Outfox the Market incompetently or fraudulently continuing to take D/D payments

bzd

markharding557 wrote: »

Cancel the direct debit! This is not needed once you have left, it is not used (they work one way only) for refunds contrary to what some say.
You don't need to pay anything until they produce the final bill based on the readings from your new supplier.


I doubt OFTM have committed fraud but are they incompetent? In my experience with them,very much so!

This is probably good advice, thanks. I'd thought the D/D needed to remain in place for final payment (ha, they'll have half my money by then!) or to credit the account.


The next D/D isn't due until February so I'll see what the bank does over the next few days before cancelling, but I suspect the bank will cancel it if it's being (deliberately or accidentally) abused.


Cheers

Flt._Lt._Biggles

bzd wrote: »

This is probably good advice, thanks....

Well it coicides with what you wanted to hear, as it coincides with what you have already attempted

What's the worst that can happen?
A failed payment additional charge for each failed payment, and you having to pay what, if anything, you owe according toi the final bill.

My advice is not to agree to pay by DD if you have all these issues with agreeing to do so. Life's too short...

bzd

Flt._Lt._Biggles wrote: »

Well it coicides with what you wanted to hear, as it coincides with what you have already attempted

What's the worst that can happen?
A failed payment additional charge for each failed payment, and you having to pay what, if anything, you owe according toi the final bill.

My advice is not to agree to pay by DD if you have all these issues with agreeing to do so. Life's too short...

It coincides with what I wondered, but not with what I've attempted (otherwise I'd've cancelled the D/D immediately I was being supplied elsewhere). I'm still reticent until I've heard back from the bank, or from OtM now they know I know they know my final meter reading!



Having thought about it, one or two £25 failed payment charges are, to many people (including me), a significant amount. They may well end up on credit reports as failed/missed payments too (whether they were needed for the final bill or not).



D/D reduces utility bills by another significant amount and is highly encouraged by the energy suppliers. I haven't had a single issue with D/D before this which is why I'm surprised at how poorly OtM have behaved.


I don't have an issue with D/D but I do have an issue with continuing to pay for nothing when payment shouldn't be being taken (for a period of 8 weeks anyway).

Flt._Lt._Biggles

bzd wrote: »

It coincides with what I wondered, but not with what I've attempted ...

Is that so...?

With respect, may I remind you what you posted only 5 hours previously

bzd wrote: »

...
I've been in touch with my bank to get the January D/D payment refunded (not heard back yet)....

:cool:

bzd

of course you may!

I've asked for a DD payment to be refunded. I haven't cancelled the DD which is what was being suggested.(and which I could do instantly online myself). I assume the DD itself remains in place unless the bank decides to cancel it.

Does anyone know how long a non-switching customer would expect to wait to receive a credit balance back when requested?

jk0

bzd wrote: »

Does anyone know how long a non-switching customer would expect to wait to receive a credit balance back when requested?

With certain companies... for ever.

Vortigern

bzd wrote: »

I assume the DD itself remains in place unless the bank decides to cancel it.

No. The bank will not decide to cancel the DD. You can cancel it, or OTM can cancel it.

If you are sure that you will have a credit balance with OTM when they eventually produce your final bill, you can cancel the DD. You must tell OTM that you've cancelled the DD otherwise they'll try to collect another payment.

TransmitThis

Vortigern wrote: »

You must tell OTM that you've cancelled the DD otherwise they'll try to collect another payment.

Even if you Cancel the DD,
Tell them as much,
They even inform you it's cancelled,
STILL they try to take out a further payment.

Just today received a failed DD Payment email from them

• Date 25 Dec 2019 - Switched to Peoples Energy
  
• Date 26 Dec 2019 - Fox Account £3.00ish in credit
  
• Date 27 Dec 2019 - Fox outrageous DD taken out £291.63
  
• Date: 20 Jan 2019 Me - I have switched from you, DD canceled. Account in credit, final bill and refund please.
  
• Date: 23 Jan 2019 Just a quick note to remind you that it’s time for your monthly meter reading.
  
• Date: 23 Jan 2019 We are writing to advise you that your Direct Debit collections have been cancelled.
  
• Date: 30 Jan 2019 We are writing to advise you that your original Direct Debit was returned unpaid by your bank.

When a company is this bad It almost shifts my entire view on humanity.

Carltonbp

TransmitThis wrote: »

Even if you Cancel the DD,
Tell them as much,
They even inform you it's cancelled,
STILL they try to take out a further payment.

Just today received a failed DD Payment email from them

• Date 25 Dec 2019 - Switched to Peoples Energy
• Date 26 Dec 2019 - Fox Account £3.00ish in credit
• Date 27 Dec 2019 - Fox outrageous DD taken out £291.63
• Date: 20 Jan 2019 Me - I have switched from you, DD canceled. Account in credit, final bill and refund please.
• Date: 23 Jan 2019 Just a quick note to remind you that it’s time for your monthly meter reading.
• Date: 23 Jan 2019 We are writing to advise you that your Direct Debit collections have been cancelled.
• Date: 30 Jan 2019 We are writing to advise you that your original Direct Debit was returned unpaid by your bank.

When a company is this bad It almost shifts my entire view on humanity.

Similar to me. I went on chat, got told they hadn't received my final reading. Told them they had several times (I had confirmed this with my new company) so he went and checked. And of course they had received it. So he cancelled the next DD, did a final bill and confirmed the amount to be refunded within the next 14 days. So really good service from him but I do wonder if they're playing games with saying they haven't received the final reading, Moral of the post, go on chat and tell them to double check as to whether they have the final reading.