Scottish Power Quoting Insane Increase - Ripping people off during crisis

TRON

Been very lucky last 2 years as was on a very low tariff deal that found online in 2020. Current Fixed Tariff was called: Saver August 2022 Em1. Paying only £69 a month for both Electric and Gas on a 2 bed apartment. We barely need to use the heating in winter as the building is always over warm. We are always in credit on the account. 

Our yearly usage is estimated around £400-600 a year and we pay £69 a month on direct debit. This current tariff runs out on 31st August.

Just received this new quote as of end of the month, 1 year flexi fixed is all they are offering so is not even a fixed tariff.

The new quote is £1800+ a year and £156.93 a month direct debit.....I tried to speak to them on phone, just get bounced around departments who barely speak english and just repeat scripts while refusing to pass me to complaints or a supervisor/manager. 

It is a 100-125% increase on direct debit and 300% increase in estimated yearly usage compared to what we are paying now. The direct debit they are suggesting would not even cover the increase. 

This can't be right, Scottish Power is literally taking advantage of the energy crisis to take advantage of people for greed. End of. 

Thinking of cancelling direct debit and just refusing to pay. Is just disgusting. 

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDIT: 

Data pulled direct from Scottish Power for my usage sept 20 - sept 21. Separated gas/electric as they don't show them separate on website. 



I mean you also clearly see the huge increase to what they offer now compared to what I have been paying for two years is an insane leap in unjustified charges. 

New Offer: 



What I paying now....


    TRON said:

MWT said:

Look at your bills and you should be able to see the use in kWh on there, compare to a year ago and see how much you have used, but try to use bills with actual meter readings not estimates...

Do you provide monthly meter readings or perhaps you have a working smart meter?

Manual meter readings I photo and type in myself once a month. 

TRON said:

That is what is shown when going to renew as of today. 

This is the new quote. It doesn't give much information to break down and they are useless on the phone. 



EDIT: New quote and that one is now no longer available 10+ days after they offered it.

TRON said:

MWT said:

Look at your bills and you should be able to see the use in kWh on there, compare to a year ago and see how much you have used, but try to use bills with actual meter readings not estimates...

Do you provide monthly meter readings or perhaps you have a working smart meter?

Manual meter readings I photo and type in myself once a month. 

GingerTim

Remember that the direct debit total is not necessarily a useful comparison - you need to take your actual usage in kwh and work out how much you will pay from the unit rates. If you post your usage in the last 12 months and the tariff details then I'm sure some knowledgeable person on here will be able to advise how much you can  expect to pay.

MattMattMattUK

TRON said:

Been very lucky last 2 years as was on a very low tariff deal that found online in 2020. Current Fixed Tariff was called: Saver August 2022 Em1. Paying only £69 a month for both Electric and Gas on a 2 bed apartment. We barely need to use the heating in winter as the building is always over warm. We are always in credit on the account. 

Our yearly usage is estimated around £400-600 a year and we pay £69 a month on direct debit. This current tariff runs out on 31st August.

Just received this new quote as of end of the month, 1 year flexi fixed is all they are offering so is not even a fixed tariff.

The new quote is £1800+ a year and £156.93 a month direct debit.....I tried to speak to them on phone, just get bounced around departments who barely speak english and just repeat scripts while refusing to pass me to complaints or a supervisor/manager. 

It is a 100-125% increase on direct debit and 300% increase in estimated yearly usage compared to what we are paying now. The direct debit they are suggesting would not even cover the increase. 

This can't be right, Scottish Power is literally taking advantage of the energy crisis to take advantage of people for greed. 

This is correct, the pricing is likely right. Just because you do not understand the energy market does not mean it is "greed" or "ripping people off.

TRON said:

End of. 

Putting "End of" at the end of a statement does not make the preceding statement accurate. 

TRON said:

Thinking of cancelling direct debit and just refusing to pay. Is just disgusting. 

Refusing to pay for something you use is legally and morally wrong. Use less, pay for what you use, disconnect yourself from the grid if you do not want to pay. 

jimjames

If your fix is from 2 years ago then you will be paying MUCH higher rates than before. If the rise from April was 50% on the capped rate from pre APril plus then your increase will be very much higher.

But as above don't get fixated about DD amounts, look at the actual rates. You also don't have to take the fix, you can get a variable rate with the cap but that will increase again in Oct.

TRON said:

Thinking of cancelling direct debit and just refusing to pay. Is just disgusting. 

Entirely your choice but that will increase your payments and if you refuse to pay you'll be put on a prepayment meter with the debt added. Probably not a very sensible knee jerk reaction.

MWT

Nothing immediately leaps out as 'wrong' there, but some of your numbers don't match up..

You were paying £69/month which is £828 a year, not the £400-600 you say is estimated, so have you cut your use recently, and have you been building up a large credit on the account?

If the £828 is in fact accurate and you have not been building up a credit on your account, then a change to £1,883 a year when coming off of a low long term fix looks very plausible...

So can you give us your actual use over the last 12 months, not estimated readings, but actual readings?

If the estimated use is too high then you have something to work with, but if it is right then the rest looks believable.

TRON

That is what is shown when going to renew as of today. 

This is the new quote. It doesn't give much information to break down and they are useless on the phone. 

MWT

Look at your bills and you should be able to see the use in kWh on there, compare to a year ago and see how much you have used, but try to use bills with actual meter readings not estimates...

Do you provide monthly meter readings or perhaps you have a working smart meter?

TRON

MWT said:

Look at your bills and you should be able to see the use in kWh on there, compare to a year ago and see how much you have used, but try to use bills with actual meter readings not estimates...

Do you provide monthly meter readings or perhaps you have a working smart meter?

Manual meter readings I photo and type in myself once a month. 

Alnat1

What is the total annual use in kWh of both gas and electricity? We can't see all the usage figures from your graph.

EssexHebridean

TRON said:

It is a 100-125% increase on direct debit and 300% increase in estimated yearly usage compared to what we are paying now. The direct debit they are suggesting would not even cover the increase. 

Can you confirm what your previous annual usage was and what the new estimated annual use figure they are giving you is please - in kWh if you will - figures in £'s and p's mean nothing when it comes to this!  If for some reason they have suddenly started inflating the units you use per year in their estimates, and you have made no changes that would affect this, then have you asked them why the sudden increase in the annual use estimate? 

pochase

It says above that you are only £5.44 in credit in August. That means that most likely the £69 did not cover your usage and you were in debt after winter.

You should by now have a healthy credit in preparation for the next winter.

If you don't fix your cost of for electricity will go up by over 200% in October, gas will be over 300% more expensive. Further increases are predicted to follow in January.

Also expect a standing charge increase in the region of £150 per year depending where you live (region).

Without having the KWh usage for the last 12 months for gas and electricity I would already cay the £154 are far to low (or you are getting a brilliant fixed tariff). Just going from the lower increase of 200% you will be over £200 as a minimum.