Scottish Power Rip Off

bnoc

I think Scottish Power have tried to pull a fast one on me.

I moved into my new home in August and started my supply with Scottish Power in October; as we had no supply history to speak of I was asked a number of questions to assist Scottish Power to estimate our usage and set up a direct debit of 30 pounds per month.

Then, in January, I noticed that our direct debit had increased to 80 pounds per month. I called Scottish Power to enquire as to why the change and they said that they had estimated our usage and increased the direct debit accordingly.

There had been no readings either taken by them or submitted by me and they had no further information about our usage; so on what grounds did they change the direct debit, especially by so much?

I have tried to have this conversation with their customer services; having given them readings they have now agreed to refund the 120 pounds I have now overpaid and reduce my payments back down to the original level, but they just didn't get my point and I wonder if I am plain wrong?

bnoc

anyone experienced similar treatment or think I've figured it out incorrectly?

timnicebutdim_2

I've heard of this happening before; direct debits being set too low and then the customer is stung with either a huge bill or their direct debit payments go up.

Could it be that they were increasing it due to consumption being higher in the winter and also the fact energy prices have increased?

I'm with SP (online energy saver 4) and our monthly 'average' i've worked out is £65 yet our d/d is £55. In the summer we'll probably only consume £35 p/m wheras in the winter we'll consume about £80 to £100. This is where the online readings help so I can see exactly how much we've used each month and how much we owe.

loulou41

I am with SP on their price fall tariffs. I pay £70.50 a month and am £220 in credit. I have emailed them to ask for a review of my direct debit and have not heard anything.

Cardew

When you look to switch to a new supplier the operators in the call centre have one objective - to get your custom and they then get their commission.

The same applies to comparison websites.

If it takes a Direct Debit of £10 a month to get your custom, then you will initially pay £10!! This means you will build up a large debit balance, your DD will be re-assessed and increased massively.

So yes of course you have been 'had' in the sense you are paying a DD that will probably have no relationship to your costs.

Console yourself that you are not alone; it is standard practice to catch the unwary in this fashion!!!!

bnoc

Cardew wrote: »

If it takes a Direct Debit of £10 a month to get your custom, then you will initially pay £10!! This means you will build up a large debit balance, your DD will be re-assessed and increased massively.

Fraud, surely?

JohalaReewi

If you are with scottish power online tariff, you can submit meter readings each month. This will generate a monthly invoice and you can quickly see what you actual consumption is (so can SP). You can then negotiate a reasonable DD amount with SP based on actual readings. Without any actual data, any DD figure is pure guesswork.

Cardew

bnoc wrote: »

Fraud, surely?

Incentive, surely!!!

Seriously what is fraudulent about giving a quote and getting you to pay a lower DD initially?
You could argue it is deception, but not in the legal sense.

From the information you gave them, in their 'considered' opinion, you will use xx kWh a year; so your DD will be £yy!!

If you want to put it to the test, ring any comparison website or call centre at a Utility company, act dumb!!! and say you are paying, say, £80 monthly to company yy and they will ask you some questions and start you off at a lower DD.

If you have the time take the figure company yy gave you and ring another company and you will get a lower quote.

mountainchrisriver

If you want to change the direct debit amount with Scottish Power, then have your current meter readings (gas and electric) written down and phone: 0800 503050 (mon-fri 8am-7pm; 9am-1pm sat). Tell them you want to lower your direct debit payments, they will put you through to the relevant department who should be able to sort it out... I did it this morning so hope this helps someone?

JoHillman

Me and my partner moved into our flat at the beginning of march and like yourself had no previous usage. We live above a bank and had no access to our electric meter.

As you can imagine this was not a good situation to be in! SP have been charging us over £70 per month as the reading are estimated, we have just received a letter from them stating that our payments are going up to £82.50 per month. This is through no fault of our own as we have not had access to the meter.

This week we hve been given access and the estimated charges are £400 over what we should have paid!! Note to everyone, make sure you check give monthly reading to your suppliers!!

Have tried for over half an hour to get through to customer services then to be told the office was shut.

I've found both my landlord and SP to have been no help what so ever and after a year it took me going to the ombudmans to get any kind of resolution at all!

Signed, Hopefully £400 better off soon!!

Joyful

You should always have access to your meters. They only need to read them by law every 2 years. This problem is down to your Landlord not Scottish Power.