Outfox The Market Direct Debit changes

Billy_the_fish

paters wrote: »

editor1, when you signed up to OTM you agreed to their T&C and privacy policy, which authorises Bastian Plc Group to use your information.

Heres something that might be of interest.
I understand that companies share info between each other and also can sell certain info to marketing groups.

The day i signed up to OFTM, i sent an email advising OFTM that i wish for my info NOT to be used by any third parties or used/sold for marketing purposes.

They responded confirming my removal of my details from that particular database.

My DD has NOT been re-instated.

Billy_the_fish

It does seem many people are confused, angry, upset and generally have their back up regarding the situation with OFTM

I think to keep it simple so people can save energy (excuse the pun) on this matter, heres what i think should be happening with us customers....

A) Variable rate customer.
Not happy with price rises?
Not happy with new DD structure?
Find a new supplier ASAP and dont worry yourself as we change suppliers year on year anyway, and every so often we will come across a sinking ship.

If you dont mind their prices i.e. Still cheapest supplier and your comfortable with their DD structure then stay with them. Get a good price whilst you can or at least until they are not your cheapest supplier.




Fixed rate customers.

Happy with everything and can afford their new DD structure? Then crack on, soak up that cheap priced energy you have.

Not happy at all and want out, knowing you will pay more but can relieve yourself of the ensuing stress with OFTM? Then jump ship.


Not happy for what ever reason but have no intention of giving up a great deal, i.e. personal reason, financial reasons, mental illness, disability, layed off from work etc etc.... Then send in a letter/email of complaint. After 2 or 3 weeks if no reply, then send them another reminder complaint, telling them what it is your not happy with/complaining about, what you would like to resolve it and remind them of the 8 week deadline for resolve or deadlock. Inform them you have cancelled your DD (If you have done), ask them to take any further payments from credit (If you have credit) until complaint is resolved/dealt with and request for no Fee's/charges to be added to account whilst complaint is being dealt with.
Offer them a form of payment other DD if they can provide details for you to send payment (Of original DD amount of course)

I think this covers your backside in a few area's whilst leaving the ball firmly in their court.

Young and old are vulnerable this time of year, which pretty much covers most households, so theres another card to play should you wish to.

Be calm, be collected and just be patient if you've covered the above.

swindiff

Just got the email from. EDF asking for my opening meter reading. Soon be shot of these clowns ��

alittleowl

Barneybear1 wrote: »

@littleowl some people on here prefer to massage their egos by posting with the benefit of hindsight, apparently they know more now concerning direct debit mandates than your bank.

Thank you @Barneybear1. I am fairly new to these forums and have been surprised and saddened by the thankfully small minority of posters who seem to think that just because something has or hasn't happened to them that no other reality is possible. They don't contribute anything useful, they just attack people at random. Maybe they're just young and/or lack life experience. Or maybe they're just trolls with nothing better to do. Looking at the recent posts of @wavelets and @camelot1971 suggests that at least one of these things is the case. Anyway, thank you.

jaybeetoo

I don’t understand what OFTM are doing. I have a direct debit on my account and they’ve recently set up a second one. I now have two direct debits to OFTM. What are they playing at?

Steve456

jaybeetoo wrote: »

I don’t understand what OFTM are doing. I have a direct debit on my account and they’ve recently set up a second one. I now have two direct debits to OFTM. What are they playing at?

I would immediately cancel both and ask your bank to block any further attempts!

geoffplus

jaybeetoo wrote: »

I don’t understand what OFTM are doing. I have a direct debit on my account and they’ve recently set up a second one. I now have two direct debits to OFTM. What are they playing at?

Yes did similar to me over a week ago. Emailed them for an explanation, but obviously no reply. However, for me one is for OFTM the other for Fox Energy. Don't want to cancel as in the middle of switching and don't want to jeopardize the move. If they try and take from both I will be onto the bank pronto.

Thaiholls

My original fixed DD was £87 last paid in early Nov. Increase in late Nov to £122 taken last week the following day Email saying next in Jan would be £140 Having read several things about people cancelling DD and OFTM re instating it at the new price. So looked at my DD online banking, guess what the original DD of £87 was last taken in Nov with a status of monthly then cancelled by OFTM new DD for £122 created by OFTM late Nov and taken last week but shows a status of " no status" therefor not regular, guess because they will now cancel that one to create a new one for £140 ready for Jan. The thing is, with utility bills the supplier just amends the amount NOT cancel an existing one and start a new one. Looks to me that something very dodgy is owing on, perhaps putting funds into different accounts with the same supplier name, so are they subsidising one company from another, to keep them going as they have several trading names.

wild666

Steve456 wrote: »

I would immediately cancel both and ask your bank to block any further attempts!

I emailed my bank and they claimed OFTM can set up any cancelled DD as they have your mandate to set up the DD so all you can do is keep cancelling them and keep checking and recalling any payments they claim you owe them.

jk0

I have a new DD set up on 4th Dec, but no sign of the previous one. (I have not stopped any.) There would be no need for a new direct debit if it's the same account receiving the cash. The whole point of direct debits is that they are variable.


I think it's what I suggested a few pages back. I think OFTM have been taken over by someone else, as they were unable to continue. That's why the price just rocketed, and new direct debits appear.


BTW, if anyone's online banking app is able to see the account details of outgoing direct debits, it would be interesting to see if the account no. just changed.