movement since June.

Theta101

In the email from Toto I received (letter ref VPC001) "Our variable tariff is increasing".

If you do not want to move to a seasonal profile and prefer even monthly payments, let us know - just e-mail dd@totoenergy.com with your account number and the subject line "Keep me even"..