Can SSE move me from a Variable Direct Debit to Monthly Direct Debit??

SofaPea

TheJackmans_1963 said:

I get my gas and electric from SSE, and have always had a quarterly variable direct debit, so I just pay for what I've used in that 3 month period via direct debit.  They emailed me last week to say that they are moving me onto a monthly direct debit to help me budget! and have set it at £68 for gas and £69 for electric. So that means I am paying for something I may not use.  Can they do this?  I've never been in arrears and am perfectly capable of managing my own budget!   Basically the email said if you don't like it move!!   I've been on some comparison sites but they all say they cannot move me at the moment due to the current situation, is this correct also?  I've tried ringing them but they say they are only taking emergency calls.  Any advice would be welcome.

We've had exactly the same and are the same as you, never been in arrears with them. They've given us less than 3 weeks notice of the monthly direct debits and the prices they want are extortionate in comparison to our use (even based on last winter when we put the heating on whenever we wanted). I rang them last week and said we'd leave if they enforced it, they emailed last night to confirm they were going ahead from 14th November so we have a phone call with another provider on sunday to switch over.

I think it's disgusting with the price of energy as it is that they can do this when you've never been a problem for them. I wouldn't even mind if they offered monthly pay for what you've used instead of quartly but they're adament. We always budget far more than we need per month for the bill then stick any extra left in savings and i'm not giving them the privaledge of having our spare money in their account instead of ours. There's only 2 of us in a 3 bed house and they want £314 per month for gas and electric. Extortionate in my opinion.

[Deleted User]

SofaPea said:

TheJackmans_1963 said:

I get my gas and electric from SSE, and have always had a quarterly variable direct debit, so I just pay for what I've used in that 3 month period via direct debit.  They emailed me last week to say that they are moving me onto a monthly direct debit to help me budget! and have set it at £68 for gas and £69 for electric. So that means I am paying for something I may not use.  Can they do this?  I've never been in arrears and am perfectly capable of managing my own budget!   Basically the email said if you don't like it move!!   I've been on some comparison sites but they all say they cannot move me at the moment due to the current situation, is this correct also?  I've tried ringing them but they say they are only taking emergency calls.  Any advice would be welcome.

We've had exactly the same and are the same as you, never been in arrears with them. They've given us less than 3 weeks notice of the monthly direct debits and the prices they want are extortionate in comparison to our use (even based on last winter when we put the heating on whenever we wanted). I rang them last week and said we'd leave if they enforced it, they emailed last night to confirm they were going ahead from 14th November so we have a phone call with another provider on sunday to switch over.

I think it's disgusting with the price of energy as it is that they can do this when you've never been a problem for them. I wouldn't even mind if they offered monthly pay for what you've used instead of quartly but they're adament. We always budget far more than we need per month for the bill then stick any extra left in savings and i'm not giving them the privaledge of having our spare money in their account instead of ours. There's only 2 of us in a 3 bed house and they want £314 per month for gas and electric. Extortionate in my opinion.

They do - it's called paying by cash rather than direct debit.  You'll pay more for the privilege as they will be taking on risk (and additional processing expense) on your behalf.

ariarnia

Chrysalis said:

ariarnia said:

Chrysalis said:

Deleted_User said:

Chrysalis said:

Deleted_User said:

Complaining that a company is not doing something that they do not have to do is unlikely to be successful.

Even less successful would be trying to charge them for you paying your bill in a less efficient manner (for which they are already allowed to charge you more).

In his case they not allowing him to pay by DD whilst not building up a credit balance, I would agree if the customer was simply refusing to pay by DD outright.

I think I remember been told in my dispute with Octopus, I was unlikely to succeed, yet it is possible.

But they don't have to "allow him to pay by DD whilst not building up a credit balance".  Complaining about it doesn't make it a requirement.

My advice follows CAB's recommendation.

