British Gas not allowing MVDD

FiestaRed

Not sure if Martin or any of his staff read these posts but as a British Gas customer on their 'New Platform' I am not allowed to pay for my energy by Monthly Variable Direct Debit while those still on the old system can pay this way.

I have spent the last six months trying to get British Gas to allow myself and thousands of other customers that have been moved to the 'New Platform' to pay our energy bills by the MVDD method and the only answer ever offered is that the new system is not yet able to do this. Meanwhile, myself and others on the 'New Platform' are paying a fixed direct debit and allowing British Gas to reap all the interest on this money in their bank account.

Why can't we get something done?

mmmmikey

One option open to you is to vote with your feet and change suppliers to one that can do what you want - e.g. both Octopus and EDF allow this payment method and possibly others.

[Deleted User]

FiestaRed said:

Not sure if Martin or any of his staff read these posts but as a British Gas customer on their 'New Platform' I am not allowed to pay for my energy by Monthly Variable Direct Debit while those still on the old system can pay this way.

I have spent the last six months trying to get British Gas to allow myself and thousands of other customers that have been moved to the 'New Platform' to pay our energy bills by the MVDD method and the only answer ever offered is that the new system is not yet able to do this. Meanwhile, myself and others on the 'New Platform' are paying a fixed direct debit and allowing British Gas to reap all the interest on this money in their bank account.

Why can't we get something done?

All businesses are free to set their paying methods - why should energy suppliers be any different? As above, if you don’t like what is on offer then ‘ditch and switch’.

born_again

FiestaRed said:

Not sure if Martin or any of his staff read these posts but as a British Gas customer on their 'New Platform' I am not allowed to pay for my energy by Monthly Variable Direct Debit while those still on the old system can pay this way.

I have spent the last six months trying to get British Gas to allow myself and thousands of other customers that have been moved to the 'New Platform' to pay our energy bills by the MVDD method and the only answer ever offered is that the new system is not yet able to do this. Meanwhile, myself and others on the 'New Platform' are paying a fixed direct debit and allowing British Gas to reap all the interest on this money in their bank account.

Why can't we get something done?

Vote with your feet & go to a supplier that does.
This is the whole point of making switching easier. Not happy with supplier. Move to another.

ML, will not read posts & pretty sure team will not have time to monitor posts.
If you want to highlight it to ML, then tag him on twitter. But even then, it may not be something he is interested in.

[Deleted User]

mmmmikey said:

One option open to you is to vote with your feet and change suppliers to one that can do what you want - e.g. both Octopus and EDF allow this payment method and possibly others.

Eon Next do (I've been paying this method for over a year now) 

MWT

FiestaRed said:

Why can't we get something done?

It is not one of the payments methods required by Ofgem so there is nothing you can do to force them to provide it unfortunately.

Alnat1

With the new faster switching you can move to another company in just a few days and BG will have to provide you with a final bill within 6 weeks and refund any credit.

Chrysalis

You could also start a petition to try and entice Ofgem to make this a required supported method, would be happy to sign it.

pseudodox

Chrysalis said:

You could also start a petition to try and entice Ofgem to make this a required supported method, would be happy to sign it.

Me too

I ditched OVO to move to EDF where I have happily been paying MVDD since October.  Since the move, with all the EBSS, WFA & C Tax rebate monies I have still not paid anything from my actual income.  Had I stayed with OVO, who wanted a ridiculous amount of FDD from me they would now be sitting on over £800 that I would have had to withdraw from my interest earning savings account.  Vote with your feet. FDD works just fine for many people but one size does not fit all.  Everyone should have a choice in a democratic country!

Gerry1

Does anyone know what happens if you're paying by MVDD on the old billing system?

Are you compelled to pay by MFDD, given a derogation or left forever on the old system?

Spoonie_Turtle

Gerry1 said:

Does anyone know what happens if you're paying by MVDD on the old billing system?

Are you compelled to pay by MFDD, given a derogation or left forever on the old system?

From posts I've read on this board it seems once the account is moved over to the new system, they have to pay by fixed DD.  No choice, no concession (because the system literally will not do it - goodness only knows why a NEW system would be designed with LESS functionality) and the account is moved over whenever they get to it, no staying on the old system indefinitely.

(Always happy to be corrected if need be though.)