Anyone else feeling a little sick right now

pochase

Variable direct debits are often justified to be recommended when

- users pay currently by bill as they budget anyway already
- users wanting to cancel the direct debit and pay by bill. Same budgeting problems, but it would be 7% more expensive
- users who have reduced their energy usage and the supplier does not want to decrease the fixed direct debit. 

The I don't want to see my money in the suppliers account are point 2 above and most likely the ones that will create problems in future. I think it is still justified, as the problems will be the same, just 7% higher if it not variable direct debit.

elsien

I don’t like variable DD but my new tariff doesn’t give the option of a fixed one at the moment. I’m not on a ridiculously tight budget as yet but I like my monthly amount going out and averaging out over the year. Yes it sits in their account when it may not need to, and you can virtually budget or put it in another account, or what ever but that doesn’t work for me. I just prefer it’s gone to the energy company and out of the way then I know it’s accounted for. 

QueenJess

I’m on variable DD and love it. I am happy to budget this out for myself and have been buying/saving for other bills that occur in winter in the summer months for me (eg insurance) so I have more to spare in the winter.

I really hate the fixed DD as for us they are a complete work of fiction and so far from reality it is ridiculous. I got sick of arguing with energy companies about why they decide my energy requirements increase by 5-10% a year when clearly they have not changed for years. Last time I read my meter slightly late they guessed my bill would have been twice what it actually was… I have no idea where they make this stuff up from. I’m not sure if it is just us or if it applies to all. It might be because we are electric only and have a heat pump in an ultra insulated, triple glazed house and for some reason they can’t cope with how our energy requirements change in the year or that it is different from the average.

BUFF

elsien said:

I don’t like variable DD but my new tariff doesn’t give the option of a fixed one at the moment. I’m not on a ridiculously tight budget as yet but I like my monthly amount going out and averaging out over the year. Yes it sits in their account when it may not need to, and you can virtually budget or put it in another account, or what ever but that doesn’t work for me. I just prefer it’s gone to the energy company and out of the way then I know it’s accounted for. 

I recently moved to Green Energy UK who currently don't offer Fixed Direct Debit for new customers (apparently after 6 months track record with them they can). I have spoken to 2 different advisers & they are quite happy for me to simulate Fixed Direct Debit & build up a buffer before winter by manually overpaying my monthly invoice (I'll be doing it by CC for added protection just in case).

chris1973

Evan3020 said:

My neighbours light their garden all night with about 20 bulbs (not solar)

People spend / waste money on all manner of things. The cost of one appointment to have their lashes glued or nails gelled will probably keep those lights burning for 2 or 3 months, and of course by that time, the nailbar has been visited several more times.  What is complete waste of time and money to one person is a necessity to another.

Equally, there are always cars two deep at one expensive local petrol station, whilst 400 yards up the road another petrol station which is 6p a litre cheaper, struggles for customers, purely because its outside of the Town. Poverty clearly not overtaken convenience yet, however poor you think everyone is.

Live and let live eh?

jackieblack

SlinkyWeevil said:

We will be looking to try and reduce our consumption further, but one big concern I have is whether we will see an influx of reptiles being dumped because people cannot afford to keep their heating and lights on.  We have 3 who require heating and UV lighting 12 hours a day and there is no way round that unless we were to rehome them. 

I’ve heard that’s already happening, along with people being forced to give up  cats/dogs/other pets as they can no longer afford to feed them 😢

Mstty

jackieblack said:

SlinkyWeevil said:

We will be looking to try and reduce our consumption further, but one big concern I have is whether we will see an influx of reptiles being dumped because people cannot afford to keep their heating and lights on.  We have 3 who require heating and UV lighting 12 hours a day and there is no way round that unless we were to rehome them. 

I’ve heard that’s already happening, along with people being forced to give up  cats/dogs/other pets as they can no longer afford to feed them 😢

We have heard a lot about this as well, mind you a lot of people should not have pets to start with as they could never afford for their care anyway.

I suspect we will have two new additions to the household soon as we won't be able to resist if we pop along to the local charity shelter.

fryedslyce

Things are only really bad when people start eating their pets.

pennypincher64

It's a worry now, but when does it end? I do t know if it'll truly go back down. If you have people buying a cupcake at 50p after you'd been selling at 10p, why would you ever sell at 10p again? The biggest thing is action. We have to start self-generating energy at scale.

casjen

I dont feel sick at all.... the only person responsible for your life is you yourself...  All this blame them... blame the gov...blame Russia is just an excuse for making little or no effort in running your own life. The sick and infirm and genuinely helpless I feel sorrow for. Anybody else tough......deal with it