Bloody electric prices!

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I have just received an email from my provider. They have increased my direct debit by nearly £100 a month. I haven’t had the heating on, I use my washing machine roughly 3 times a week. No tumble dryer! I’m so careful with my electric usage. I’m actually in £350 worth of credit!

I just can’t afford it, I’m scraping by as it it. How can they justify this? I’m so worried about how I’m going to live

are you in a fix? If not you could consider moving to their standard tariff and paying what you owe each month by giving meter readings?

This is what we have always done since my mother was about £2000 in credit in her account t which they wouldn’t refund her and tried upping her DD.

You would be on a more expensive tariff but in the grand scheme of things it works out about £10 extra a month but there is no DD so you pay your bill and have complete control. Sometimes in the summer we pay extra to build up a credit to help through the winter but again, that would be your choice.

I have nothing to add, except to say that, yes it is outrageous that the energy prices have just been raised yet again. The Government needs to do more to help people facing fuel poverty. This has been going on for years. Bumper profits for the energy companies, while some people have to choose either to heat, or eat.

I’m supposed to be on economy 7, but they said they don’t do that anymore hence me not putting the heating on.

I think I will look into just paying it off monthly. I only used £93 of electric last month so I have no idea how they can justify increasing it

Phone them!!

You don't have to be on the standard tariff to pay the bill on receipt.
I am on a fixed tariff and pay a variable DD each month determined by the meter readings. However the January bill is nearly £400 so it's not for everyone.

Your provider is expecting bills to go up and they usually prepare for this now. Also, with the recent news that poorer people will have their energy debts written off.... someone's got to pay for that.

Switch supplier
Or at least threaten it
If you go via mse money club or top cashback/quidco you'll get extra money for switching

If they no longer do the tariff you signed up with then you can't be in a contract

G&e are the easiest things to switch, in my experience - no down time like Internet etc.

@YorkshireGoldDrinkerI am the poorer people 😂

I have spoken to them and they have said they can only reduce the direct debit my £20. So I have cancelled it, and I will pay the bill directly every month myself

It's the ones that are in debt to the energy companies, you're in credit. So you aren't considered poor by your provider's definition.

I do feel for you. Energy prices are utterly insane.

If they no-longer offer E7, did they offer a suitable alternative?
You can move supplier so why stick with your existing one?

If you decide to switch (and I can see no reason why you would not), enquire if they offer E10.
This is a fantastic tariff to be on with storage heaters, much more controllable allowing you to charge the heaters at more suitable times of the day.

If economy 7 is the right tariff for you, move to a supplier that offers it or economy 10 like suggested by a PP.

But you've shot yourself in the foot slightly by switching to pay on receipt of bill as you're going to have to pay all your higher winter bills in winter instead of spreading the cost over the whole year.

But if you are struggling to pay your bills, talk to your supplier as they have to help you, look on Moneysavingexpert.com for advice on this.

Not necessarily - you can overpay and build up a credit on your account should you wish to make the payments more regular.

OP is on £350 of credit and only used £100 last month.