Outfox The Market Direct Debit changes

Steve456

The timing of my switch away from OFTM is very convenient (only by luck!) as my switch date is next week. I too received one of these emails showing a virtual doubling of my current monthly payment, to be taken three days after Christmas!

My last statement showed a small debit balance but, taking account of the payment made the day after, I am currently in credit. I estimate that my balance at date of transfer will be around zero, but possibly in debit by as much as £10-£15.

I have emailed them stating that I do not agree with them taking almost £200 from my bank account as they suggest they will. Further, that if they do so, I will be reversing the transaction and cancelling the DD mandate and will await a final statement for me to agree and (if applicable) pay.

System

Ian_875 wrote: »

I supplied both OFTM and Yorkshire Energy with the requested meter readings on the 1st of this month.

The losing supplier may bill you against the readings provided but they may or may not be used for Final Billing purposes. There is an industry process for validating opening and closing meter readings:

https://octopus.energy/blog/secret-life-opening-meter-reading/

jk0

megafern wrote: »

I am 2 weeks into a switch from Outfox and have given final meter readings to my new supplier. This will show a few pounds debit or credit with Outfox. The reason for my switch is their vast increase to my DD which is due soon. My query is, should I cancel the Outfox DD ? After all, it will only have to be returned.

I wouldn't worry unduly, as someone confirmed earlier you could claim on the direct debit guarantee if you are messed around.

orangesnaps

I have finally got a reply from them for my complaint.

"Please be informed that our analysts have reviewed your direct debit so that it is more accurate than the previous figures.

Your direct debit amount is calculated based on the usage of 6457.2 units of electricity and 10150 units of gas. Your estimated annual cost is £1137.75 what breaks down into the below amount.

70% in winter (up till March) £132.74

30% in summer (April-September) £56.89

These amounts would be collected from December.

Your previous refund amount of £98.50 was calculated based on leaving two payments in advance. We have now changes this policy. We can divide the credit that is currently on your account over 9 or 3 months and reduce the DD accordingly or we can refund the excessive credit leaving one payment of £132.74 in advance Please let me know if you would like our credit control team review your direct debit.



Your unit rates remain the same as you are on the fixed tariff. Your membership fee is at the same level from July. If you wish to look for any alternative option there will be no exit fees applied to your account.





Unfortunately we will no longer be offering the old DD system moving forward. We are now offering the winter and summer direct debit payment method."

esmer

So glad I looked on here for this, they have tripled my DD from when I moved to them. I mailed them this morning, but I am leaving them. Can be bothered now with these small companies. Rather just go to a bigger firm that have a decent customer service.

I went from 55 a month, to 75, to now a mail for 155.. do they just pull these numbers out of a hat?

I have not even been with them a 2 months.

Robochick

They increased my direct debit from £70 a month (and £220 in credit) to £122.75 .

After I complained and sent photos, they told me they would lower it to £98. 19 a month on 22 November.

Nonetheless they took £122.75 out of my account this past Monday (3rd December ) and this morning I got an email saying they were increasing my DD to £124.01. despite now being £250 in credit.

edit: Just switched to Avro - "Rates fixed for 12 months from supply start date." and Winter Payment (Nov - Apr) £72.00 Per Month

Summer Payment (May - Oct) £43.00 Per Month.

wild666

I move on the 14th, next friday, so if they take £102.09 from my account on the 4/1/19 I will immediately recall it. I had an email yesterday They are increasing my DD by over 100% from £50 to £102.09 from the 4/1/19

This is the email, minus various details


Payment schedule:

A Direct Debit payment is due in respect of the above Direct Debit Instruction for £102.09 and will be collected on, or just after, the 4th of January 2019. Further payments of £102.09 will then be collected on, or just after, the 4th of each month until further notice.

If any of the above details are incorrect, please call us as soon as possible on 0800 1032702 or e-mail us at [EMAIL="dd@outfoxthemarket.co.uk"]dd@outfoxthemarket.co.uk[/EMAIL]. However, if your details are correct you need do nothing and your Direct Debit will be processed as normal. For your information, the collections will be made using the reference above.

Should the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit change, we will notify you at least 10 working days in advance.

Yours sincerely,

Customer Services Manager
Outfox The Market

I have every email they sent me so will go through the lot to see when every increase took place. If their my energy use is correct then they say I have paid them for over 7000 units I haven't used, at least I think that's what the minus number means.
the readings go from 239 to -7,147 the following month, November, this company are totally inept as up until October from July I was giving them 3 readings every month, Total, Act 1 & Act 2.
Even I know what they have done incorrectly they had my opening reading correct after about 6 months when I just went to the IHD and gave them the reading total, I didn't know otherwise, I then emailed them and asked them to deduct the free time figure from a reading I had just given and thats when they started to use the Act 2 reading. They are worse than useless.

Robochick

Oh and theyve just refused to issue me with a credit refund and have told me they will still be taking DD on january

Steve456

Robochick wrote: »

They increased my direct debit from £70 a month (and £220 in credit) to £122.75 .

After I complained and sent photos, they told me they would lower it to £98. 19 a month on 22 November.

Nonetheless they took £122.75 out of my account this past Monday (3rd December ) and this morning I got an email saying they were increasing my DD to £124.01. despite now being £250 in credit.

edit: Just switched to Avro - "Rates fixed for 12 months from supply start date." and Winter Payment (Nov - Apr) £72.00 Per Month

Summer Payment (May - Oct) £43.00 Per Month.

Presumably you told your bank to reverse the last payment? They agreed a lower figure but did not do as promised. Simple!

Robochick

Steve456 wrote: »

Presumably you told your bank to reverse the last payment? They agreed a lower figure but did not do as promised. Simple!

This sounds ridiculous but that didn't even occur to me today. I didn't realise the higher amount had gone out on Monday until I got the email this morning saying they were increasing the DD again to £124, and I thought "!!!!!!? it was supposed to go down to £98". SO I checked my DD this morning and saw the £122.

I've just spent an hour on "chat" with adeem... :eyeroll:

I shall get hold of my bank now. Thank you