Electricity Payments

This sounds very odd - my DD with nPower is designed to be the same throughout the year to cope with seasonal fluctuations.

That is just daft. The purpose of equal monthly payments is to spread the annual cost of fuel with its high winter bills over the whole year. This negates the whole purpose of the scheme.

I'm actually with OutFoxTheMarket, one of the newer ones, and on re-reading the email, I've got to find another £44.74 a month, as of NOW!!!

As you say MOnica, this is 'just daft' which I emailed and told them when they first mooted this point yesterday, but so far I've had no response!

I would switch to another supplier. This change would get me worried about the stability and long term future of the supplier. Are they doing this because they have cashflow problems and this winter may not be able to pay the companies they buy gas and leccy from, unless they get in more cash from their customers?

Having thought that through, I would change supplier pdq.

I had this nonsense last year and just told them the reason I'd gone with them was based on a fixed monthly amount based on my actual usage the previous year and said I refused to pay the increased amount and would settle any amount outstanding at the end of the year. After much arguing and me cancelling the direct debit they finally agreed. Funnily enough the amount outstanding at the end of the term was less than the amount they wanted to increase by each month. Don't pay it.

Like you MOnica, it's made me think I should change supplier, but on checking out my options, it looks like it would cost me anything from £200 upwards to change to anyone else, so the question is, as I can manage the new payments, would I be better off staying, or should I change for the sake of peace of mind?????

Just refuse to pay the increase, it's far better in your account than earning interest in theirs and they are always slow to repay over payments at the end of the term.

I'm with Scottish Power and they always try to reduce my monthly payments in the summer but online I am able to override that so I pay the same all year round. Much more sensible than chopping and changing. It's good to know I have built up a lump of credit before my bills almost double through the colder months.

I would do the same as I do when they try to increase my direct debit payments to a ridiculous amount. Refuse to pay it - they can't do it without your agreement. You agreed when you took out the contract to pay a certain amount each month and unless you are obviously in debt, that is what you should stick to. I'd also be worried about their long term prospects - why do they suddenly need this extra money?

I would stay and refuse to make the extra payments, but as soon as the contract expires, move to another supplier.

I always have new ideas as soon as I posted. You are on a contract, for a year probably. Contract terms are usually set at the outset, especially with short term contracts. Is there anything in the contract about them being able to change the pattern of your payments. You may be able to refuse to pay the extra on the grounds that it non-contractual or even exit without extra payment because they have breached the terms of the contract.

I am with the same company. Rumours are rife that they are in big financial trouble. I have arranged to go to another company, informed OTM that I am leaving, cancelled the next direct debit due out on Dec 4, and informed them of that too. I reckon there is more than enough credit on my account already to cover the final bill when I leave.

It remains to be seen if they try to charge me for cancelling the DD (Ts&Cs are strange things,), but I wasn't going to risk losing more money to them if they go under!