Scottish Power Not Allowing Payment By Direct Debit

webbs3

My year fixed tariff with Scottish Power comes to an end on the 30th April 2022 at which point if I do not choose to go on another  SP 'Fixed Tariff' (everyone is currently being advised not too) they will automatically put me on a "Standard Tariff". I have been in touch with them by email & by phone to establish what the new rates will be (Elec & Gas kWh & Standing Charges), on each occasion I'm quoted higher than the OFGEM 'Average price cap unit rates Customer with typical usage, paying by direct debit'

I am currently paying at the end of each month using my credit card for the respective months actual usage, SP have named this "Receipt Cash Monthly"

I had a conversation with SP this evening to try & set up a Direct Debit,  it would appear that they will not allow their current customers who are currently on ‘Receipt Cash Monthly’ to switch to Direct Debit, in turn being charged at the reduced OFCOM Direct Debit prices. 

Scottish Power will only allow payment by Direct Debit on just 2 of their products (one being "green flexi may 2023”) the term is fixed for a year, the tariffs are naturally higher than the OFGEM Price Cap as a result. 

Alternative energy suppliers are currently not taking new customers.

What can I do to achieve the OFCOM Direct Debit price capped rates?:

Electric:

Day Unit Rate - 28p/kWh

Standing Charge - 45p/Day

Gas:

 Unit Rate -  7p/kWh

Standing charge - 27p/Day

EssexHebridean

Have you looked online to see if you can set up a DD that way? Some suppliers do have that as a way of doing it. I’m not convinced that SP are allowed to tell customers that they won’t allow them to pay by DD unless they take an expensive fix, but others will know more on that.

MovingForwards

I pay monthly by 'cash' (debit card), if I look at the available tariffs / options there is SVR on DD. 

Have you looked at your online account?

webbs3

facility to set up on line with SP not available, even their 'Chat'service says "SP must speak by phone to gain banking details

pochase

I agree that they cannot just stop you from paying by direct debit.

Where do you get the rates that you are quoting and want from? There is no capped gas rate of 7p. Cheapest region is 7.226 for direct debit payment for example using EDF price table.

You are aware that there is not just one capped rate, but that it is different for each region?

webbs3

No I was not aware the capped rates were different for each region. I got my figures as detailed on the OFCOM website:
https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/information-consumers/energy-advice-households/check-if-energy-price-cap-affects-you

Average price cap unit rates
Customer with typical usage, paying by direct debit*

	Last price cap period (1 October 2021 - 31 March 2022)	Current price cap period (1 April - 30 September 2022)
Electricity	£0.21 per kWh Daily standing charge: £0.25	£0.28 per kWh Daily standing charge: £0.45
Gas	£0.04 per kWh Daily standing charge: £0.26	£0.07 per kWh Daily standing charge: £0.27

webbs3

I failed to notice:
"*Rates are averages and will vary by region, payment method and meter type. Contact your supplier for personalised information."

I thought it applied across the whole country.

pochase

Just look up in the EDF table the rate for your region, there won't be a big difference from supplier to supplier, they are all charging as much as they can.

The two companies that will take on new customers on their SVT seem to be Octopus and EDF, but you need to call them.

anna42hmr

scottish power have a tarrrif information label online which you can check can be found here

https://www2.scottishpower.co.uk/tariff-information.process?execution=e1s1

just need to enter the post code, fuel type, meter type (eg standard, eco 7 etc) and payment method, then you need to select the "standard" tariff for each and it will give you the tariff for your area.