Exact Monthly Payments

Cordie

If I changed to direct debit exact payment would it make it harder for me to change suppliers when deals start appearing again.  I haven't got a smart meter and am not keen on getting one but with EDF you can send readings in every month. I haven't seen this option before so I'm assuming it's relatively new.

MorningcoffeeIV

Cordie said:

If I changed to direct debit exact payment would it make it harder for me to change suppliers when deals start appearing again. .

No.

It's a very common payment method, but it wouldn't prevent switching even if your new supplier doesn't offer it.

Even easier with a smart meter.

MattMattMattUK

Cordie said:

If I changed to direct debit exact payment would it make it harder for me to change suppliers when deals start appearing again.

If would not cause you any difficulty in changing supplier.

Cordie said:

with EDF you can send readings in every month. I haven't seen this option before so I'm assuming it's relatively new.

EDF have offered it for years, some suppliers offer it, some do not, so you would need to keep that in mind when switching if it is something you wish to keep doing.

Cordie said:

I haven't got a smart meter and am not keen on getting one

Can I ask why? Getting one would make your life easier, does not cost you anything (at least directly) and many suppliers will insist upon one if you switch to them, and ultimately you will be required to have one fitted regardless. 

Cordie

MattMattMattUK said:

Cordie said:

If I changed to direct debit exact payment would it make it harder for me to change suppliers when deals start appearing again.

If would not cause you any difficulty in changing supplier.

Cordie said:

with EDF you can send readings in every month. I haven't seen this option before so I'm assuming it's relatively new.

EDF have offered it for years, some suppliers offer it, some do not, so you would need to keep that in mind when switching if it is something you wish to keep doing.

Cordie said:

I haven't got a smart meter and am not keen on getting one

Can I ask why? Getting one would make your life easier, does not cost you anything (at least directly) and many suppliers will insist upon one if you switch to them, and ultimately you will be required to have one fitted regardless. 

I'm already as careful as I can be with my electricity usage I really don't want to know the exact amount it is costing me every time I make a cup of tea and I know I would be compelled to look.  Also my meter is in an awkward position and I'm guessing that's likely to cause complicatons.

I've been using this site for years and I still don't know how to use the 'quote' function so that I only quote the section I need.

armith

I have just moved from SSE/OVO to EDF for the same reason as you - SSE/OVO stopped doing the pay-for-what-you-use. I had to call up EDF to switch because there was an error with the electricity meter registration on the central database. EDF simply asked what payment method I wanted to use, I said "variable direct debit" and they were fine, no questions at all. The only issue is that if I forget to provide a reading EDF will automatically debit £50 to cover my gas bill for that month.

The only issue we will have is if one of the "fixed direct debit only" companies comes up with an unbeatable 12/18/24 month offer. For me it would have to be a very good offer indeed to tempt me to switch.

As for smart meters. My electricity meter is smart and my gas is dumb. The explanation I was given when the electric meter was that the gas meter was in the wrong position to get a good enough mobile phone signal to send readings. I suspect it was because it took two hours to fit the electric meter (three times) and he had another job to go to! When I got the electric smart meter it sat on the fridge and I was glued to it. Every time the kettle went on it went red. My wife's solution to this has been to unplug the display unit, open the draw in the spare room and pop it in there. Now we (she) can boil kettles, leave lights on, run the indoor heated propagator etc without the meter ever showing red!

I'm happy with the smart meter and I'm going to see if EDF can convert my gas meter to be smart too. It saves having to remember to read the meter each month and provides truely accurate usage. If EDF are anything like SSE I'll get a statement each month and the money will go out a few days later. If anything is amiss I'll have several days to query it with them.

Cordie

Unfortunately armith I have got someone sensible like your wife in the house to stop be becoming obsessive. I've just found out that EDF are no longer offering the option of payment by variable quarterly direct debit that's why I have been moved to variable monthly payments.   I hadn't realised the move wasn't optional I thought they had made a mistake.

[Deleted User]

Cordie said:

Unfortunately armith I have got someone sensible like your wife in the house to stop be becoming obsessive. I've just found out that EDF are no longer offering the option of payment by variable quarterly direct debit that's why I have been moved to variable monthly payments.   I hadn't realised the move wasn't optional I thought they had made a mistake.

All businesses have the right to change their terms and conditions. You can either stay and accept the change (so it becomes a mutual variation of contract) or you can ‘ditch and switch’ if you do not like the change.

Spoonie_Turtle

Cordie said:

MattMattMattUK said:

Cordie said:

If I changed to direct debit exact payment would it make it harder for me to change suppliers when deals start appearing again.

If would not cause you any difficulty in changing supplier.

Cordie said:

with EDF you can send readings in every month. I haven't seen this option before so I'm assuming it's relatively new.

EDF have offered it for years, some suppliers offer it, some do not, so you would need to keep that in mind when switching if it is something you wish to keep doing.

Cordie said:

I haven't got a smart meter and am not keen on getting one

Can I ask why? Getting one would make your life easier, does not cost you anything (at least directly) and many suppliers will insist upon one if you switch to them, and ultimately you will be required to have one fitted regardless. 

I'm already as careful as I can be with my electricity usage I really don't want to know the exact amount it is costing me every time I make a cup of tea and I know I would be compelled to look.  Also my meter is in an awkward position and I'm guessing that's likely to cause complicatons.

I've been using this site for years and I still don't know how to use the 'quote' function so that I only quote the section I need.

That's the IHD, not the smart meter.  Once it's all set up and the installer is gone you can unplug the IHD and put it in a drawer, or in the loft, or even in the bin (but that's a waste - maybe bury it in the garden in a bag so it's usable for the next inhabitant) and you never have to look at it.

Or you could simply scroll off of the costs page and onto the usage page.

With the quote function, you type what you need to then click/tap back inside the quote and delete what you don't need.

macman

If your meter is in an awkward position to read then surely a smart meter will be of great benefit to you?
There's no requirement to look at or even connect the IHD.

Cordie

My guess is EDF are no longer offering variable quarterly monthly payments in the hope that people will get bored having to submit meter readings every month.  Thanks all for your input.

Scot_39

Cordie said:

... my electricity usage I really don't want to know the exact amount it is costing me every time I make a cup of tea and I know I would be compelled to look.  Also my meter is in an awkward position and I'm guessing that's likely to cause complicatons.

I've been using this site for years and I still don't know how to use the 'quote' function so that I only quote the section I need.

"the op didn't type this"

If the meter is an awkward position for you to read - Smart might be a useful upgrade then - as they report readings daily or half hourly if want best deals - to supplier.

People for instance have been paid upto £3 / kWh for energy savings at peak on high demand days.

And as others say - it's probably going to happen anyway - suppliers that used to have stocks of older meters - now have a lot less - and are legally allowed to fit smart (unless a really good reason not to) when old meters go end of life.

A few of the cheapest tariffs right now in practice - at least during the falling market - are actually fully smart TofU tariffs - where the rate changes every 1/2 hour etc.

Quote

The quote button - copies the whole post - but the forum will often truncate long ones - but you can edit it - which is open I guess to abuse see "the op didn't type this" or the deletion of "I'm already as careful as I can be with" in theory - but then the OP can report that if it offends.

Another way is just to copy / paste a section of text - and then use the quote format - for some reason twice to really make it stand out - but then I don't get the OP tag e.g.

I've been using this site for years and I still don't know how to use the 'quote' function so that I only quote the section I need.

I haven't quite gotten to @MattMattMattUK level so as get that "OP said" every section though.

Perhaps he can let us know.