Sunnypad wrote:Hope it's on topic to ask for thoughts on this
My electric company is asking me to increase my direct debit. The amount requested is a little too high. I checked my account and found I was more than £200 in credit!
My neighbour, in an identical flat, has been told he owes about £1000. We looked at his meter - the meters are in the same cupboard - there appears to be nothing wrong with it.
He is out a lot more often than I am, doesn't run air con, and is now being asked to pay £300 a month!
Something is going on and it's not about the meters. I told him to contact CAB. It feels as if we have had arbitrary letters saying everyone is "advised" to pay a new amount that appears to have been plucked out of thin air. It's not just us - this is a big block of flats and several residents have had baffling bills.
He and I are a good comparison as we're both living alone in identical flats. There's some families here and I appreciate that more people running laptops etc is going to be an issue.
Is there a possibility of big companies coming together to fix very high prices?
Do you have a record of your electricity use over the last year?
If so, I would calculate the number of kW hours I'm likely to use in either the next 12 months or up to when your current tariff expires, and from this the cost. Subtract your credit and work out the monthly cost.
This would be my starting point for determining a reasonable monthly amount, and if it's significantly less than the supplier is suggesting I'd contact them armed with the figures and politely decline their invitation to increase the direct debit.
A side issue and perhaps a little pedantic. They can't ask
you to increase the direct debit, as it's within their control, not yours. But they must advise you prior to making any change themselves.
Edited to add...
I'd be prepared for their figure to be up to 25% or more higher than you might calculate given the likely increases we're being told are on the way...