Quarterly bills coming early

BigDave599

I've just noticed that Scottish Power are sending my "Quarterly" bills every 82 days rather than on the same day of the month (which would be 91-92 days).
Is this just chance, or some scheme to improve their cash flow?
Is it just me, or are they doing it for everyone?

Scot_39

Are they consistently 82 days - would seem strange choice.  Or just being pushed around by holidays or when you submit manual readings.

My sister pays by DD but her 3 m statements at one of her suppliers still respond to manual readings - so often miss or gain a DD payment - with a big impact on the credit / debit balance.  It's a bit of a pain - so have to work out a more accurate usage / balance to date as it were.

Other suppliers like edf and Ovo are moving many of their standard credit customers from 3m to monthly bills - that is far more likely tge result of cashflow and debt risk reduction policy. 

Robin9

@BigDave599

Did February's 28 days make a difference


PS Quarterly bills are getting rare -  is SP changing to monthly ?

BigDave599

Four of the last 5 were exactly 82 days, and the others 73 and 93, which averages 82 and a fraction. Looks like a policy to me, but as noted forcing people to monthly would be more sensible for their cash flow
No, 28 day February made no difference; exactly 82 days.
I've asked them about it, but yet to reply

BigDave599

OK if anyone is still interested Scottish Power have replied and the answer is in the moon!
Apparently their definition of "month" is 28 days (a lunar month), so "quarterly" is every 3 lunar months or 84 days, rather than the ordinary meaning of "quarterly".

Scot_39

From the SP FAQ

"The frequency of your bills depends on your current payment method.

• Online direct debit customer’s will receive a bill every 90 days.
• Offline direct debit customers will receive a bill a minimum one per year however direct debit is continually reviewed.
• Quarterly cash customers are billed every 3 months.
• Monthly cash customers are billed every 30 days."

I suppose to be fair they dont specify lunar or calendar - but I would argue lunar means they are not "quarterly".  As that means billed c4.5 times per year not 4 times.

But its not like your paying more - just slightly more often - but I could see it being annoying to those who get pensions quarterly - when get 2 bills in same period periodically.