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Direct debit collection fee?

Hi everyone.

Just had my first bill through from Octopus energy after being moved from Bulb, and find they've charged me £3 for 'Direct debit collection' ? What the?
Has anyone else come across this?

I was told all direct debits would be transferred from Bulb seamlessly, and nowhere was anything mentioned about a charge. 

I've always paid my electric bills by direct debit for the last 15 years, and any time I've swapped suppliers, not once have I been charged anything for a direct debit switch.
I've emailed Octopus energy, but so far, no reply.
I was told, and according to their site, that customers were rewarded for paying by Direct Debit, not penalized!

Ray

Comments

  • A “Direct Debit Collection” is not a separate charge, it is the term Octopus is using to show they have “Collected” your direct debit.

    In other words, £3 is the amount that they have taken from your account by direct debit.
    Moo…
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,654 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    Akanaten said:
    It's alright... I've gone to the back of the class:)

    Jeez... what a first post?   :blush:

    Well if it makes you feel any better your second post has just made me laugh - well done for being graceful in a moment of clearly feeling like an absolute numpty! (And we've all been there at least once, so don't worry about it!) 
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,129 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    More importantly, how do you manage to get a bill for only £3?!
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • EssexHebridean
    EssexHebridean Posts: 24,654 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper Photogenic
    macman said:
    More importantly, how do you manage to get a bill for only £3?!
    For a couple of years my gas DD was £1.50 a month. And even then, they still used to have to refund me a bit of credit annually, they just couldn’t set it any lower! 😆
    🎉 MORTGAGE FREE (First time!) 30/09/2016 🎉 And now we go again…New mortgage taken 01/09/23 🏡
    Balance as at 01/09/23 = £115,000.00 Balance as at 31/12/23 = £112,000.00
    Balance as at 31/08/24 = £105,400.00 Balance as at 31/12/24 = £102,500.00
    Balance as at 31/08/25 = £ 95,450.00
    £100k barrier broken 1/4/25
    SOA CALCULATOR (for DFW newbies): SOA Calculator
    she/her
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