Electric bill

[Baking101]

I am beginning to hate electric companies. One screwed me over badly before and now the new one just seems to be going the same way.

They told me recently by email that my bill is going from £44 a month to £77 a month. So almost double. I don't get why though. I put in regular electric readings and got told in September that we'd actually used way less than £44 and only owed £16.

I look on my account today and despite still paying in £44 every month by direct debit and over paying on at least one month, I am apparently in balance of £126!

I spoke to them and asked what's going on. Been told their systems will update soon for a bill that I have paid and it will come down. How the hell in this day and age is that not automatic? I shouldn't have to wait til their slow systems finally realise I don't owe that much.

It's ridiculous.

Eh? We just put the fire on. Keep cosy. x

Ring them up and ask for their bank details. Set up a standing order rather than a DD. They can't just help themselves then.

That's assuming you pay by DD.

Wx1994 great advice for people who don't have fires..

gamerchick I can't set up standing orders, they'd have to. And they can't take what they want anyway.

A standing order is set up by the payer

user187656748 I can't do it from my bank account, it only let's me view them. I can set up direct debits though.

Very odd bank account that won't let you set up standing orders.

In fact that can't be the case if you can view them. You must be able to make them if you can view them.

OP,

Just because they suggest to increase your momthly DD, doesn't mean you have to agree. You're protected by the DD guarantee.

As a PP, has stated, you can read your meters once a week and pay through your online account. That's what I do.

DD payments are based on what you might use. A SO payment is for actual use. I was paying £114 per month. It was outrageous for a one-bedroomed bungalow.

It's tedious and time-consuming. But I would have a look at previous months usage, look at previous bills and read your meters once a month/week and wait for them to update your account - then pay what the bill states.

DDs from utility companies does lead people in to believing they're budgeting. It's not budgeting because it's forecasted.

Last month my bill was £45 for both gas and electricity. Compared to £114 that's a huge difference.

You don't have to pay what they ask.you can pay a lower figure you feel is right.

Also, i'm with british gas and my account shows in credit for 3 months, then a bill is produced and i see my actual credit/debit amount. I've never been with any company who is automatic

Like @Lazypuppy we were with British Gas and it didn't update for 3 months. It drove me crazy. I switched to bulb and now pay £60 less a month but also if you send a meter reading in the day before your bill is due it calculates everything from that rather than guessing. I get it every month now much easier!

Sorry forgot about this.

It's bulb I'm with. I think I understand their system a bit better after finding a different view of my account. But I dont get that they've only taken money from the balance in July August and September, but nothing for October or November. Maybe they were just catching me up to a every 3 month payment but it would have been nice to be told. I've reduced the payments they said would be best too, not paying that much.

fuel companies seem to be a law unto themselves when it comes to taking money on direct debit.

I recently asked British Gas to pay me the money (about £80) that was standing as credit on my account. They did this and then in response upped my monthly DD from £90ish to £185

After sending in meter readings it turned out that all I actually need to pay is £50 a month, and I'll still likely be in credit at the end of the year.

Check your readings are up to date!

Oh I've been giving monthly readings for a while now. They told me they give people an estimate of what it will cost them over winter, given that people use more energy obviously with heating etc but they don't need to be listened to its just guidance. But still would prefer they don't just automatically increase it.

Standing orders are set up by the payer I.e. you and you control the dates and amounts . Direct debits are set up by the company and they control the dates and amounts. If your bank account allows direct debits then it will do standing orders too. Which bank is it?

I had this years ago with British Gas. They wanted me to be in credit coming into the winter, I told them to sod off and I'm not paying for services before I actually get them and if they insisted the. I was leaving. They backed off in the end.