Outfox The Market Direct Debit changes

System

GreenMike wrote: »

Along with many other people who have decided to leave OTM, I have not been able to get through to them by telephone and all my emails go unanswered.

I have already moved to another energy provider who has taken the first direct debit and is providing my energy but OTM has not informed me of my final bill.

Under the terms of their Licence Conditions, and EU Law, suppliers have to use their reasonable efforts to produce a Final Bill no later than 6 weeks after the actual date of transfer of supply. To do this, they require industry-validated readings from your new supplier.

bubieyehyeh

Are there any rules or guidelines, that prevent a supplier taking direct debits after you have left (as if you hadn't left) until they produce the final bill.


Previous suppliers (even the poor ones) have stopped taking the regular DD when I left, and then used it for the final bill.


I've just left OFTM but not so sure they wont take their new inflated amount by DD in January, even though I calculated my final bill will be about £5.

Steve456

bubieyehyeh wrote: »

Are there any rules or guidelines, that prevent a supplier taking direct debits after you have left (as if you hadn't left) until they produce the final bill.


Previous suppliers (even the poor ones) have stopped taking the regular DD when I left, and then used it for the final bill.


I've just left OFTM but not so sure they wont take their new inflated amount by DD in January, even though I calculated my final bill will be about £5.

I'm in the same situation as I left as of yesterday (yippee!) and will owe them no more than £10 to £20. They say they will take almost £200 at the end of next week.

I have emailed them saying that this is the situation, and that should they take the amount detailed in their notification, I will immediately have the payment reversed and cancel the direct debit.


If I were not fortunate enough to be able to survive a potential £200 cash-grab by them, I would not hesitate to cancel the DD beforehand though.

Pete99

As you've left the company you don't owe anything until they get you your final bill which according to them could take up to 8 weeks, they obviously need new batteries for their calculator, so cancel your Direct Debit and when they finally come up with what you owe them pay using another method, I was in the same position but in credit, cancelled my DD and received an email acknowledgement from them that it was cancelled, now just have to wait to get my £100 + credit back.

bubieyehyeh

I just tried to talk to OFTM via the webchat, which was painfully slow.



First they implied that the regular payment would still be taken even though I had left them today. They suggested I let the January DD go through and then cancel the DD. After more questioning they said I could cancel the DD if I wanted, but the responces were very unclear. I asked about if they would charge me a £25 penalty for cancelling DD, and they said that does apply since I had left, but it wasn't clear cut. So still very unclear. The staff are clearly clueless and very busy. I got the impression they were simultaneously doing several webchat at same time, since it was 5mins between posts at times.



I have had no reply to my email from over a month ago. So I'm unclear what is the best thing to do, and whether cancelling the DD would cause me more or less hassle.

cyka

bubieyehyeh wrote: »

Are there any rules or guidelines, that prevent a supplier taking direct debits after you have left (as if you hadn't left) until they produce the final bill.

bubieyehyeh wrote: »

First they implied that the regular payment would still be taken even though I had left them today. They suggested I let the January DD go through and then cancel the DD. After more questioning they said I could cancel the DD if I wanted, but the responces were very unclear. I asked about if they would charge me a £25 penalty for cancelling DD, and they said that does apply since I had left, but it wasn't clear cut. So still very unclear. The staff are clearly clueless and very busy. I got the impression they were simultaneously doing several webchat at same time, since it was 5mins between posts at times.
I have had no reply to my email from over a month ago. So I'm unclear what is the best thing to do, and whether cancelling the DD would cause me more or less hassle.

If you're both in credit with OTM when you switched you can cancel the Direct Debit without incurring any fees. If you are in debit to OTM than my advice would either make a one off payment by phone or let one DD go through so your back into credit and then cancel.

bubieyehyeh

cyka wrote: »

If you're both in credit with OTM when you switched you can cancel the Direct Debit without incurring any fees. If you are in debit to OTM than my advice would either make a one off payment by phone or let one DD go through so your back into credit and then cancel.

I'm currently in credit, but I've calculated my credit won't quite cover the final bill. If I cancel the DD now the final bill will mean I will owe about £5, but not clear if they would try to charge £25.



There really should be a rule, that a supplier can only take a payment for the final bill after a customer has left, and not continue taking the regular payments. It would encourage them to produce final bills without delay (at least for customers in debit).

Pete99

From what I gather they can't produce a final bill until the meter reading has been verified and agreed by them and the gaining supplier, until that point even if you are in debt to the company they don't know how much so can't bill you, likewise you don't know how much so you can't pay them, so cancel the direct debit and when they finally produce the final bill pay them using another method, your direct debit mandate being in place is not necessary as all they're looking for is for your account to be paid or alternatively to pay you the credit, also apparently they can't stop a switch unless you've been in debt for 28 days, I'm all for saving money on energy but this firm has turned it into a full time occupation trying to get away from them and get your money back.

ic451uk

I have sent 6 complaint emails since the OFTM direct debit debacle began 6 weeks ago, keeping to the same basic points - my electricity consumption shows hardly any seasonal variation, so applying the proposed 70/30 adjustment to my direct debit (when I'm already a month in credit) makes no sense. This week, I at last received a response that was written for me, rather than just a global email. It was still no good, so I sent a point-by-point rebuttal of almost everything that was said. Now I have received an email that amounts to a complete climbdown from OFTM - my direct debit is being reduced to less than it was originally, and it will be constant all year round. Result!
I am on the Whack! fixed price tariff - and staying on it for as long as I can.
IC

geoffplus

I switched from Economy Energy to OFTM on 20 Nov. I switched away from them to Green Energy Network on 20 Dec.

This month on 21 Dec Economy Energy still took their usual direct debit payments, Outfox The market took their inflated direct debit and my new supplier, Green energy also took their first direct debit!! Quite a lot of money to be taken just before Christmas.

Trying to find out now if Outfox The Market have actually sent Economy Energy my final readings.

Surely you should not be charged for gas and electricity supply for the same month by two different suppliers?