Will making a payment to Outfox Energy stop DD changing?

Fatferds12

Hello - My account will be in debit next month so can anyone advise if I make a payment to keep it in credit will this stop my Direct Debit from being amended?  I don't want to top my account up and have it changed anyway.  Many thanks for your help.

Jackie1813

I would ring them and check first . When I was in a similar position they left  my DD the same after an agreed payment.

born_again

Is the DD going to be enough to cover next months bills? Or would you be planning to do the same again next month?
Given the current weather forecasts of January.

Scot_39

Chances ars if it doesnt stop a review, it will at least make the increase smaller.

Direct debits are reviewed regularly these days at many suppliers especialky for those on variable tariffs than can be almost every significant cap change. And in general take future costs and credit or debit balance into account.

I used to use 

New dd = (annual use x new costs + new sc rates + debit - credit) /12 

To set mine before suppliers did.   But some now expect 1 month min credit so can add an extra 12th to that potentially.

A debit balance means they will ask for more - a credit balance less - when review.

A small debit balance for 1 month might not trigger a review - but with more winter months to come is more likely to.  As it suggests you arent - or if been with them a while - havent been - paying enough - to build sufficient credit ahead of high use winter months (assuming it covers heating costs).

Energy companies often prefer accounts to be always in credit these days, some specifically have that in their T&Cs.
So some adjust DDs to ensure that automatically.  The concept now is you build up credit ahead of winter and run down to zero or with Ovo 1m or Octopus 5 wks balance by spring.

If you can afford it - by all means pay it. Or let them roll it into review.  It might only be upped for 3m anyway (*)?


Gas rates are dropping, electricity rates went up as of midnight - so your net dd may need to change just for that anyway. 

My suplier though normally does that calc ahead of tge cap changes when sends me new prices and new annual cost predictions, so would notify me in Dec and take in Jan to start covering the in my case new higher electric sc and unit rates (no gas) if needed.  But Im still over 1m DD in credit.

(*) And its likely to change again - but downward its hoped -  in Apr when an abnormal and significant budget change - shifts some costs from bills to general taxation in any case  (headline £150 for dual fuel, less if only electric) - but actual value dependent on units used - c3.5p /kWh electric, c0.35p gas  - mse estimated figures.  And of course any other cost changes by Ofgem on top 

https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2025/11/energy-bill-cut-renewables-eco-martin-lewis/

Fatferds12

born_again said:

Is the DD going to be enough to cover next months bills? Or would you be planning to do the same again next month?
Given the current weather forecasts of January.

born_again said:

Is the DD going to be enough to cover next months bills? Or would you be planning to do the same again next month?
Given the current weather forecasts of January.

The DD will be just short of next month's bill so I was thinking to make a payment and see what happened, but  I think I'll give them a ring when they're open and see what they suggest.

Brie

Supposedly it's normal for you to be going in to debt this time of year and then return to credit when less energy is used in the summer.  If they say they are going to raise your DD that's the time to do your own calculations and TELL them what the DD needs to be.  If it looks likely to rise due to rising costs then that's when you can make a payment and do your calcs again.

matt_drummer

Brie said:

Supposedly it's normal for you to be going in to debt this time of year and then return to credit when less energy is used in the summer.  If they say they are going to raise your DD that's the time to do your own calculations and TELL them what the DD needs to be.  If it looks likely to rise due to rising costs then that's when you can make a payment and do your calcs again.

I don't think that is correct!

Brie

matt_drummer said:

Brie said:

Supposedly it's normal for you to be going in to debt this time of year and then return to credit when less energy is used in the summer.  If they say they are going to raise your DD that's the time to do your own calculations and TELL them what the DD needs to be.  If it looks likely to rise due to rising costs then that's when you can make a payment and do your calcs again.

I don't think that is correct!

Why is this incorrect?  It's what every utility company says as well as many others.  The only way to get around this is to be on a variable DD which means you pay each month for exactly what you use.  

matt_drummer

Brie said:

matt_drummer said:

Brie said:

Supposedly it's normal for you to be going in to debt this time of year and then return to credit when less energy is used in the summer.  If they say they are going to raise your DD that's the time to do your own calculations and TELL them what the DD needs to be.  If it looks likely to rise due to rising costs then that's when you can make a payment and do your calcs again.

I don't think that is correct!

Why is this incorrect?  It's what every utility company says as well as many others.  The only way to get around this is to be on a variable DD which means you pay each month for exactly what you use.  

You are supposed to be in credit at all times.

It's no longer appropriate to borrow money from energy retailers.

I don't think any utility company says this and neither does the regulator..

Which energy retailer or other utility company says it's normal to be in debt at the start of winter? Do you have some proof or examples of this?

I am sure that all say that you have be in credit at all times if on a fixed DD,.

I am sure some if not all expect you to be in credit by a certain multiple of your average monthly usage at certain points of the year,

The other way to comply is to set a DD at an amount that keeps your account in credit at all times!

What on earth makes you think that it is normal to be in debt to an energy retailer at any time?

Brie

@matt_drummer
Maybe I've missed an update somewhere along the line. 

I know that utility companies want us to be in credit as much as possible so they have our money well in advance of it being needed to pay for anything.  I, and many others, object to that.  I want want my money in my bank account.  

And I never said that one should be in debt at the beginning of the winter.  It's, in the past, been normal to be in credit in the autumn (so October) and that is slowly chipped away at and then, perhaps by the end of January, be in debt for a few months as the weather warms up and one's account slowly returns to being in credit. 

My account with Outfox has always worked that way.  All my previous providers have worked that way.  

matt_drummer

You have missed something.

I am sure somebody more eloquent and trusted than me can give you a fuller, more detailed explanation of what changed and when.

I note that you object to them having your money but you are quite happy to have theirs.

But it just doesn't work like that anymore.