Is there an energy provider that doesn't penalise me with higher charges for monthly PAYG?

strenger

Scottish Power want to debit £135 from my account even though my bill is £80. I just want to pay for what I use each month without being charged extra for the privilege. Is there a provider or tariff that lets me do this?

Gerry1

Switch to Monthly Variable Direct Debit which is offered by many suppliers, probably most.

CSI_Yorkshire

As Gerry says, what you need to be asking for is Variable Direct Debit not "pay on bill" or anything like that.

Variable DD prices are the same as fixed DD prices.

Of course, be sure that you are prepared for much bigger winter bills than summer bills - but as you're asking the question I assume you've thought about that.

strenger

Thanks. The Scottish Power website offers me a 'Standard Variable' but this changes my DD to £128 a month, and it's based on an assessment of what I'll use over the year, which is not what I want. I take it that's not the kind of tariff you guys mean? There's no other tariff available for me.

CSI_Yorkshire

strenger said:

Thanks. The Scottish Power website offers me a 'Standard Variable' but this changes my DD to £128 a month, and it's based on an assessment of what I'll use over the year, which is not what I want. I take it that's not the kind of tariff you guys mean? There's no other tariff available for me.

It's not a different tariff you need to be looking for, it's a different payment method that you want to ask for.

Gerry1

Think kWh and pence/ kWh and standing charges and then do the sums.  MVDD means you'll be charged for exactly what you have used since the last reading, rather like a petrol pump.

You'll probably have to ask for MVDD by contacting customer services.

strenger

Gerry1 said:

Think kWh and pence/ kWh and standing charges and then do the sums.  MVDD means you'll be charged for exactly what you have used since the last reading, rather like a petrol pump.

You'll probably have to ask for MVDD by contacting customer services.

I see. Weird that they wouldn't just let you choose it. I'll give them a call, not a great prospect seeing as they have just about the worst customer service I've experienced outside of Talktalk.

Scot_39

Strictly speaking prepayment might now be cheaper - than monthly variable DD.

Due to new matching under epg from Sat - and its even cheaper on a quick scan of say EDF pricing edit see below re higher sc vs lower prepay unit rates..

But it is more hassle as is a user push for credit in advance rather than a supplier funds pull via DD.

There seemed to some debate in threads as to whether SP offer MVDD  - despite Maria post back to MSE article see 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/lower-energy-direct-debits/#variable

But that again could be the luck of draw on customer service agent lottery (good or bad).

strenger

Spoke to them. Best they could do is cancel my DD from next month and put me on a pay monthly tariff that costs roughly 15p a day more in standing charges. Not happy really. Will be looking elsewhere for my energy.

Gerry1

Octopus offer MVDD and slightly lower standing charges.

Scot_39

Are any of the comparison sites back up and running to help people in this situation find deals and switch?