Electricity bills sent at random dates for random amounts

Nasqueron

booneruk said:

I don't quite understand the "NO DIRECT DEBIT! I'LL PAY MY OWN BILLS" crowd.

What's the theory? Get a bill, believe it's too high so refuse to pay it (if you didn't want this prerogative, then why no DD in the first place?), and then get a foul mark on your credit record.

Hip, hip hooray!

I suspect it'll be because the energy companies like to take random amounts based on what they think you will use, we pay by DD but have set the amount as low as they will allow as we had nearly £1000 in credit from their assumptions about use - despite readings whenever asked. Some of it has been refunded and maybe end of the year we'd be in a position where the DD is necessary and to the correct amount.

booneruk

Nasqueron said:

booneruk said:

I don't quite understand the "NO DIRECT DEBIT! I'LL PAY MY OWN BILLS" crowd.

What's the theory? Get a bill, believe it's too high so refuse to pay it (if you didn't want this prerogative, then why no DD in the first place?), and then get a foul mark on your credit record.

Hip, hip hooray!

I suspect it'll be because the energy companies like to take random amounts based on what they think you will use, we pay by DD but have set the amount as low as they will allow as we had nearly £1000 in credit from their assumptions about use - despite readings whenever asked. Some of it has been refunded and maybe end of the year we'd be in a position where the DD is necessary and to the correct amount.

I guess. I'm perfectly happy with my monthly variable DD with Octopus - it's absolutely trouble free and reflects exactly what I've used.

Morys

To anyone interested in hearing about  the next instalment of this saga:

No thanks to the very helpful advice (bundled with some free armchair diagnosticizing) I received here, the matter ended up with the Ombudsman. 

What the company had to pay in compensation was enough to make them think twice before indulging again in the same bullying tactics.