Outfox The Market Direct Debit changes

kendizle

This is terrible. I am a very low user, currently paying around £35 p/m for both gas and electric. I only use less than 600kwh of gas and 3200kwh of electricity a year. This increase puts my monthly payments to £70. I paid less when I was with British Gas.

I have just sent an email to OTFM to ask that they calculate my DD based on my usage. I take readings every month and have readings dating back 18 months. I guess I will see what they say, but if they refuse, I will be switching back to one of the Big 6 and locking in a rate.

K

spikeyman

They are sharks and rip off merchants, the worst company have ever dealt with in my life. The switch went wrong, their fault, billing was crazy 6 bills in 3 months and I could not work out the usage at all! Eventually, after complaints were not answered in a timely way, estimated readings, although I gave meter readings on time every month, membership fee calculated on the last house owners usage 4 times higher than ours, WE SWITCHED to Peoples Energy who could not have been nicer and, a big bonus they answer the phone in person quickly. And 3 price increases since June and the DD increase notice they sent even though we left them a month ago. Would rather pay a little more for better service and less hassle!! .

Steve456

I too am jumping ship. Have already selected the new provider and hit the button.


I have emailed these cowboys rejecting the proposed DD increase in the meanwhile, and put them on notice that should they take the increased amount I will immediately reverse the DD and await a final bill which I can agree before paying them (rather than wait gawd knows how long for them to reimburse any credit).


I only swapped a couple of months ago and have already done the above with the last lot (Together Energy). I estimate, after reversing the last DD with them, that I possibly owe them £30 versus them owing me about £170 which would have been the case.

Steve456

As far as I am concerned, energy companies have two ways in which they can bill me. Either the estimated usage over a year divided into equal monthly payments (long pushed by them as they usually manage to ensure your account is generally in credit!), or by monthly/quarterly invoices in arrears for actual usage.

(I have left out the prepay option as I understand that is the way that the companies really fleece their customers who are least able to pay).


I don't mind either (so long as I have an input into any estimated future usage!).


What I will not accept is the energy company deciding that they need a cash injection and then to take "by force" that cash, interest free, from its customers. I view that as tantamount to fraud.

orangesnaps

ben501 wrote: »

Yeah, they do that

I am aware that they can do that, but to do it without informing the customer is still not on. I wouldn't have known if I didn't open my bills again & saw the amount was changed, retroactively I may add.
Also, our estimated annual usage for our electricity consumption have gone down so I don't know where they got the brilliant idea of just upping us to a higher bracket.

orangesnaps

I have just received a reply from the regarding my request to refund us the credit in our account & they just came up with a figure plucked from the air & without explaining as to how they got to that amount.

"Hello,



I am pleased to inform you that your refund request for £98.50 has been approved. That will be paid into your bank account.



If you have any further enquiries, please do not hesitate to contact us.





Warm regards,"

[Deleted User]

I have emailed these cowboys rejecting the proposed DD increase in the meanwhile, and put them on notice that should they take the increased amount I will immediately reverse the DD and await a final bill which I can agree before paying them (rather than wait gawd knows how long for them to reimburse any credit).


Now that is an interesting idea...Would you care to explain to us how to do that...it might come in handy. I only know about cancelling a DD.
ATB
Dougie.

[Deleted User]

Steve456 wrote: »

As far as I am concerned, energy companies have two ways in which they can bill me. Either the estimated usage over a year divided into equal monthly payments (long pushed by them as they usually manage to ensure your account is generally in credit!), or by monthly/quarterly invoices in arrears for actual usage.

(I have left out the prepay option as I understand that is the way that the companies really fleece their customers who are least able to pay).




I don't mind either (so long as I have an input into any estimated future usage!).


What I will not accept is the energy company deciding that they need a cash injection and then to take "by force" that cash, interest free, from its customers. I view that as tantamount to fraud.

Hi Steve456
That sounds like an interesting idea...would you care to explain to us how one does that?




ATB
Dougie.

Steve456

Just read the Direct Debit Guarantee. At any time, you can speak to your bank and instruct them to reverse a Direct Debit payment (and there seems to be no time limit on when that payment was made, so quite possibly instruct to reverse payments made for a number of months).


There is a mechanism whereby the company who took the payment can appeal the reversal but, so long as you are being reasonable, I can't see that being an issue.


It's certainly a lot quicker (as in instantaneous!) than waiting for a refund.


https://www.directdebit.co.uk/DirectDebitExplained/pages/directdebitguarantee.aspx

joeworcs

I reviewed my usage for Winter 2017/2018 with my old provider.
I found no increase in Electricity usage and a 17% increase per month increase in the gas usage.

Outfox had asked me for an increase of 75% of the total direct debit however it was actually 130% of the gas payment when you break it down.

In money terms they are asking for an extra £87.50, taking my monthly bill from £116.50 to £204. They should actually only be taking an extra £12.50 based on last year's usage which I would understand.

I've raised this with them and been promised a response within 5 working days.