Outfox The Market Direct Debit changes

Anthorn

paters wrote: »

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.

There is a time scale involved when a customer switches supplier. I have absolutely no idea about OFTM's time scale but the time scale of Scottish Power where I have just switched from is: Switch complete up to 3 weeks, Final bill created up to 6 weeks; Account closed up to 3 weeks. My switch completed on 09 December 2018 but SP still charged my bank account the regular DD on 24 December 2018 and my account is now closed and I expect my account credit to be refunded in due course and I am allowing for delay due to the holiday period.

So you see that OFTM is not entirely unique and what I see in this thread is objections born out of unreasonable paranoia and unwarranted accusations. In fact what OFTM customers got what I didn't't get is updated information. Ok, ok, OFTM want customers to pay an increased DD when consumption is increased: They are not entirely unique in that either, Powershop does the same!

editor1

@Anthorn,

Sorry old bean, I suggest you learn a little about the 2015 Consumer Rights Act and a little thing in contracts called "fairness", which OFTM have breached so often its laughable - go ask bastion's daughter with her LLB to explain, but in any small claims court or County Court OFTM ain't got a leg to stand on, which is why as soon as legal sanction is threatened they back down. Nice try, but less of the Trolling please.

Pete99

After you've switched you don't owe them anything until they produce the final bill, so they have no right to take any further direct debits and your direct debit mandate isn't required either to pay them the final amount or for them to pay you the credit they're holding, why they take so long to produce a final bill after the final meter reading has been agreed is a mystery, but you could guess why they do !

jaybeetoo

With me they’ve shown the final electricity reading and leave date on my latest statement (which they could have only got from my new supplier), ignored it and billed me based on a higher estimated reading for two weeks after I’d left! They are out of control.

They also frequently change their T&Cs without telling customers. They expect customers to keep checking their web site for changes.

paters

jaybeetoo wrote: »

With me they’ve shown the final electricity reading and leave date on my latest statement (which they could have only got from my new supplier), ignored it and billed me based on a higher estimated reading for two weeks after I’d left! They are out of control.

I've had the same thing (sort of). On both the gas and electricity "Estimated reading" dated the day I switched. But in my case, 2 more weeks estimated use for the gas only... which is odd seeing as both switched the same day to the same supplier.

paters

Anthorn, neither of your examples / excuses make sense. I'll try to keep it simple for you...



Scottish Power's direct debits are a month in arrears. OTM charge a month in advance.



Powershop's customers signed up to pay a variable amount based their estimated monthly usage. OTM's customers signed up to 12 equal payments based on their estimated annual usage.

Anthorn

paters wrote: »

Anthorn, neither of your examples / excuses make sense. I'll try to keep it simple for you...

My post was specifically about the time scale involved in switching to a different supplier which you have apparently ignored. It is apparent that OFTM customers posting in this thread want a switch and a refund of credit done instantly and I illustrated that that is not possible with a comparison to Scottish Power.

paters wrote: »

Scottish Power's direct debits are a month in arrears. OTM charge a month in advance.

That is noted on comparison sites such as MSE CEC and Uswitch. If OFTM customers don't like it why did they sign up for it in the first place?

paters wrote: »

Powershop's customers signed up to pay a variable amount based their estimated monthly usage. OTM's customers signed up to 12 equal payments based on their estimated annual usage.

But OFTM changed it which they are entitled to do and that is exactly what this thread is about.

Getting back to the topic this is what OFTM says about payment methods:

7.1
The only available payment method is Direct Debit, which means paying for your supply each month by direct debit, where we set the amount of your direct debit according to your consumption.
By agreeing to be supplied by us, you agree to pay by direct debit.

7.2
Paying by direct debit means:
You must keep your account in credit by paying for the supply in advance.

And

6.5
Any missed or late payments will incur a charge of £25 each time.

https://www.outfoxthemarket.co.uk/Terms-and-conditions.aspx

The above really is all OFTM customers need to know when considering cancelling OFTM's direct debit! In short don't do it!

moneytorques

Everyone is getting hyped up again over this DD scenario.
Granted it's not ideal to be paying another DD if you are switching but ultimately if you are in credit at the final bill generation you will get it back!
Standard practice for donkeys years.

Another instance of consumer impatience?!?, and no I am not trolling.
In fact I've just initaited a switch away from OTM based on the latest price increase alone.
Nothing to do with the DD yoyo situation.

editor1

@anthorn,

Are you having a laugh referring to OFTMs T&Cs - do enlighten us about which T&Cs we are referring too, namely, the one's we signed up for or the one's they keep changing?

Again, you misrepresent posters, but for those legally challenged, lets just say OFTMs T&Cs are illegal in the eyes of the law as changes have been made without being notified directly to the Customer with 30 days notice of leave should customers dislike what they see - all this legally is covered by the Consumer Rights Act of 2015, which actually places Right in the hands of Customers due to OFTMs unwillingness to play the game - this is called 'Fairness' or 'Fair' in contract law as it applies to the supply of services and as long as Customers follow the letter of English Common Law, and not Bastian island Law they cannot go wrong.

paters

Anthorn, I haven't seen anyone saying they want a switch and a refund of credit done instantly or complaining about paying OTM in advance for the actual energy they use. Instead of creating a strawman to argue with every time you post a comment, why not try understanding the actual issue?


The terms and conditions you posted do not apply here. It's perfectly simple, OTM have no right to carry on taking payments inadvance from (ex)customers they no longer supply energy to.