The 'In Credit' Scam - Can we start a campaign?

Sportyrich2000

I have just been checking my water account online and am £358 in Credit.  Yay!  As such I registered a new water meter reading to United Utilities and was given a new direct debit down from £56/mth to £28/mth.  It got me thinking why is this the case?  Why even take any payments for the next year?

1.  Considering that my account has gradually but quickly been increasing it's credit how come the system didn't note this and automatically reduce the amount?  Or at least notify me?
2. How come the amount paid in isn't zero for a while so this amount reduces?

I am in no way a conspiracy theorist but am starting to feel like this is stacked against the general public!  If we all had this amount in credit (fully aware this might be high) then consider the interest they are making on our money.

How easy is it to bring things like this to the attention of MSE for a campaign or at least a discussion as I feel like this is a scam...albeit a legal one!

singhini

1. They can't adjust the DD until you give them a meter reading (hence when you did, it did adjust).

2. Because its a regular DD.

I don't think you need to be a conspiracy theorist either, just log into your account and keep an eye on things (just like you did). 

How often do you give water meter readings? 

Personally i think people should pay upfront for their water and then its supplied. I'm not keen on monthly DD's because occasionally you could be using water you haven't paid for yet

Regarding the campaign, there's no need to start a campaign, we will all be dead in a few weeks (haven't you watched todays news regarding Trump and Zelenskyy)

Sportyrich2000

I understand about the DD situation but that isn't my discussion.  The fact is that I have £358 credit sitting in their bank and feel that this is a moneymaking exercise by the water company.  Paying up front not an issue but if I fill my car with fuel at the pump (paying beforehand) I don't allow BP to take 5 times the amount of money that they need to....why is water not the same?

As for the other comment....seems you are making some very strange political point which is completely irrelevant!

singhini

But you allowed your account to get upto £358 because its your account and you should be checking it (clearly more often than you are). 

why is water not the same?
Because your paying by DD

You didn't answer my question: How often do you give water meter readings?

elsien

So many posts on here lately, calling everything a scam when it really isn’t. 

Most of these so-called scams are easily resolvable by people just reading what they are signing up to or doing the relevant checks as they go along.. 

freesha

It's not a scam just because you either a) don't understand it, b) don't agree with it, or usually c) both.