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Original poster

I average £173 energy per month so why do Octopus want to set my direct debit to £376.40?

39 replies

LucyLettie · 04/12/2023 15:51

Currently up against a ‘computer says no’ situation with Octopus. My usage for the last 12 months, including adding back the Gov grant from last year, is £173 per month. I live in the same house with the same energy needs.

And they want my monthly direct debit to be well over double that! Why?!

I’ve tried to manually change it but the lowest I can get it down to is £250. It won’t let me do any less.

OP posts:
PaminaMozart · 04/12/2023 15:54

Have you asked them? I've had similar increases but I've always managed to get them reduced to a more manageable amount by talking to a customer service representative - these days usually via chat or whatsapp.

MintJulia · 04/12/2023 15:58

They tried that with me. I emailed and wrote to them, detailing my usage over the past 5 years and the credit on my account, and then asked them to justify the increase.

They came back with some bullshit about how they were protecting me, so I pointed out that I hadn't missed a bill in 23 years and I really didn't need any help, and that I would go to the ombudsmen if they persisted.

They have given up.

Precipice · 04/12/2023 16:03

You can change to a variable DD and then they can't inflate it however they want.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Cost of living
Original poster
LucyLettie · 04/12/2023 19:31

Precipice · 04/12/2023 16:03

You can change to a variable DD and then they can't inflate it however they want.

Yes, however I want the convenience of paying the same amount each month.

OP posts:
RaisinsOfMildAnnoyance · 04/12/2023 19:37

I got around this by cancelling the DD. They soon ring you asking how they can help get it reinstated. Escalate it to a manager if you need to.

LittleRedDots · 04/12/2023 19:40

Would a smart meter help? They then just charge you for whatever you use. You don't have to look at it.

OnionOnionH · 04/12/2023 19:46

I think it’s an Octopus thing. They have over 6 years of historical use age that came from Bulb, when I was transferred over to them, but they still set my dd at triple the amount I’d been spending, they tried to claim I’d not been submitting meter readings, but you could see from my previous bills that their estimate was well off.

You have to phone them and tell them to change it back. Their website won’t let you do it manually.

Theyre generally been otherwise ok, but they do keep trying to increase the dd unless you keep an eye on the .

RadRad · 04/12/2023 19:52

It’s all energy companies, they just want to have a cushion I am assuming to offset their overall position against bad debts, clearly not right given the amount of cash they accumulate and the current high interest rates, I just cancelled my DD (with another provider), and pay monthly, same with the water provider.

MigGirl · 04/12/2023 19:55

I had a similar issue when trying to change our DD with Octopus, the computer wouldn't let me lower it to where we wanted. I just messaged them and they set it for me.

Topofthemountain · 04/12/2023 20:03

Scottish Power are the same, I am over £1000 in credit and they still want to increase my DD. I will probably slightly overspend during winter, but not enough to even make a dent on that.

Charlingspont · 04/12/2023 20:11

Similar has happened here - EDF. They've increased my direct debit by 50% despite records showing previous year's usage etc, but they insist. They'll just have to pay me back in 3 months' time, that's all.

C0ldasIc3 · 04/12/2023 20:14

No they want the interest from overpaying. My Dh insisted on having a big chunk of our overpayment back from Octopus.

Mothmansknickers · 04/12/2023 20:17

These companies already hold millions in overpayments on peoples' accounts. It's an absolute joke when you always pay what you owe.

Shadesofscarlett · 04/12/2023 20:18

are you on tracker tariff?

ohtowinthelottery · 04/12/2023 20:23

EDF refunded me nearly £400 after my last bill and then promptly increased my Direct Debit by £21pm. There's no logic in the system at all. I did manage to reduce the payment by the 20% they allow but this still represents an overpayment of our monthly winter usage never mind accounting for summer months. We've got a smart meter - they can see what we're using. It's bonkers.

Yobans · 04/12/2023 20:26

I’m with Octopus and I tried to change my DD on the app but it wouldn’t let me. I called them instead and they reduced it no problem. They didn’t query it. We’re currently paying £50 a month as we are so much in credit.

DelurkingAJ · 04/12/2023 20:27

It’s universal. We had this with British Gas. They refunded us in the end…

RaisinsOfMildAnnoyance · 04/12/2023 20:31

Mothmansknickers · 04/12/2023 20:17

These companies already hold millions in overpayments on peoples' accounts. It's an absolute joke when you always pay what you owe.

Yes, I'm willing to bet it's a business model, they are raking it in on high interest rates received for holding onto overpayment from thousands of customers.

Livelovebehappy · 04/12/2023 20:49

I’ve got a smart meter and just pay for what I use on a monthly basis. I find this much better, and feel more in control. I’m with Octopus, and just won’t let let them have one penny more than what I owe them. They call me occasionally to try to get me back on direct debits, but it’s just a very assertive ‘no’.

mogtheexcellent · 04/12/2023 20:57

I refuse to sign up for monthly direct debits after SSE tried to double the amount aftersetup nearly 15 years ago. I just pay quarterly. Now with ovo so i pay monthly. Its not difficult.

I want spare cash in my bank account earning interest.

JamMakingWannaBe · 04/12/2023 20:59

LucyLettie · 04/12/2023 19:31

Yes, however I want the convenience of paying the same amount each month.

Show quote history

It's a PITA but I'd open a new current account just for your energy bills. Pay in your monthly amount and have the variable DD taken from there. You'll earn interest in the summer but need to ensure there is enough cushion to cover the bills in the winter.

BendingSpoons · 04/12/2023 21:10

Weirdly we are with Octopus and our DD is way too low for our usage so we end up in debt to them. We have to periodically pay off a big chunk. I keep expecting then to change it but they haven't yet. I would prefer to increase our DD a bit but don't want to rock the boat!

Grimmz · 04/12/2023 21:12

I had this problem with EDF - they were taking a monthly amount via direct debit that exceeded my usage such that my account was always running in credit. I called them up and demanded a lower DD that was in line with my usage. I complained that they were putting me in a position where I was effectively exposed to their credit risk (what would happen to my funds on account if they went under?) and that they were unjustified in taking the higher amount. They didn't put up any fight and agreed to lower the amount immediately. This made me think that the energy companies are probably subject to rules on this and aren't allowed to overestimate the DDs

Startingagainandagain · 04/12/2023 21:40

I am with Octopus and gas and electricity are metered. I simply pay every month for what I have used online.

I was with British Gas and they messed me a few times with DD (they had to refund me for overcharging) so I have no intention of setting up a direct debit with Octopus.

SgtJuneAckland · 04/12/2023 21:47

I have a DD with octopus they suggested I increase it in September but I said no and reset it manually on the app. It's roughly where it should be, if we're a little short after the winter the summer will make it up. I'm done with being in loads of credit with energy companies, but generally I've found octopus to be good and very responsive, that could just be in comparison to Scottish power, who could be giving energy away and I still wouldn't go back to them.