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Original poster

are you in credit with your energy company?

59 replies

MyCircumference · 28/10/2023 08:32

i usually am in september, apparently its normal
but not for me this year.
in debt by 211 a month ago

that isnt good
does this mean no heating for me this winter?

OP posts:
Wowzel · 28/10/2023 08:37

I am, i wasn't this time last year though so i had to up the monthly payments

DustyLee123 · 28/10/2023 08:48

Yes. I left my DD higher over summer to give me a cushion in the winter.

Hoosemover · 28/10/2023 08:49

Yes….in credit by £400 at the beginning of the month. Dropped our DD by over a third. Was paying since moving in two years ago.

Hellocatshome · 28/10/2023 08:50

The idea of paying for energy on a fixed DD is to build up credit in the warmer months so you can continue paying the same amount ht use none energy in the enter months. If you are already in debit then you are going to have to increase your DD for over the winter.

BUT first check you have been billed to actual reads and not estimates so you know where you really stand.

DustyLee123 · 28/10/2023 08:51

I read my meter and inform via the app monthly, so I know I’m on top of it.

BarbaraofSeville · 28/10/2023 08:54

MyCircumference · 28/10/2023 08:32

i usually am in september, apparently its normal
but not for me this year.
in debt by 211 a month ago

that isnt good
does this mean no heating for me this winter?

Yes it's normal to be jn credit this time of year, but it's hard to say whether this means 'no heating this winter' without more information.

Can you afford to pay more?

Do you qualify for any help?

Have you done what you can to improve energy efficiency etc?

£211 is quite a lot to pay so should pay for a decent amount of heating unless you're using a lot on non heating usage like tumble dryer, cooking, hot water etc.

Can you say more about your circumstances.

Original poster
MyCircumference · 28/10/2023 08:55

they are not suggesting much of an increase, they increased a bit in June and a large amount in April ,
tempted to leave them to make the decision for me tbh

OP posts:
Original poster
MyCircumference · 28/10/2023 08:56

we will be getting help but DH has eyes on it for his car,
perhaps i could use some as a one off payment @BarbaraofSeville ?

OP posts:
Member589500 · 28/10/2023 08:56

I try to be and am about £200 in credit but would prefer to pay more monthly to have a higher buffer. My company doesn’t allow this. (EDF). They revised my voluntary monthly payment from 300 to 209 when the credit started building. I would prefer to just have 300 come out and be confident I won’t get into arrears over the winter.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 28/10/2023 08:56

Yes by about 550 currently. How I wanted it coming into winter!

Original poster
MyCircumference · 28/10/2023 08:57

i have no tumble drier and have barely put the heating on so far,
briefly this morning and last night
DH not feeling the cold luckily for him
slow cooker might need to be utilized?

OP posts:
daffodilandtulip · 28/10/2023 08:57

I was at the start of summer. Asked for a refund, which I got once. But they sent it four times and the other three got lost in outer space and I've been furiously in debt ever since.

OhhhhhhhhBiscuits · 28/10/2023 08:58

Member589500 · 28/10/2023 08:56

I try to be and am about £200 in credit but would prefer to pay more monthly to have a higher buffer. My company doesn’t allow this. (EDF). They revised my voluntary monthly payment from 300 to 209 when the credit started building. I would prefer to just have 300 come out and be confident I won’t get into arrears over the winter.

EDF allow it for me. They did adjust the DD earlier in the year, but I messaged them and they put it back up again.

SoRainbowRhythms · 28/10/2023 08:58

£500 credit with Octopus. A mixture of overpaying and being frugal in the warm months.

OlderwiderpodcastFan · 28/10/2023 08:58

Yes we are in credit by £850, we’ve worked out that by April we’ll still be in credit by around half that amount and on it goes..

Cotswoldbee · 28/10/2023 09:00

We are about £1k in credit.

Over the summer our provider (Eon) wanted to drop our DD to £30 but I set it at £100. Will probably start eating into the credit in Dec.
Newbuild (4-bed) so our bills are lower than many anyway.

BarbaraofSeville · 28/10/2023 09:01

OP is your bill correct and what does it say your annual usage is - units and cost?

Were you in debt last winter?

What do you mean your DH is planning to spend money designed to help you pay your energy bill on his car? Is this essential?

AuntieMarys · 28/10/2023 09:02

Yes £800.
Dds are £175.

Nuffaluff · 28/10/2023 09:06

If you are in credit the energy company is banking your money and earning interest off it. The profits they must make off this - imagine - with all the customers in credit.

They make out they’re doing you a favour by allowing you to ‘be in credit’. What a con.
It’s your money not theirs! Why not put the money in a savings account and earn some interest for yourself from your money?

Original poster
MyCircumference · 28/10/2023 09:08

the debt started a year ago
we were in credit in september then october in debit!

i might have to have words with DH about his car

OP posts:
Original poster
MyCircumference · 28/10/2023 09:08

i agree @Nuffaluff

OP posts:
devildeepbluesea · 28/10/2023 09:09

I was nearly £800 in credit last month. This time last work was in debit so I took most of it back.

devildeepbluesea · 28/10/2023 09:10

last year I

TheYearOfSmallThings · 28/10/2023 09:10

Yes, by about £300. I'm pretty sure it was more than that last autumn, which I suppose is inevitable.

LynetteScavo · 28/10/2023 09:20

I think it's unusual for companies not to want you to over pay - I usually ask for a refund in the spring (not this year!) At the moment I'm in credit by two direct debit payments. Usually it would be about three or four months worth at this time of year (even after my refund). I'd ask to increase the direct debit if you can afford to.

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