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/energy/energy-supply/problems-with-your-energy-bill/energy-supplier-has-increased-your-direct-debit/

i can't see anything on there about variable dd?

to my reading its all about monthly direct debit and how you can complain if your supplier has increased your dd based on an estimate you disagree with. its completely right that the op can ask the supplier how they reached there estimate for his annual usage and monthly dd amount. and that the op can complain and ask them to reduce the dd if he disagrees with that estimate.  

i know it should be that dd is dd. but variable dd and monthly dd are different payment methods according to ofgem and the industry so that page isnt really relevant to the op's problem and sparky is right that complaining wont get the supplier to reinstate a payment method they no longer accept. like dolor says a credit card is a credit card but they can chose to accept some credit cards while not having to accept american express. 

realistically all a complaint will do is cost the supplier and op some time and the op will still have to decide if they want to stay or go.

Then ofgem has interpreted it in a very strange way. direct debit is direct debit, banks do not treat it any differently including the cost of the transaction.

I have scrapped the rest of the reply as I feel like I am running against the wind with the common opinion on here.

the banks might treat it the same but the admin process for the supplier is different. setting one dd rate and reviewing every 6/12 months is less work than reviewing every individual account every month. and having both systems running is more work than only one. so why not go for the one most use and that is less work?

and dolor has said how customers who normally have credit are less likely to go into debt and mean less cost on debt management with an unexpected winter bill. everyone coming on here might say they can budget fine but if someone is swapping to variable or quarterly because they can't afford there dd payment then they are also more likly to struggle to manage an unexpected bill (for energy or something else). 

thats nothing against anyone wanting to pay by variable for there own reasons. just saying as a business decision its not like you can't see why ovo would prefer to not have the extra work for a minority of customers and how they might be being pushed by ofgem to do what they can to reduce the risk of customer debt. especially at a time like this.  

SofaPea

Deleted_User said:

SofaPea said:

TheJackmans_1963 said:

I get my gas and electric from SSE, and have always had a quarterly variable direct debit, so I just pay for what I've used in that 3 month period via direct debit.  They emailed me last week to say that they are moving me onto a monthly direct debit to help me budget! and have set it at £68 for gas and £69 for electric. So that means I am paying for something I may not use.  Can they do this?  I've never been in arrears and am perfectly capable of managing my own budget!   Basically the email said if you don't like it move!!   I've been on some comparison sites but they all say they cannot move me at the moment due to the current situation, is this correct also?  I've tried ringing them but they say they are only taking emergency calls.  Any advice would be welcome.

We've had exactly the same and are the same as you, never been in arrears with them. They've given us less than 3 weeks notice of the monthly direct debits and the prices they want are extortionate in comparison to our use (even based on last winter when we put the heating on whenever we wanted). I rang them last week and said we'd leave if they enforced it, they emailed last night to confirm they were going ahead from 14th November so we have a phone call with another provider on sunday to switch over.

I think it's disgusting with the price of energy as it is that they can do this when you've never been a problem for them. I wouldn't even mind if they offered monthly pay for what you've used instead of quartly but they're adament. We always budget far more than we need per month for the bill then stick any extra left in savings and i'm not giving them the privaledge of having our spare money in their account instead of ours. There's only 2 of us in a 3 bed house and they want £314 per month for gas and electric. Extortionate in my opinion.

They do - it's called paying by cash rather than direct debit.  You'll pay more for the privilege as they will be taking on risk (and additional processing expense) on your behalf.

I asked if there were any other options except the monthly set rate direct debit and they told me no

[Deleted User]

SofaPea said:

Deleted_User said:

SofaPea said:

TheJackmans_1963 said:

I get my gas and electric from SSE, and have always had a quarterly variable direct debit, so I just pay for what I've used in that 3 month period via direct debit.  They emailed me last week to say that they are moving me onto a monthly direct debit to help me budget! and have set it at £68 for gas and £69 for electric. So that means I am paying for something I may not use.  Can they do this?  I've never been in arrears and am perfectly capable of managing my own budget!   Basically the email said if you don't like it move!!   I've been on some comparison sites but they all say they cannot move me at the moment due to the current situation, is this correct also?  I've tried ringing them but they say they are only taking emergency calls.  Any advice would be welcome.

We've had exactly the same and are the same as you, never been in arrears with them. They've given us less than 3 weeks notice of the monthly direct debits and the prices they want are extortionate in comparison to our use (even based on last winter when we put the heating on whenever we wanted). I rang them last week and said we'd leave if they enforced it, they emailed last night to confirm they were going ahead from 14th November so we have a phone call with another provider on sunday to switch over.

