Unfair Direct Debit Increase

EssexHebridean

I'd be inclined to consider switching to paying by variable DD so you pay only for what you use at each bill. If you were to do that you'd want to keep a good track of what you thought you were using as the months rolled on, and also make sure you continue to set aside the relevant amount each month into savings so it was there ready to pay the bills when they arrive. You would also of course then be entirely justified in asking for a refund of your credit...in fact I have wonder if you cheerfully ask them to give you details of switching to that form of DD instead if they call again, and also mention in passing about the refund of credit, it might all go rather quiet if as seems possible they ARE trying to use customers as cash-cows. 

molerat

EllaRedRose said:

Carrera74 said:

This is crackers. My direct debit was reduced from 89 to 59 a month a few months ago despite having similar usage to yourself. I have just fixed and they wanted to keep my payments at 59 a month until my account is reviewed in November despite their quote showing fixing would mean 135 approx a month.  I have increased it via the online form and it has been accepted thankfully.  I'm already paying 40 a month towards arrears I got into a few years ago so don't want to go down that road again.  They are so hit and miss. When they reduced my payments I asked if I could use the difference towards my arrears. They said no?!  Crackers.

I thought it seemed a bit crazy but she seemed so sure she was right that I am doubting myself. I don’t want to end up owing a massive debt to them but I also don’t want to be having a larger credit than necessary. We are feeling the pinch like a lot of people at the moment.

She is sure she is right because the computer screen in front of her said so.  There is no independent thought involved.

BUFF

They must notify you at least 10 days ahead of a change in DD. https://www.directdebit.co.uk/direct-debit-explained/managing-direct-debit/ 

Under their licence they must set "fair and reasonable" debits. By the sounds of things you can clearly prove that their suggested amount is not.
 https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/

EllaRedRose

pochase said:

Here is the current SVT (not your region, but the differences are minimal) and the predicted new SVT. 



As you can see you are overpaying a lot just with the £179.

Thank you, my figures have come out the same which is reassuring. I think we have good reason to challenge the increase.

@EssexHebridean I will try and change to full monthly direct debit if it isn't sorted out. It does feel like they are wanting more money in their account than necessary! I am tempted to ask for the credit back and save it for the winter myself.

@molerat good point, computer obviously said no!

@BUFF that was my understanding, I seem to have a different idea to what is fair and reasonable to what they do.

QrizB

EllaRedRose said:

@EssexHebridean I will try and change to full monthly direct debit if it isn't sorted out. It does feel like they are wanting more money in their account than necessary! I am tempted to ask for the credit back and save it for the winter myself.

A few MSEers have switched to paying EDF the exact monthly bill by DD. It's not foolproof but seems to be the only way to get a monthly bill from EDF.

xzibit

Can you not just cancel your direct debit and go cash payment? Then you just pay for what you’ve used. 

Staffordian11

xzibit said:

Can you not just cancel your direct debit and go cash payment? Then you just pay for what you’ve used. 

Cancelling a direct debit and paying by other means will mean a higher tariff.

As others have said, one way to avoid the high regular payment resulting in a large credit building up is to remanin paying by direct debit, but switch to paying full monthly payments; i.e. they use monthly meter readings (via smart meter or supplied by customer) to issue a bill for the energy used.

QrizB

xzibit said:

Can you not just cancel your direct debit and go cash payment? Then you just pay for what you’ve used. 

Cash tariffs are more expensive than DD; roughly an extra £120/yr for the average user.

EllaRedRose

Just wanted to update that we received a reply from EDF this morning to our complaint and that they agreed to leaving the DD at £179.
They also apologised for the way the call centre advisor handled it and said that her manner did fall below the standards they expected etc etc
Thank you all for your advice 🙂

ClaireBear83Sx

I've just had similar from SSE.  On my bill issued today, I am £144 in credit on my gas and just under £100 in credit on my electric (bear in mind, I am a single person household who works full time) and that my gas usage compared to last year reduced 33% and my electric went up 3%.  Yet they wanted to up my gas payment by £6 and nothing on my electric?!  How do they work this out?!  I've gone online to drop the automatically changed DD but couldn't go any lower than £1 a month more than I have been paying.
I have no idea how they work this out.  It is ridiculous.