Outfox The Market Direct Debit changes

Steve456

I switched the week before Christmas. I emailed OFTM to say that this was happening and that I calculated I would be in debit by £10 to £20 at the most. I told them not to take the threatened £200 DD (up from about £90) and, if they did, I would reverse the DD and cancel the mandate.

Guess what happened! And I did reverse the transaction and blocked the DD. So I did get an instant refund of the massive credit they had engineered. They can invoice me for the true balance whenever they like.

I they decide that they want to "fine" me £25, then I will gladly see them in court to explain their unfair terms and conditions.

editor1

@steve456,

Glad someone understands the legal requirement of businesses, both online and bricks and mortar, with regards instructing Customers to any changes of services they have signed up for, and this includes Changes to T&Cs and DD mandates, which if far too high, the Customer has a right to refuse.

Anthorn

moneytorques wrote: »

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.

At last a voice of reason: Serious applause.

What I wonder is how many of those who are hyped up and encouraging OFTM customers to flout the Ts&Cs are actually OFTM customers.

I'm not going to reply to others because doing so will just be repeating my previous posts.

Domingo

Anthorn wrote: »

I'm not going to reply to others because doing so will just be repeating my previous posts.

Thank god!

Steve456

There seem to be a number of people posting on this thread for whom the prospect of an additional £100 or so increase in a direct debit payment a week or two before Christmas does not present any problems.

They are then going on to state that they believe that it is quite understandable that OFTM are doing this to their customers (or, as OFTM would claim, "for" the benefit of their customers!).

I am, fortunately, in the position whereby I am not unduly affected by such an astounding increase in my energy bill, other than being totally gobsmacked that any service company would dream of treating their customers in this fashion.

I very well remember (maybe in the late 80s or early 90s) being in the position of having my personal finances balanced quite precariously – especially with mortgage rates of around 10% and suddenly jumping another two or three percent overnight.

A significant proportion of the population are, no doubt, in a similar position to that in which I found myself all those years ago. To have an additional bill of a hundred pounds or more, which one does not even owe, is a situation which at the very least would likely lead to considerable bank charges, overdraft charges and maybe (Heaven forbid) credit card charges in order to keep one's head above water.

The way in which OFTM has acted is, in my opinion, utterly indefensible. It would seem that they may have, at last, realised this themselves, although I would imagine their climb-down so recently announced in an email can only be a last-ditch attempt to stave off the collapse of their entire business model.

Takmon

Ive been with OFTM since July and ive had quite a few emails about direct debits and saying that it will be changing to this amount and that amount. But they have taken the exact same payment every month since I've joined them; even the most recent one. Everyone else's seems to be changing with the wind.

But I started a switch when the new January pricing meant many providers (even fixed tariffs) are notably cheaper for me.

Dad_Deep_Pockets

Do OFTM have ANY idea what they are doing in ANY department?
I switched on the 7th December as I couldn't cope with their constantly shifting policies, lack of customer care and just basic incompetence. All has gone well with the switch, new DD set up and OFTM one cancelled (I'm not letting these crooks take anymore out of my account). Opening read sent to new supplier and confirmed sent onto OFTM, just waiting for the final bill to balance the books as I was in credit by 000's.
However, they still email me like I'm a long lost cousin, kind of apologising for the last two months of crap. Then I get a monthly bill with massively inflated estimated usage to take my account into debt. This isn't a final bill but it shows that they are incapable of freezing an account until the final bill and just keep on as usual. I have already worked out that they will owe me in the end but what about a vulnerable elderly customer who is trying to leave and who hasn't cancelled their DD out of fear of the £25 charge? They will be waiting a long time for that account correction if OFTM have anything to do with it. Just the worst, most incompetent company I have ever had the misfortune of being involved with. Oh, and these new rates are no longer the cheapest for my area in any case.

peterx

My new energy supplier went live on the 27/12/2018.Yesterday 30/12/2018 OTM asked for readings.Has anyone got any advice as whether to give these readings or not.I have cancelled the D/D.They do not know what they are doing.So glad I have got away from this energy supplier.Any advice would be appreciated.

Anthorn

Steve456 wrote: »

There seem to be a number of people posting on this thread for whom the prospect of an additional £100 or so increase in a direct debit payment a week or two before Christmas does not present any problems.

Therefore it follows that people who receive an energy bill or for that matter any bill in December should not pay it because Christmas is close? That is absolutely ridiculous!

Getting back to the topic, we use energy and we have to pay for it. If we don't want to pay for it then we shouldn't use it. Very simple really.

System

peterx wrote: »

My new energy supplier went live on the 27/12/2018.Yesterday 30/12/2018 OTM asked for readings.Has anyone got any advice as whether to give these readings or not.I have cancelled the D/D.They do not know what they are doing.So glad I have got away from this energy supplier.Any advice would be appreciated.

Ignore the request if you are confident that the transfer has actually gone through. Call your new supplier or check the databases to be sure. Your new supplier will provide OFTM with validated closing meter readings.