How to put a cap on energy direct debits?

pieroabcd

Hi,
Is there a way to put a cap on my direct debits for energy bills, leaving alone the other direct debits?

My energy provider has replaced the gas meter with a new one and of course the reading has reset to 0. 
I expect them to make a big mess and charge me for the wrong amount as if I still had the old meter and used thousands of m3 of gas, something that I definitely want to avoid.

What if they charge me thousand of pounds? What's the quickest way to block the payment and/or get my money back in short time?
Thanks

Robin9

They will notify you in advance of the DD on the bill they provide.

When you get that bill check the info re serial numbers , new old meter reads

EssexHebridean

Why do you expect that they will charge you incorrectly? I mean, it's always possible, but you have a note of the old reading immediately prior to the meter change, so if the initial bill after the change comes up incorrectly you can challenge it as soon as it's raised, surely? Many people have meter changes each and every month,  but reports of people being charged as though their old meter has "gone around the clock" are unsurprisingly very rare indeed. 

TheElectricCow

All direct debits are covered by the direct debit guarantee - the thing that you will have read and agreed to every time you set up a DD.

If they take the wrong amount you just tell your bank and will receive a full and immediate refund.

If you truly want to block the one payment you’ll have to cancel the direct debit altogether. This is generally inadvisable though as you will be charged higher rates for paying on receipt of bill and depending on the supplier/billing systems could cause further issues or missed payment charges.

[Deleted User]

pieroabcd said:

Hi,
Is there a way to put a cap on my direct debits for energy bills, leaving alone the other direct debits?

My energy provider has replaced the gas meter with a new one and of course the reading has reset to 0. 
I expect them to make a big mess and charge me for the wrong amount as if I still had the old meter and used thousands of m3 of gas, something that I definitely want to avoid.

What if they charge me thousand of pounds? What's the quickest way to block the payment and/or get my money back in short time?
Thanks

You are worrying yourself into an early grave. Suppliers are now replacing 10s of thousands of meters each day. The installation process requires the installer to update the supplier’s system with the meter readings from your old meters. A final bill for these meters will then follow. 

pieroabcd

fingers crossed

[Deleted User]

Hi.

why not set up your own wee spreadsheet, record usage, at least once a month, keep track of cost.

You said you use 'thousands of m3 of gas' is this weekly/monthly, any record of recent usage?

pieroabcd

frugalmacdugal said:

Hi.

why not set up your own wee spreadsheet, record usage, at least once a month, keep track of cost.

You said you use 'thousands of m3 of gas' is this weekly/monthly, any record of recent usage?

Nothing like that. I started with 3109 with the old meter, and after a week I ended up with 3110.
The new meter started with 0 and went to 3.5. The only problem is if the accounting system doesn't consider that I've changed meter: in this case  it's easy to see that it could be considered a consumption of almost 7000 m3.

pieroabcd

EssexHebridean said:

Why do you expect that they will charge you incorrectly? I mean, it's always possible, but you have a note of the old reading immediately prior to the meter change, so if the initial bill after the change comes up incorrectly you can challenge it as soon as it's raised, surely? Many people have meter changes each and every month,  but reports of people being charged as though their old meter has "gone around the clock" are unsurprisingly very rare indeed. 

Why? Past experience, mine and someone else's.

Does the energy provider collect money the same day that they release the bills or is there enough time to check that everything is alright?

Robin9

pieroabcd said:

Does the energy provider collect money the same day that they release the bills or is there enough time to check that everything is alright?

Usually about 2 weeks

[Deleted User]

Hi

are you on monthly DD or variable DD.

You ask a lot of questions, then we have to draw it info out of you.