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

Consumerist

Theta101 wrote: »

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 [EMAIL="dd@totoenergy.com"]dd@totoenergy.com[/EMAIL] with your account number and the subject line "Keep me even"..

That's interesting.

Has everyone else missed this or has Toto had a recent change of policy in the face of pressure?

lynne99

already just switched more than double quoted price from that quoted on cheap energy club

teddysmum

Caddyman wrote: »

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.

I stayed with the Big Six, too although the small companies were cheaper.


I asked Ovo,in their early days, for a quote and it took an older employee to sort out the figure which I had calculated myself (within a few pence),after their online system and a new ,inexperienced employee got it wrong. (both said my gas usage was too high for them to quote,yet it was well below average.


This put me off as well as a relative, who once worked for a power company,saying that they knew the people running one of the newbies and that they weren't experienced enough to run such a business.

saffa-guy

It's very interesting reading all of the above. What is even more interesting is that Toto Energy are in complete breach of contract with the 50% hike over winter. As per section 9.4.1 they state: "if it's your first year with us we can increase the standard direct debit amount by up to 25% to cover additional usage in winter months"...hmmm...

I also have a smart meter installed. Now forgive my ignorance here, but surely my bills should be based on exact usage and not estimation? Or is the smart meter just there to look "pretty" in my house?

I also wasn't emailed or mailed or phoned about their pending price increase. For myself, my electricity price is increasing by 17% with a 24% increase in standing charges and, here's the kicker, the cost of my gas is increasing by 48%...now I logged into my online account and there is a pdf in my timeline that describes these increases. Yet again though, Toto Energy are in breach of contract. This document was posted on my timeline on my account on 27th November 2017 which details that the price increase will take effect on the 27th December...So Section 4.3 of their T&C's state: "A variable contract means one of our variable tariffs, more particularly: We may increase the charges you pay under variable contract by providing you with 42 days' advance notice. We may outline how charges will increase over the course of a whole year (or smaller period) in advance, thereby providing greater than 42 days notice." Now unless my maths is failing me, 27 November 2017 - 27 December 2017 isn't 42 days or more notice...?

Official company complaint and ombudsman complain incoming!