My direct debit has not gone up for gas/electric in last year or so.

Richburns

Our direct debit has been same and on same tariff which we assume is not variable, early in the year nearly fixed it but missed the good deals.
We take regular meter readings when requested, and as its summer are typically in credit to now.
My question really is, if they have not charged us correctly or not put us on right tariff since increases, can they back charge us?
If it is their error?

Regards

Rich.

dunstonh

Our direct debit has been same and on same tariff which we assume is not variable, early in the year nearly fixed it but missed the good deals.

It is best not to assume but to find out.   However, if you haven't entered into a deal then it is likely you are on the variable.   

My question really is, if they have not charged us correctly or not put us on right tariff since increases, can they back charge us?

You choose your tariff. Not the supplier.   
You choose your direct debit payment amount.  Not the supplier.   Suppliers may or may not suggest revised figures but it is your decision.

You are charged for your use.   Not the amount of the direct debit.   So, yes, they can and will charge you for energy you have used.

If it is their error?

There is no error by them.  There is no error by you either.   Just your choices and the consequences that go with your choices.

Section62

Richburns said:

My question really is, if they have not charged us correctly or not put us on right tariff since increases, can they back charge us?
If it is their error?

Have they billed you for the energy you've used?

The amount you have to pay, and the amount of your monthly direct debit, are not the same thing.

You have as much responsibility as the energy company to make sure the payments into your energy account are enough to cover the cost of what you use.

Alnat1

Have you received a bill recently? If so, are your readings confirmed or estimated? What tariff does your bill say you are on?

MWT

Richburns said:

We take regular meter readings when requested, and as its summer are typically in credit to now.

Check your most recent bill to confirm that they are actually using the meter readings you are giving them, and check the account balance shown on the bill to make sure you really are in credit...

if they have been accurately billing you as per your meter readings, but your DD has not been high enough so you have built up a debt then they have done nothing wrong and will expect you to clear the debt at some point.

If they have not been using your meter readings and have under-billed you as a result, then their ability to issue a catch-up bill is limited by the back-billing rules, but let's see what checking a recent bill reveals...

EssexHebridean

OP looking at your post it is well overdue that you start to get a grip on your energy supply and use - it's always been fairly important, although until recently a failure to do so will just have cost you more financially. Right now though, a lack of a handle on your situation could well mean you receiving bills which are - to you - entirely unexpected in a few months time, and worse than that, depending on your circumstances they could also be entirely unaffordable for you. 

My suggestion would be that you start taking - and submitting - meter readings once a month whether the suppliers request them or not. (and if you are on a smart meter, check once a month that what is being sent to the supplier is correct) 
You find out what tariff you are on - and what the standing charge & unit rates are on that.
You familiarise yourself with the expected current increases in costs for those on the SVR are likely to be come October, and then the further increase expected in January, and ensure that your DD is set correctly to ensure that you don't build a large debt once the increases take effect. 

pochase

What is the name of the tariff you are on? When have you gone on the tariff? 

If you have not made a change in the last 2 years it is almost sure you are on the variable tariff.

What is your annual usage and what are the rates you are currently paying?

If you believe you are on a fixed tariff why would you have nearly fixed in the beginning of the year.

Richburns

Sorry all, thanks for replies, posted this at start of holiday, WIFI issues etc and then logging in! 
We are on Eon next Next flex, which is variable, I had not looked to be honest before as to what was on, until recent rises, our bill/direct debit went up a lot when we got an inflatable hot tub during lockdown.
Currently £420 in credit to.  The bill says what have used and they have charged for but of course the DD is to high now its going in to credit as typically happens in summer months. 
I have never chosen a tariff or looked at until recent, rises, we do regular meter readings which are monthly pretty much as get email to ask to do so.
There is option to go to 12m fixed but is higher of course than the Next flex.

pochase

If your direct debit went up a lot due to the hot tub, and you are not using the hot tub any longer, of course the direct debit at the hot tub level is still sufficient at the moment.

We switched off the hot tub in January before our fix ended. The hot tub was well insulated with a hard cover. Just the pump running 24 hours was 1.5KWh, total estimated usage all year was 2500KWh to 3000Kwh.
 
At 14.6p that was slightly over 1£ a day and tolerable for us.

[Deleted User]

Richburns said:

Sorry all, thanks for replies, posted this at start of holiday, WIFI issues etc and then logging in! 
We are on Eon next Next flex, which is variable, I had not looked to be honest before as to what was on, until recent rises, our bill/direct debit went up a lot when we got an inflatable hot tub during lockdown.
Currently £420 in credit to.  The bill says what have used and they have charged for but of course the DD is to high now its going in to credit as typically happens in summer months. 
I have never chosen a tariff or looked at until recent, rises, we do regular meter readings which are monthly pretty much as get email to ask to do so.
There is option to go to 12m fixed but is higher of course than the Next flex.

So you are on a variable tariff and have paid for what you have used.  Not really sure what the problem is here.

If you stay on the variable tariff, then your unit prices will be going up soon (Oct and Jan at least) and the monthly DD might have to change. 

If you choose to go onto a fixed tariff, then you have chosen different (but fixed) unit prices and so the monthly DD might have to change.

Needs to be written in flashing lights on most of these posts - your direct debit amount is not your energy price, and changing the direct debit amount is not changing the price you are charged.

Richburns

Thanks, I am yeah on a variable, my first post was more as to why it had not increased in April when it first so say was to go up.  Then Martin Lewis was posting about tying to fix it as there was some so say good fixed deals then but if I had got one and been quicker off the mark it would still now be over £100 more than paying and be fixed for 12-18 months.

I guess that is my decision still to whether to fix now or not as the variable is likely to go up.

I understand how the DD works and that its not the price of the energy, not had any issues in over 10 years now.  I just had expected with it all in the news after April to go up.

Regards