Scottish power - increase DD

50Twuncle

Scottish power have increased my monthly DD without my knowledge - are they allowed to do this ?
I am currently almost £180 in credit and that's without WHD payment !

brewerdave

50Twuncle wrote: »

Scottish power have increased my monthly DD without my knowledge - are they allowed to do this ?
I am currently almost £180 in credit and that's without WHD payment !

Not strictly - supposed to give you advance notice -if it causes you any financial pain then tell you Bank to recall as "unauthorised amount" HOWEVER, SP will probably get sh**ty with you - might be better to approach SP first.

Cardew

50Twuncle wrote: »

Scottish power have increased my monthly DD without my knowledge - are they allowed to do this ?
I am currently almost £180 in credit and that's without WHD payment !

They must notify you. However with SP you won't get a separate letter and any change to DD is normally(used to be!) shown in the small print on the bill; thus is easily missed.

cajef

I get an email asking for my readings from Scottish Power every three months, log into their site and your account and enter your readings they then give you a payment summary and balance and offer you an amended DD payment but you don't have to take it you can opt to stay on your present payment provided you are still in credit.

renegadefm

This is one of the things that scares me about direct debt. I had this happen to me by Scottish powers years ago.

Richie-from-the-Boro

They are allowed to increase DD.

Assuming you have self supplied regular meter reads. GoTo you online account, check your balance if it's being overpaid change it back instantly in your online account.

Best of luck.

cajef

No need to speak to anyone just log into your account it is all there in separate boxes, enter meter readings/change direct debit/view your bills etc. etc.

Simples.

veejay43

I have the same problem with SP and i am livid,

They must have set the initial payment too low, although of course they had the last reading from my previous energy supplier,who i was in credit with,i have been in credit with all previous suppliers and even got very good refunds

Thinking the DD sounded low i raised it myself by £15 a month. and now i am told i am over £300 in debt

This morning checking my bank i see they have taken £114 out, which because of other payments going out has left me with £60,

I did get a warning and rang up to ask why the DD had gone up so much,

I was told i had used more fuel then usual, well yes i have,it's winter and been very cold

I hardly used any extra gas especially in summer,and with previous energy companies it has been worked out so i pay the same amount all year round which has then covered extra fuel in winter

Scottish power said well your payments will change month to month

I am finishing with them when my contract finishes in May, as i can't have amounts like this going out of my pension,it has caused me a lot of anxiety,

I have put meter readings in .and can't understand why my usage and payments in summer have not covered this

veejay43

Bump, can anyone give me advice on this,i have been advised to report them to ofgem, which i think i will do

Richie-from-the-Boro

Report them, feel free my friend.

I and others have explained. If your account is in credit you can go to your online account and  instantly change the increase back. They like your good self are responsible for making sure you are in credit at all times. Clearly you did not build up enough credit over last summer to contribute to your winter energy costs if they won't let you refuse their increase.

For example I use 8500 kWh electricity per year. Divided by 12 months I pay for 709 kWh each of all 12 months of each year. I could reduce it in the summer and put it in a biscuit tin till the winter but choose not to bother. If you use the energy you owe for the energy. Look at your monthly bill it tells you how much you use, if you don't have enough income and can't reduce your use seek help and advice from someone who can help. Best of luck my friend.

SnowTiger

veejay43 said:

Bump, can anyone give me advice on this,i have been advised to report them to ofgem, which i think i will do

Ofgem will probably refer your complaint to your energy supplier.

https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/consumers/household-gas-and-electricity-guide/complain-about-your-gas-or-electricity-bill-or-supplier:

Ofgem’s role in gas and electricity complaints

We don’t have a direct role in dealing with individual disputes between customers and energy suppliers.

We collect information from a range of sources as part of our market monitoring activity, and keep the energy markets under review to ensure that all energy licensees comply with the law and their licence obligations. Where suppliers fail, we will act.