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Original poster

Can I refuse this? Energy company related

25 replies

imamumgetmeoutofhere · 26/03/2022 19:14

Back in January my energy company increased my payments by £45. Now they've emailed me and said they need to increase it by another £50. So will have doubled since January.

If I was in debt to them I'd understand but I actually have some credit, albeit a small amount. We are going into spring and summer so won't be using as much.

Can I refuse them increasing my payments for a second time?

Thank you

OP posts:
LaraDeSalle · 26/03/2022 19:15

Yes. But you may then find that you have underpaid in a years time and owe a lump sum.

Original poster
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 26/03/2022 19:20

@LaraDeSalle

Yes. But you may then find that you have underpaid in a years time and owe a lump sum.
But how likely is that in reality? With a small amount of credit and an increase already before this next one? I'm so confused. Part of me is thinking let them do it anyway and if I build up too much credit then get a refund. But it's such a huge increase and my finances, like many peoples, are stretched to buggery already and I'll have to claw it back somehow. Probably from food budget and also no longer having a bus pass and then having to walk 45 mins to work and the same back again after a 11 hour shift instead Confused
OP posts:
Sacada · 26/03/2022 19:21

The standard variable tariff will increase by 54% on Friday, 1st April....and probably by an additional 40% in October.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cost of living
Bagelsandbrie · 26/03/2022 19:21

You need to check what the unit price is that you’re going to be paying from april - for most people this will be at least double- and then work out what your estimated monthly cost will be. They may be suggesting to increase the direct debit amount because of the increase in the unit prices. (Ours has gone up from £160 to £350 a month)!

purplesequins · 26/03/2022 19:24

agree with pp
check your usage and the actual price per unit.
prices have gone up massively. it is likely that a higher monthly payment is inevitable.

Poppitea · 26/03/2022 19:27

Yeah plus the direct debit plan is set over 12 months, so your annual review might not be until after winter now and they take that into consideration to make sure you won't be in debt at that point. Also as pp said the prices are due to increase in April and again in Oct.

Original poster
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 26/03/2022 19:31

Bugger. Thankyou all.

Why is it all so shit? All prices going up. Wages staying the same.

As a family we had always been relatively comfortable (used to be able to put heating on when we liked, use a tumble dryer, occasional takeaway, not worry if shopping was a bit more expensive than budgeted for etc) but now we are feeling the pinch. I dread to think what it's like for those on minimum wages or having to live on benefits and not having anywhere they can cut back from

OP posts:
Snozzlemaid · 26/03/2022 19:32

Have you not heard what's happening with energy prices?

Original poster
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 26/03/2022 19:34

@Snozzlemaid

Have you not heard what's happening with energy prices?
Of course Hmm but when they messaged in Jan to say they were increasing the direct debit due to the upcoming increase in prices I was surprised when I had a second one to say the same. I thought the first increase was due to the energy prices increase
OP posts:
Candlecassie · 26/03/2022 19:38

Are your meter readings up to date? Do you do them at least once a month? I do mine every week on a Friday night. If not, you need to start doing them so you are paying for what you use and not them using an estimate.

My bill from Friday next week is likely to rise from £91 a month to £140 which is the 54% increase. It’s likely to be £196 a month with the increase coming in October. It’s frightening. That’s electric only. Don’t get me started on oil prices. I suspect we will all be in bed very early next Winter, just to keep warm.

RedWingBoots · 26/03/2022 19:39

I would suggest if you were in debt until they increased your DD you don't decline as prices are going up 25% again in October.

So you need any extra credit in your account to cover the increase next winter.

Original poster
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 26/03/2022 19:43

@Candlecassie

Are your meter readings up to date? Do you do them at least once a month? I do mine every week on a Friday night. If not, you need to start doing them so you are paying for what you use and not them using an estimate.

My bill from Friday next week is likely to rise from £91 a month to £140 which is the 54% increase. It’s likely to be £196 a month with the increase coming in October. It’s frightening. That’s electric only. Don’t get me started on oil prices. I suspect we will all be in bed very early next Winter, just to keep warm.

