Sainsburys energy/British Gas Dilemma

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I entered a deal with Sainsburys energy for a year for dual fuel with an agreed amount taken by direct debit from my account each month.

Unfortunately i am one of those people who set something up, and direct debits offer me peace of mind that my bills are being paid and i don't sign online and scrutinise my bills. I know what i use a year and i have been problem free for years.

I signed up with sainsburys in 2017 around may, in november 2017 sainsburys energy took around 400 from my bank account without my consent. I queried this as it had significant issues for me just before xmas, kids presents etc. At first they said i had been underpaying (normally they adjust direct debits), then when i looked into it they admitted they had only set up the direct debit for the gas, not the electricity, they gave me 50.00 as a good will gesture. They assured me they would deal with whoever created the problem.

In april this year they have contacted me to state i owe £1100 + and the reason being that i have closed my bank account and therefore the direct debits were never paid since November. They have told me they have only just found out now despite collecting from me on a monthly basis. They have remained fast that it is my responsibility to check my bank accounts or look online and keep a breast of what is happening. I have told them i have held my account for over 20 years and its not closed. After repeated calls they gave me the account details which were of a current account i closed around 10 years ago (i would have used this with a british gas energy supply at the time). They have admitted human error again, even though there was the gas direct debit set up and being collected, for some reason they cancelled the gas, and set up a direct debit on historical account information they are holding. They have offered me a 50.00 good will gesture.

I hold my hands up to the fact i should be checking my direct debits/energy bills, but surely they have to take some responsibility too. I cannot understand why they would not contact me as soon as the direct debit bounced which would have enabled me to deal with the issue at the time. They cancelled my gas direct debit, can they do this?, They have set up a direct debit on an account which has lapsed for so many years, can they hold this information for so many years and can british gas share this info with sainsburys energy. Can they set up a direct debit without my consent when they have two accounts to my name on their systems.

My dilemma now is that i cannot pay the lump sum off, i cannot switch supplier from my understanding, neither can i financially pay my current usage and pay additional on top to cover the amount they are requesting.

I would welcome any support on this matter with regards my rights and a way to tackle this issue with them

thanks in advance.

Cardew

Firstly they don't need your consent to increase a Direct Debit(DD). When signing a Direct Debit mandate it will be for an initial agreed amount; but you authorise them to change the DD amount as they see fit. The only stipulation is that they must give you advance notice of any increase; this is often on a bill and can be missed if you don't read the bill carefully. i.e. they don't write to you seeking your agreement for any increase in DD.


You have admitted:

I hold my hands up to the fact i should be checking my direct debits/energy bills, but surely they have to take some responsibility too.

It seems that they have acknowledged their error and responsibility and offered you a £50 goodwill payment; as well as an 'interest free' loan!


It is not clear what you seek - a bigger goodwill payment?

wavelets

Looking on the brightside, OP, at least this has brought you back to MSE after 10 years absence.

Hopefully, now you have returned, at least under this ID, you will not leave it another 10 years to post again. This forum needs valuable contributors like yourself.

The Debt Free Wannabe section is still here too.