I think it's disgusting with the price of energy as it is that they can do this when you've never been a problem for them. I wouldn't even mind if they offered monthly pay for what you've used instead of quartly but they're adament. We always budget far more than we need per month for the bill then stick any extra left in savings and i'm not giving them the privaledge of having our spare money in their account instead of ours. There's only 2 of us in a 3 bed house and they want £314 per month for gas and electric. Extortionate in my opinion.

They do - it's called paying by cash rather than direct debit.  You'll pay more for the privilege as they will be taking on risk (and additional processing expense) on your behalf.

I asked if there were any other options except the monthly set rate direct debit and they told me no

That's because they are not supposed to advise you about a more expensive method, they are supposed to advise you about the cheaper methods - same principle as all the emails you used to get that would say "switch to direct debit and save £££"

pseudodox

"We've had exactly the same and are the same as you, never been in arrears with them. They've given us less than 3 weeks notice of the monthly direct debits and the prices they want are extortionate in comparison to our use (even based on last winter when we put the heating on whenever we wanted). I rang them last week and said we'd leave if they enforced it, they emailed last night to confirm they were going ahead from 14th November so we have a phone call with another provider on sunday to switch over.

I think it's disgusting with the price of energy as it is that they can do this when you've never been a problem for them. I wouldn't even mind if they offered monthly pay for what you've used instead of quartly but they're adament. We always budget far more than we need per month for the bill then stick any extra left in savings and i'm not giving them the privaledge of having our spare money in their account instead of ours. There's only 2 of us in a 3 bed house and they want £314 per month for gas and electric. Extortionate in my opinion."

Modern society with it's "want it now, pay later" has created this problem.  Too many people spend beyond their means, have no idea how to budget for foreseeable expenses and this has helped to escalate debt.  But those of us who CAN manage our own lives are now being tarred as as bad a risk as those who cannot. 

How many of the people who have always paid their bills on time, paid for what they have used, and know to expect higher winter bills come onto forums like this with financial problems?  I spent my working life in and out of low paid jobs and have nothing now except the state pension to live on day to day.  I have an essentials savings pot which I can dip into if I have an extra expense (like a big gas bill, or car repairs), but can no longer justify holidays, fancy gadgets, new clothes etc.  I am not worried about the future as belt-tightening is a way of life and I don't have to resort to food banks. I am happy with my lot as I am in control.  But for this self-management SSE/OVO want to take a big chunk off me every month, which will have to largely deplete my back-up pot.

SSE/OVO refuse to justify to me why the DD they have set up is for an amount that will cover double my pattern of usage for the past 15 years even at current & predicted prices.  Do they seriously expect I am about to start using MORE energy rather than make every effort to cut down on previous levels?  

pseudodox

I don't regard it as an energy company's responsibility to stop me getting into debt.  It is MY responsibility.  Nanny State/Big Brother has too much influence which perpetuates the inability to exert responsibility for oneself.

SofaPea

pseudodox said:

"We've had exactly the same and are the same as you, never been in arrears with them. They've given us less than 3 weeks notice of the monthly direct debits and the prices they want are extortionate in comparison to our use (even based on last winter when we put the heating on whenever we wanted). I rang them last week and said we'd leave if they enforced it, they emailed last night to confirm they were going ahead from 14th November so we have a phone call with another provider on sunday to switch over.

I think it's disgusting with the price of energy as it is that they can do this when you've never been a problem for them. I wouldn't even mind if they offered monthly pay for what you've used instead of quartly but they're adament. We always budget far more than we need per month for the bill then stick any extra left in savings and i'm not giving them the privaledge of having our spare money in their account instead of ours. There's only 2 of us in a 3 bed house and they want £314 per month for gas and electric. Extortionate in my opinion."

Modern society with it's "want it now, pay later" has created this problem.  Too many people spend beyond their means, have no idea how to budget for foreseeable expenses and this has helped to escalate debt.  But those of us who CAN manage our own lives are now being tarred as as bad a risk as those who cannot. 

