Energy Direct Debit Overcharging: Reclaim Successes

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This thread is specifically to report successess for the
Energy Direct Debits article
If you want to discuss the article pelase use
Energy Direct Debit Overcharging Discussion.
Energy Direct Debit Overcharging Discussion.
How to report your success/failure:
1. Click reply to enter you story.
2. Report your story in the following format:
2. Report your story in the following format:
- Who was your energy provider?
- Which situation were you in? (e.g. announced increase, general increase, switched supplier, DD just too high)
- How much did you get back?
- And then write your brief direct debit tale...
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However, on the same bill, it said they would be putting up the direct debit to £90 per month - over double!
I called them up, said it was unreasonable, and without any argument whatsoever the lady on the phone suggested £48 instead.
Proof, if you need it, that either their automated direct debit estimation system is wildly flawed - or they're blatantly trying it on.
"A monthly direct debit is up to 10% cheaper than any other way of paying".
No. It is from about 10% cheaper - it can be up to 70% cheaper.
We pay on a monthly DD of about £45. We tend to be 'light' users - sorry for the pune, and usually have a slight credit on our bills. Since the price hikes we were £16 down and promptly received a letter saying that our DD would be going up to £57.
A possible trick I found is to pay off the outstanding on a credit card and then send them a e-mail (we have an online account set up) saying how unfair this increase is in few that we have cleared the outstanding amount already.
I received a e-mail back from them saying that the DD would now stay at the old rate. But a review would be done early next year.
Always worth a try - good luck.:j
GH
We were about £150 in credit after a year because our bill was based on the previous occupants. They wanted to keep the money in hand for the winter bills but I said I prefer to be in debt after the winter and repay it over the summer when bills are lower; we use much less gas anyway. After a few email exchanges they repaid the money but have not yet adjusted my payments.
Incidently, I was charged £9.52 for something called a Gas Transportation Charge. It is something to do with not being connected to the National Grid gas pipeline, how does the gas get to my house? Do I bother emailing them yet again? sigh
My direct debit was £98 per month and yesterday the letter came raising it to £143. I've just rung them and without any hesitation it was reduced to £100 per month.
The explanation for the hike was because I had recently submitted my readings online and the letter is automatically generated - not very reassuring!!!
The man on the phone suggested that I enter my readings online every 6 weeks which will give them a true picture throughout the quarter and they will make adjustments accordingly. I didn't realise you could do this and usually only submitted them when EON asked for a reading - a 6 weekly date is now firmly in my diary!!!
ring energy watch and complain....
i was paying direct payments costing me 146 month to cover couple of pounds of the arrears and the gas elec i was using it would have taken approx 14 years to clear the 800 ish debt
anyway rang energy watch cos scottish power would not put me on dual fuel online type tarriff which was cheaper
energy watch arranged for me to go on dual fuel online type tarriff not only reducing my monthy bill which had to be paid by direct debit to 106 but this meant i was paying more of my arrears and cleared them within 1 year as opposed to 14 years it would have taken me
dont be frightened of arguing the point that you are being held on an artificially high tarrif when basically being on benefits being in the least likely position to afford a high bill in the first place
beware though you have to be disciplined (if like me you didnt pay in the first place and got a high amount of arrears!!) to ensure you have the money put away for the direct debit and do not incur bank charges
but thats another story......:p
Hi CJN,
There is some info on this in the Gas & Elec article that you can read.