Mines doubled since January and that's with credit in my account Angry
OP posts:
Original poster
imamumgetmeoutofhere · 26/03/2022 19:43

@Candlecassie

Are your meter readings up to date? Do you do them at least once a month? I do mine every week on a Friday night. If not, you need to start doing them so you are paying for what you use and not them using an estimate.

My bill from Friday next week is likely to rise from £91 a month to £140 which is the 54% increase. It’s likely to be £196 a month with the increase coming in October. It’s frightening. That’s electric only. Don’t get me started on oil prices. I suspect we will all be in bed very early next Winter, just to keep warm.

And readings are up to date as we have a smart meter
OP posts:
TheCanyon · 26/03/2022 19:58

I wouldn't be too sure of the smart meter, mine supposedly went up almost 200kWh from my statement on the 22nd (I guess midnight into the 23rd?) until I did a meter reading at 9am on 24th. I couldn't use 200kwh even if I tried. £30 quid in one day, nope!

Hadalifeonce · 26/03/2022 20:01

You don't have to accept their figure. When I have disagreed in the past, I have telephoned and told them I don't want to increase the DD, or I have told them the amount I am willing to pay.

Precipice · 26/03/2022 20:24

You should be able to switch to paying for what you're actually using. This avoids any credit/debit issues for energy, neither side of which is good.

RedWingBoots · 26/03/2022 20:33

@Precipice

You should be able to switch to paying for what you're actually using. This avoids any credit/debit issues for energy, neither side of which is good.
It costs about £100 a year more.
WormHasTurned · 26/03/2022 20:39

I wasn’t convinced by my increase - they didn’t know my H has moved out. He’d been WFH using lots of electricity but also boosting the gas heating a lot. I called them and asked them to leave my D/D as it is for now so I could review things once I’d lived alone for a bit. I had to do a one off payment but they agreed to do that for 3 months. If I have to increase my D/D by a bit more for the following 9 months then so be it. My usage had halved from
January to March though!

Precipice · 26/03/2022 20:46

It costs about £100 a year more.

Not necessarily. Not all suppliers offer a direct debit discount. I'm with Bulb and there's no difference in the rate.

RedWingBoots · 26/03/2022 20:46

@WormHasTurned

I wasn’t convinced by my increase - they didn’t know my H has moved out. He’d been WFH using lots of electricity but also boosting the gas heating a lot. I called them and asked them to leave my D/D as it is for now so I could review things once I’d lived alone for a bit. I had to do a one off payment but they agreed to do that for 3 months. If I have to increase my D/D by a bit more for the following 9 months then so be it. My usage had halved from January to March though!
You are one of the unique people who has lost a lot of dead weight and expense.

Hope it keeps going well for you.

Planetbippop · 26/03/2022 20:48

Cancel you direct debit & pay via paper/email bill, will cost them money & you can wait for the last reminder before you pay 😊

WormHasTurned · 26/03/2022 20:58

Yup it’s saving me a fortune! Grin shopping bills are right down too now it’s not covering his beer too!

Just saying the direct debit can be negotiable but it’s likely to go up for everyone. I keep checking the fixed rate options but it’s double what I’m paying now and my usage is going down so it’s not worth it for me.

Planetbippop · 26/03/2022 21:10

From 1st April energy companies, that your with, have to put you in the best tariff for your usage.

Rememberallball · 27/03/2022 08:16

I would say that, if you’ve only a small amount of credit on the account despite a rise in payments in January, you were possibly under paying before then and that extra monthly amount pulled you back into a credit on the account. Then they calculate for the coming 12 months and increase the DD to accommodate both April and October’s expected rises (and the forecasters at Cornwall Analytics are now saying October’s rise could be nearer 40% than the previously predicted 20%!) and to include next winter’s usage - plus they often overestimate the kWh they base the bill on - your most recent bill should include what you used last year so you can make a rough estimate based on the new prices (don’t forget to include standing charges which, for electric, are doubling in most areas of the country!!) and then add VAT at 5%

cakeorwine · 27/03/2022 09:26

Do you know your tariff?
Has any tariff you had expired or are you on a fixed rate for a while?
What usage do you estimate you use in KWH?

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