How many of the people who have always paid their bills on time, paid for what they have used, and know to expect higher winter bills come onto forums like this with financial problems?  I spent my working life in and out of low paid jobs and have nothing now except the state pension to live on day to day.  I have an essentials savings pot which I can dip into if I have an extra expense (like a big gas bill, or car repairs), but can no longer justify holidays, fancy gadgets, new clothes etc.  I am not worried about the future as belt-tightening is a way of life and I don't have to resort to food banks. I am happy with my lot as I am in control.  But for this self-management SSE/OVO want to take a big chunk off me every month, which will have to largely deplete my back-up pot.

SSE/OVO refuse to justify to me why the DD they have set up is for an amount that will cover double my pattern of usage for the past 15 years even at current & predicted prices.  Do they seriously expect I am about to start using MORE energy rather than make every effort to cut down on previous levels?  

Totally agree with you, they've done the same to us, gone more than double last winter's usage and can't explain why. They only say that energy prices have gone up and when you say you know but why are they expecting us to USE twice as much as last winter? They can't answer.

You're right, those of us who budget to our means are penalised by those that can't and it's frustrating. That's why we're switching, I'll keep my extra money in my savings in case I need it for other things thanks very much instead of in their pocket and hard to get it back should we need it in an emergency.

[Deleted User]

pseudodox said:

"We've had exactly the same and are the same as you, never been in arrears with them. They've given us less than 3 weeks notice of the monthly direct debits and the prices they want are extortionate in comparison to our use (even based on last winter when we put the heating on whenever we wanted). I rang them last week and said we'd leave if they enforced it, they emailed last night to confirm they were going ahead from 14th November so we have a phone call with another provider on sunday to switch over.

I think it's disgusting with the price of energy as it is that they can do this when you've never been a problem for them. I wouldn't even mind if they offered monthly pay for what you've used instead of quartly but they're adament. We always budget far more than we need per month for the bill then stick any extra left in savings and i'm not giving them the privaledge of having our spare money in their account instead of ours. There's only 2 of us in a 3 bed house and they want £314 per month for gas and electric. Extortionate in my opinion."

Modern society with it's "want it now, pay later" has created this problem.  Too many people spend beyond their means, have no idea how to budget for foreseeable expenses and this has helped to escalate debt.  But those of us who CAN manage our own lives are now being tarred as as bad a risk as those who cannot. 

How many of the people who have always paid their bills on time, paid for what they have used, and know to expect higher winter bills come onto forums like this with financial problems?  I spent my working life in and out of low paid jobs and have nothing now except the state pension to live on day to day.  I have an essentials savings pot which I can dip into if I have an extra expense (like a big gas bill, or car repairs), but can no longer justify holidays, fancy gadgets, new clothes etc.  I am not worried about the future as belt-tightening is a way of life and I don't have to resort to food banks. I am happy with my lot as I am in control.  But for this self-management SSE/OVO want to take a big chunk off me every month, which will have to largely deplete my back-up pot.

SSE/OVO refuse to justify to me why the DD they have set up is for an amount that will cover double my pattern of usage for the past 15 years even at current & predicted prices.  Do they seriously expect I am about to start using MORE energy rather than make every effort to cut down on previous levels?  

Also attributable to what some have called the 'dumbing-down' of customer service.  The agents that you speak to at the call centre no longer have the knowledge (in many cases) or power (in almost all cases) to do anything other than say "this is what my system is telling me".

There are probably still people there somewhere who could actually explain the thinking, and could modify it when they discover that it's not working correctly in your circumstance - they're often reserved for the complaints resolution teams and things like that.

pseudodox

Why on earth would anyone who pays by variable quarterly bill & budgets for a higher winter bill get a surprise when that bill arrives?  I never had a surprise bill - I expect it to be higher in winter because sure as eggs our climate is colder in winter.  And happily lower in summer when I have certain other bills to pay like insurance, road tax,  car service/MOT/ repairs.  You can budget for the money or you can lower your usage.  It is so simple to check meter readings once a week & estimate how the expense is mounting up.  But instead we have allowed Big Brother to tell us we don't need to do that because a Smart Meter will do it.  So why are forums like these awash with problems with these Smart Meters?

I can afford to pay for my normal usage, even at higher prices, as I will tailor usage to my non-bottomless purse.  I cannot afford to deposit a large amount of my income with SSE that I will no doubt have to fight to reclaim if I need it for some other essential & real expenditure.