Outfox The Market Direct Debit changes

MadMat

I think we need to wait and see the level they set the new DDs at before declaring victory. I assume they are also still going to take the inflated winter level DDs again in Jan as it says new ones kick in on 1st Feb.

dprice8893

This whole saga must be an object lesson in how to decimate your business and alienate your customers. Surely, they realised the consequence of their actions?

Anthorn

dprice8893 wrote: »

This whole saga must be an object lesson in how to decimate your business and alienate your customers. Surely, they realised the consequence of their actions?

What exactly are the consequences of the actions? I haven't seen any statistic on the effects. However my guess is that most customers will accept the changes because it is not really unfair: It's just different.

RS2OOO

I emailed a formal complaint on 15th November, another on 17th November, then 3rd December giving 4 days notice to respond or I would change supplier and cancel DD.

Emailed again on 7th December stating as there was no response to previous complaints I was now changing supplier and cancelling DD.

I have since changed supplier who have been supplying since 24th December, and cancelled DD with OTM.

Received a response to that last email just now stating they will look at my complaint and aim to respond within 10 to 14 working days! They obviously haven't actually read my complaint or realise the fact they are no longer supplying me.

editor1

Somewhat surprised that we have Posters making lame excuses for OFTM, who, as many are now aware, have some very unsavoury business practices. However, lets not let my own bias get in the way, but the fact remains horror stories abound on MSE, TrustedPilot and the OFTM FB Help Group, given this comprises more than 1% of OFTMs Customer-base its fair to say its a good indication of what's happening. And most are not happy.
Perhaps our two posters raving about OFTM are related to the Bastian Clan?

[Deleted User]

After receiving the email stati g the direct debit would be increasing over the winter months I have switched supplier. I also emailed them asking not to increase the DD. They generated a bill on the last day they supplied me 5th December (coincidence not a final bill) showing I was 60 in credit. I have just spoken to them and they will be charging me the winter rate in this month's direct debit.

Am I within my rights to cancel the direct debit or to pay the old rate until my final bill is generated?

editor1

Craig,

You are within your rights to cancel your DD and make any further payments via BACS - be careful as they re-instate DDs, which become active five days after appearing again - for further assistance I'd recommend the OFTM Consumer help Group on Facebook, which now has nearly 1,150 members.

jk0

craig1123 wrote: »

After receiving the email stati g the direct debit would be increasing over the winter months I have switched supplier. I also emailed them asking not to increase the DD. They generated a bill on the last day they supplied me 5th December (coincidence not a final bill) showing I was 60 in credit. I have just spoken to them and they will be charging me the winter rate in this month's direct debit.

Am I within my rights to cancel the direct debit or to pay the old rate until my final bill is generated?

Yeah. Cancelled mine, as was more than a month in credit.

Anthorn

editor1 wrote: »

Craig,

You are within your rights to cancel your DD and make any further payments via BACS - be careful as they re-instate DDs, which become active five days after appearing again - for further assistance I'd recommend the OFTM Consumer help Group on Facebook, which now has nearly 1,150 members.

No you are not "well within your rights to cancel your DD" (QUOTE) if you agreed to pay by DD in the first place. In that case if you cancel the DD the company is well within their rights to reinstate the DD and to charge you an administration fee.

It is the above where OFTM customers are coming unstuck.

paters

Anthorn, OTM take direct debit payments a month in advance, so when a customer leaves these payments should stop automatically. Unfortunately as OTM is such a badly run business, they have continued taking these advanced payments from customers weeks after the switch to another supplier.



If craig1123 left them 5 Dec with a £60 credit balance on his account (which I assume should be more than enough to cover any final bill adjustment) then he would be well advised to cancel his direct debit.