Direct debits

patkin10

Ever since I joined Ovo, with a fixed rate contract, it's been a battle to stop them increasing my direct debit. My actual usage is less than I estimated when I joined them so I should get a decrease, not an increase.
To help control the direct debt I would like Energy companies to print on the bill the estimated usage they are using to calculate the direct debit and the actual usage in the last 12 months.
Could MSE pull some strings to make this happen?

brewerdave

patkin10 said:

Ever since I joined Ovo, with a fixed rate contract, it's been a battle to stop them increasing my direct debit. My actual usage is less than I estimated when I joined them so I should get a decrease, not an increase.
To help control the direct debt I would like Energy companies to print on the bill the estimated usage they are using to calculate the direct debit and the actual usage in the last 12 months.
Could MSE pull some strings to make this happen?

Looked back at bills/statements from my last 6 gas and leccy suppliers - they all have the assumed annual consumption listed on the statements. I thought it was a requirement laid down by OFGEM ?

Robin9

Does your bill not show something like my EDF does ?

"Annual consumption (based on estimates) 3,717 kWh"

Mstty

Even if you are using less energy than you predicted because of the price cap increase it's likely you will still be paying much more each month.

pochase

Mstty said:

Even if you are using less energy than you predicted because of the price cap increase it's likely you will still be paying much more each month.

As @patkin10 says he is on a fixed rate there should be no rate increase.

Or are you on a fix that will end in the near future @patkin10 ?

Robin9

patkin10 said:

Ever since I joined Ovo, with a fixed rate contract, it's been a battle to stop them increasing my direct debit. 

Is the DD (over the period of a year) actually covering the cost ?

Troytempest

Had the same with OVO, even tried to increase when £400 in credit and on fix until October.

Spoke to Customer Services Director and told him I was not prepared to fund OVO at my expense. Not had any more attempts to increase and still £200 in credit going into summer - bunch of chancers!

Mstty

Very true @pochase is it likely this is an "all you can eat buffet" misunderstanding.

Perhaps if the OP provides yearly energy usage and the prices per kWh they are being charged and what credit they have built up on the account we might be able to help.

As well as their current monthly DD amount👍

facade

My Octopus bill shows the estimated annual usage for gas & electricity- but it is different every month, and is falling as Summer approaches, it seems far too low to me at the moment. I have 10 years worth of yearly figures, and unless they are factoring in substantial global warming this Winter it is about 25% low.

I'd love to know what formula they are using, they have 12 months historical data from me, even without pulling down previous years from the suppliers at the time.

wild666

My yearly bill will be around £800 estimated by Octopus but I know it will be less due to me using less by turning off everything that's not in use and some days staying in bed until mid day that alone save about 2 kWh on the days I'm not up until 12 pm or later.

Uzima

I have also been battling with OVO. Mostly they no longer reply. I would guess they are in trouble.....
Is there any legal basis for an energy company to take an enforced loan from DD paying customers? 
My usage is about £80 pcm at present, reduced by fitting a solar array. But my DD remains at £190. I am £330 in credit.
But OVO won't consider a refund until I am £550 in credit! Of course they say I am paying in advance for next winter's bills, but what other service provider gets away with charging in advance for a hypothetical future bill?
My contract is variable/ open, not a fixed 12 month deal.