Massive increase in direct debit from OVO

SiLondon

I moved to OV energy to take advantage of a fixed deal through Uswitch, using their calculators based on actual usage for one year. OVO came out top and my DD was fixed at £91.00. But having moved to them in late September - allied to the increase in costs, they informed me they were raising my DD to £394.00 pcm which is an incredible increase. I presume this is because I joined them in the Autumn and therefore usage has been higher for the past few months and that costs have increased. That said, my previous DD with my previous supplier was £181.00 pcm and I had a credit with them of over £700.00 at the time I switched (accrued over what period I don't know but more than enough to accommodate Winter usage).

What has really annoyed me is the fact that I called OVO to discuss this and to explain that, having joined immediately prior to the season in which most fuel would be used, there would obviously be a shortfall in DD terms until the warmer months but that presumably they would be happy to 'average' my payments. I requested that the DD be reduced (doubling it to £180.00) in line with my previous DD. The OVO rep said it couldn't be done or, if I insisted that they "would have to inform Experian". Clearly a less than veiled threat with my credit score at stake as a debt has accrued. I protested that this was bullying and threatening behaviour and that I wished to complain. Since then I have had a call from someone who couldn't help and an email re. usage but I asked someone to contact me re. the DD amount as it's a crippling sum. Presumably had I signed with them in the Summer they would have advised me that my DD was too much - I don't think so. I understand the system. Customers pay an average monthly amount but OVO do not appear sympathetic at all. They simply increase the DD to suit themselves.

emmajones1976

Well no, they simply increase the DD to a) account for rising prices, b) account for rising usage, c) to claw back a debit balance, usually caused by estimated readings, or d) a combination of any of those three.

Which applies here?

QrizB

Welcome to the forum.

SiLondon said:

I moved to OV energy to take advantage of a fixed deal through Uswitch, using their calculators based on actual usage for one year. OVO came out top and my DD was fixed at £91.00.

What is the name of your tariff, the unit and daily charge rates, and what annual consumption values did you use when getting your quote?

... allied to the increase in costs ...

If your tariff is fixed, the unit and daily charge rates won't have changed.

Have you been submitting regular meter readings? Have those readings been used for your bills? How much energy have you used so far on your OVO tariff?

SiLondon

To quote Which. 'Your energy company calculates your payments based on 12 months’ worth of gas and electricity usage, divided into equal monthly instalments.' OVO haven't in this case, they have based the DD amount on it being an eternal Winter. 

Robin9

As above @SiLondon can we have the consumption figures behind the £'s please

SiLondon

Thank you QrizB. The readings are from a Smart Meter installed at the point of supply. The plan is a two year 

2 Year Fixed Energy. Unit rate 6.71p per Kilowatt hourkWh for gas. Standing charge 24.88p a day.

I don't have old bills to hand as this applies to another property but I input actual usage when I switched using the Uswitch calculators. Hence the DDC figure of £91.00. 

. 

Robin9

From the OVO website you will have opening readings from September - and what are they today ?

QrizB

SiLondon said:

Thank you QrizB. The readings are from a Smart Meter installed at the point of supply. The plan is a two year 

2 Year Fixed Energy. Unit rate 6.71p per Kilowatt hourkWh for gas. Standing charge 24.88p a day.

I don't have old bills to hand as this applies to another property but I input actual usage when I switched using the Uswitch calculators. Hence the DDC figure of £91.00.

In which case, all I can suggest is that the estimated annual consumption figures you used when getting your quote from Uswitch were inaccurate.
You haven't given the full name or rates for your tariff, sadly, and OVO offered several different 2-year fixed rates in September 2021.