how to find a energy provider who offers variable DDs

Brie

Just that really. I want to have a variable DD but when I look on different providers' website there no indication to say they offer these.

On the energy club comparison page there are some providers (i.e. Fuse) that say they only offer variable DDs but they are not necessarily ones I want to go with due to high exit fees etc. I've heard Octopus offers variable DDs but again there's nothing on their website about this.

Is there a search engine that will help me?

squirrelpie

I've heard Octopus offers variable DDs but again there's nothing on their website about this.

I can confirm that Octopus do, but I find there's lots of places on their website that assume they don't! Sign up and then request a change.

I don't know of a search engine.

MforumSManE

Both E.ON Next & Octopus do, I've just switched from Octopus. I had to ask to be put on VDD in both cases

Rodders53

EoN will allow it if you ask them. I was on that after a complaint with them following Covid and the Govt. fuel payment mess they made.

Now with Octopus who have allowed me to set a DD amount, via the App / online account, that I am happy with so far to get the excessive credit built in a few months (referral cashback credit, and their AI guesstimations of my use being wrong)… we'll see long run. Other users suggest one can, effectively pay on them producing a bill via making such DD adjustments.

Edit https://octopus.energy/payment-support/ they will do variable DD on request once you have switched to them!

OK you are probably gonna have to make calls / write emails to find out who say they will... Forum search ought to find other threads asking similar, with answers? British Gas is one I think (but not with your barge pole, thanks).

Part of the problem is Ofcom guidance, influenced by a certain Martin, that suppliers should build up credit over the summer and still be in credit at annual review time, with no large sums owing by the consumer ever! As I understand it.

2childmum2

We are on a variable DD with EDF, but I'm not sure if it's available to new customers

Brie

Thanks all - I'll raise this with the MSE gang to see if their search engine can be tweaked in some way.

maman

Our DD is variable, in that we pay for what's used, and that's with British Gas.

lohr500

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81977962#Comment_81977962

I was put on a fixed DD by EDF when I switched to their GoElectric tariff earlier this month.

I contacted them via the WhatsApp message service and asked to be moved to variable DD.
Confirmation received that they would action this from May, but it was too late to change the fixed April amount.

I guess I won't know fof sure until the May billing and beyond as I now have a large balance with them from the over estimation of the fixed DD amount and a referal credit I received when switching.

Peter999_2

It's nice to see someone requesting a variable Direct Debit - I wouldn't pay any other way. Never be in credit or debit is what I like.

Octopus do offer it but you can't do it on their website (though once you change to Variable it does say so in your account page). I requested a VDD as soon as I switched to them and they did it for me within a couple of minutes.

It's sort of funny to me that it is now called a Variable Direct Debit as orginially a VDD was used so the orginating company could request 2 months payments in one go (if the client had missed a payment). The Fixed Direct Debit was the same as a standing order where the payment couldn't be changed from the agreed amount (and obviously the company requested the money instead of the bank sending the company the money with a Standing Order).

Scot_39

One version of the list - I thought there were others in the past - also from MSE - here

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

"The most common type of Direct Debit are 'fixed' monthly Direct Debits, yet there is another option known as 'variable' monthly Direct Debit that is available at British Gas, E.on Next, EDF, Fuse Energy, Octopus Energy, Scottish Power, So Energy and Utility Warehouse. It’s not currently available from or Outfox Energy or Ovo."

IIRC its the only form of DD at least one offers - was it Fuse ?

TroubledTarts

It's not easy to find and generally you have to ask your supplier for it and hope you talk/message someone that actually knows about variable direct debit.

Might take a couple of tries and of course you have to be up to date with you billing and payments or that first variable direct debit could be a big one.