Calculation of Direct Debit

[Deleted User]

Hi,

your contract, that you agreed to, will tell you rates.

Robin9

Descrabled said:

...........

We used to receive a bill every month from our suppliers, in the good old days, before the SOLR process that we endured.  Now we receive bills every 6 months from our two suppliers....

Depends on your tariff but you can always ask for a statement.

Descrabled

I'm used to using spreadsheets and have no problem calculating my anticipated costs each month.

The problem with both these companies is that they know best.  Neither will allow customers to vary the direct debit.  They have their own algorithms to calculate consumption and hence the intended DD.

Our electricity used is abnormal because we have an EV and solar panels.  Very low in summer when we charge the EV midday and very high in December when there's little sun.

As pensioners we have the time, inclination, and historically have always budgeted carefully.  We're not short of a bob or two but we're careful with money.

I might add that, because of SOLR, we did not chose our suppliers or contracts. They were thrust upon us.

Both these companies are not enamoured with supplying monthly statements. Over the last ten years we've gotten used to receiving monthly bills.

I'm just saying that we know better than either EDF or BG what our costs and bills are likely to be.  We don't like nor intend funding their budget deficit.

Anyway rant over.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

you could maybe dump the DD and pay monthly based on your own spreadsheet calculations.

Descrabled

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

you could maybe dump the DD and pay monthly based on your own spreadsheet calculations.

I could but they would charge more. DD is the cheapest cap rate. Blame OFGEM

[Deleted User]

Hi,

maybe not, you could go on to variable DD, pay your monthly figure, then top up when they issue a bill.

victor2

When I managed an account with EDF, it was possible to get the DD amount changed via an online chat with them. I found it a little frustrating that they would only issue statements once every 6 months, but monitored the usage closely and knew the monthly costs, hence was able to suggest reasonable adjustments to the DD (up or down) and they always obliged. Moved the account away from them last year for a better fix with a supplier who survived the subsequent upheaval! Current supplier allows you to adjust the DD online, up to 10% below their own estimate of what it should be.

pochase

Descrabled said:

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi,

you could maybe dump the DD and pay monthly based on your own spreadsheet calculations.

I could but they would charge more. DD is the cheapest cap rate. Blame OFGEM

For EDF the variable debit order is called "Direct Debit Whole Amount" and has the cheapest rates.

Gerry1

You could try switching to Octopus (who have a far better billing system that EDF will also adopt) and choosing Variable Direct Debit.

You'd have to phone them and it may take more than one attempt, but very worthwhile because EDF's billing and customer service are both such a nightmare.