eon massively increased direct debit

kurtvonn

been on a 1 year fix for 6 months and am £223 in credit (obviously due spring/summer months). When took it out gave them our usage from last year and we haven't obviously increased our usage yet they have put up dd from £137 to £191 saying that by end of 12 months we'll have used £235 more than anticipataed, suggesting e.g. we'll use over £300 in December. Anyone else had this? Just looks like an excuse to sit on our money before they eventually refund the credit.

daveyjp

If you know your useage and your tarriff you can calculate if the amount you are paying is adequate.

If it is adequate don't agree to the increase.

dunstonh

As long as you have gone by the kWh for your usage and not your historic monthly payment you should be fine.

I had an attempt by bulb to increase mine despite me knowing my annual usage better than them (we have a high use device that is off for the summer months).   The average consumer doesn't know their use and the energy companies assume they are dealing with people like that.

[Deleted User]

When I was last with E.oN there used to be a facility on the website to allow customers to adjust the monthly DD payment (albeit, within certain parameters).

Exodi

You have the ability to change your monthly DD on E.ON's website.

If you are confident in your estimates, set your direct debit as you please.

E.ON were also suggesting mine should be about £20 a month higher virtually all of last year - ignored them and still ended the year in credit.

But as dunstonh said, their recommendations are for the average consumer who wouldn't be able to tell you their estimated usage.

greenguppie

kurtvonn said:

been on a 1 year fix for 6 months and am £223 in credit (obviously due spring/summer months). When took it out gave them our usage from last year and we haven't obviously increased our usage yet they have put up dd from £137 to £191 saying that by end of 12 months we'll have used £235 more than anticipataed, suggesting e.g. we'll use over £300 in December. Anyone else had this? Just looks like an excuse to sit on our money before they eventually refund the credit.

Over the years I've had experiences with a number of suppliers.
We were supplied by Eon at one time, but I don't recall experiencing this with them (but that was a long time ago and I'm not sure we were paying by DD back then)

Perhaps the biggest culprit (both in size of supplier who should know better, and variation) was with EDF who wanted to raise the DD after one bill, then lower it (below the original value) after the second, etc.  (they only billed every quarter back then)
A quick call following each notification meant they were happy to retain the original value in all cases. At the end of the 12M term, the final balance was very small.

I also have had a recent experience with a smaller supplier, admittedly over a non-occupied property, so the usage profile was not normal; it only had a sizeable consumption over winter to prevent it freezing. Unsurprisingly, at the end of the winter the account was in debit, but that evened out by the end of the contract.
Unfortunately, the DD revisions were computer generated using their standard algorithm. Again, they were happy to retain the original monthly value once it was explained, but the computer kept generating revisions, and so another email was needed on each occassion to stop it.(about every 2nd or 3rd monthly invoice). Again, the contract ended with near zero balance

I've had other suppliers who have never offered to change the monthly DD over the term, as do so many others it would seem who claim to end up with a huge debit or credit on their account. (according to posts on this site).

I've also had suppliers try to retain the previous monthly DD despite a new contract costing maybe 40% more than the one it replaced during these crazy times.

This will help.
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/
If you can construct a reasonable argument to change/not change the DD, I'm sure the supplier will oblige you.

(Symbio customers need not apply)


Edit:
Have now read the replies above and agree Eon is one of the few suppliers that actually allows you to set your own monthly payment via their online app/portal.

Robin9

kurtvonn said:

been on a 1 year fix for 6 months and am £223 in credit (obviously due spring/summer months)....

I assume the bills are based on the meter readings you have been providing.  The initial £137 suggests you are a heavy user. What consumption did you give Eon when you switched ?  What were your meter reads then and what are they now?

Robin9

@kurtvonn  Some suppliers have billing systems which can be difficult to understand and the online balance can mislead you.

Double check what the balance means ? It is possible that it shows all the DD's but not the energy used - result you think you are in credit but you aren't.

More details of your actual consumption please