Outfox The Market Direct Debit changes

editor1

@BS7,

Not too sure about new posters, but I've given details of my personal experience with OFTM since I changed my folks to them in March this year, and at that time folks had a positive assessment of them, now reversed by sloppy management decisions and poor communication.

As ever, i can't really comment on those on Variable contracts, so have kept to commentary for those of us on Fixed Contracts, which are legally binding for both parties, when they try messing with this I complain period.

As for the commotion over DDs, this actually seems a quirk of the UK system for every other Utility provider I've dealt with globally has always invoiced on a Pay-As-You Go basis, rather than 12 fixed price payments over the course of a year - further, they have always demanded deposits before commencing delivery - I'm with Hong Kong electricity and they have £160 of mine in their accounts, money i can never claim back until I dispense with their services.

Further, OFTM is not the only supplier to play the DD game, indeed, both OVO Energy and First Utility changed DD payments during the course of contracts I signed up for, although they did not increase them by more than 40%, which i think is the main gripe here, that and the fact this rise is imposed just before Christmas.

paters

bs7, you missed out the 28p per day per fuel standing charge which will add another £10 per month to their existing low user "membership fee".


I don't think it's good advise to cancel your DD as there's a £25 charge for late payments in their Ts&Cs and they won't be able to pay you back if you're in credit.

geoffplus

There is an online gas bill calculator at http://utility-assist.co.uk/calculator

which may help with comparisons between suppliers.

This is one for electric meter readings. https://www.electricitybillcalculator.com/

However, if you are OK with spreadsheets it is quite easy to set p a calculation to give the cost of a meter reading and the calculations required are easily available online

Domingo

@TheHeatingEngineer and editor1, please try to see that your comments and opinions, no matter how much you may be trying to help, can come across as arrogant and self serving. This is clearly indicated by the other members you have upset and the fact you are now arguing with some of them. Despite this post, which I hope is simply seen as a friendly nudge, I do not wish to join that band wagon. I would just like to suggest that, although of course this is a forum and therefore a place for discussion/debate, we keep the focus back on the topic at hand.

@alittleowl, those were some hilarious comments! You had me laughing out loud to the point my 1yr old perked up copying my laugh from the other side of the room. You should consider observational comedy if your day job ever drys up! (Just to make sure my here comments are not misconstrued, they are totally sincere. The points you made were clearly valid, it was just an added bonus that the way you chose to express them was golden!)

robrymond

Had an email of notice of change of Direct Debit. The figure they are taking is not the revised figure sent second, its £126 a month (was paying £58).

What the hell!

Me1900

So have I. It has a different reference number to my current DD so I'm wondering whether a second DD has been set up overnight by OFTM? Not showing on my bank account yet, but it is a weekend.
The amount on mine is not any figure they have mentioned previously, but it does say this is the amount that will be taken from now on, and it's higher than my original DD.

star_trek_fan

I've had 2 emails overnight with details of a direct debit increase to £115.52 pm, both the same reference although the first only contained details of my bank account. Based on their last revised winter direct debit amount, it should be £79.52.

I've finally had a bill from them, the first since I joined in July, which shows that as of 17 November I'm £96.11 in credit. Based on the same period last year and calculated using foxy's unit rate & membership fee my bill until I leave should be about £60. My switch goes through on Dec 20th so am cancelling foxy's direct debit today - their next DD is scheduled to go out 3 days before the switch. Will keep watch in case they try to re-instate it before I go.

star_trek_fan

DD cancelled. Curiously, according to this morning's foxy emails, the latest revised payment was due to go out on the 17th December, although past DD's haven't left my a/c until the 21st monthly. My switch goes through on the 20th.

alittleowl

Domingo wrote: »

@alittleowl, those were some hilarious comments! You had me laughing out loud to the point my 1yr old perked up copying my laugh from the other side of the room

Aw, lovely, thank you :beer:

alittleowl

Me1900 wrote: »

So have I. It has a different reference number to my current DD so I'm wondering whether a second DD has been set up overnight by OFTM? Not showing on my bank account yet, but it is a weekend.
The amount on mine is not any figure they have mentioned previously, but it does say this is the amount that will be taken from now on, and it's higher than my original DD.

A couple of days after I cancelled my DD with OFtM they reinstated it under the name of Foxglove Energy with a difference reference number and for a different amount than in any of their emails. I've just checked and they did it on a Sunday. Obviously I cancelled it again and told my bank to block them. And sent an email to OFtM's complaints department to which I've still had no reply and don't really expect one as I'm leaving soon.