Outfox The Market Direct Debit changes

michaels

OFTM assessed us for a mega high membership charge so the new standing charge plus rate increase means our annual bill will only go up by just under 6% and remains the cheapest on the market. We are able to budget so how they take the dd over the year makes no difference and I prefer neither owing them large sums nor having a large positive balance.

Is the change from membership fee to capped standing charge mandated by the regulator?

paters

michaels wrote: »

Is the change from membership fee to capped standing charge mandated by the regulator?

I posted a question on another thread about this. I read the Ofgem cap on standard DD payment tariffs standing charges is going to be 26p per day for gas and 23p for electric. So the 28p per fuel OTM wants looks a bit iffy to me, but I didn't read the whole document so I may be wrong.

Barneybear1

Received email stating my did goes up to £88 from £40 per month, also in credit. An increase of over 100% despite complaints @foxglove stating

Thank you for your email I can confirm that the direct debit will remain at your original amount.

Thank goodness my switch is nearly done

Jonny247

bs7 wrote: »

It's curious that there are so many relatively new posters coming online to defend OutFox...

The sooner they go out of business the better!! I hope the directors get properly screwed personally and hope they are blacklisted from operating in the industry again.
LOL!!!
How are OutFox or the customer ever going to deduce their "expected usage" based on their recent usage. Its clearly a barrier for people to people paying the appropriate amount.

I'd also be amazed if anyone has had a proper response to their email nevermind a change in the direct debit - they are nowhere near their "contact within 2 working days of receiving a complaint" are per their complaints policy.

Oh Yeah, its a conspiracy :rotfl:

geoffplus

As others on here have said, OFTM have been busy today (02 Dec) setting up new direct debits with different reference numbers and massively inflated payments

Mine has gone from £71.75 to £152.13. No explanation of course

I am tempted to cancel the direct debit, but I have initiated a switch away from them on 29 Nov and don't want them finding any excuse to block it. It could mean I leave with them owing me money though as I only joined them on 20 Nov and have already paid them £71.75

editor1

@pater,

just a reminder, I've never advised anyone to seek assistance, that's paid assistance from the legal profession - all i stated was i'd qualify some comments of mine with a few peers who are practicing law (Barristers) and are up to date with Contract Law - as for your notion of losses for my folks, with 10 months left on their Contract and the lowest fixed deals being £20 more than presently paying my £200 figure was correct, and the exit fee is £100, so that's a £300 loss unless my maths is out, which it ain't!.

Threepints

Well, I really don't know what OFTM are playing at. We've been with them for 12 months, paying £62 pm. Received the original increase email last month informing us of an increase to £109pm over the winter period, then dropping to £46pm. Then yet another email drops stating that they would now be changing the DD to £87pm.

Today they have emailed stating the DD is increasing to £130pm from 17th December.

Well, I've had enough and am off to Avro Energy. Unfortunately the switch does take place until 30th December so I'll have to put up with the OFTM £130 DD for December.

paters

editor1, I wasn't doubting your ability to use basic maths, it's your comprehension of the law that's the problem.



You said yourself that you're not a solicitor so stop dropping legal jargon, pretending you're some sort of expert. And what's with the unnecessary use of capital letters?


You keep on about contract law but OTM's T&C say"14.1 We reserve the right to change your contract at any time and will provide the relevant advance notice where applicable according to our licence conditions.". The T&C you agreed to are there to cover OTM's back, not yours.


Fortunately (from what I've read) for you and others on a fixed deal, Ofgem's rules say OTM can't increase your tariff during the set period. But there was nothing I could find to say they can't end it early. Sure, that would be commercial suicide for OTM, but when's that ever stopped them!

Dad_Deep_Pockets

Contract law is (mostly) irrelevant in this case as it is a B2C contract and therefore more protection is afforded under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. There would be some exceptions, however, stick with the CRA 2015 and you cannot go wrong. Oh, and no dubious peers were harmed with this quote ;-)

Barneybear1

Geoffplus threepints as far as I am aware you can dispute the new dd amount. Email them and their complaints department saying you dispute the amount calculated. Include you account details and ask them which meter readings they used to calculate the new amount. If they proceed to take the amount out of your account claim an indemnity against them under the dd
mandate with your bank.