Earlier this year I changed the way I pay my gas and elec bills to monthly 
direct debit (to take advantage of the annual discount).
Prior to this, I would just pay the bills as they came in every quarter. 
Since changing to DD (Feb I think), I do not get a quarterly bill.  I would 
have thought I would still get a quarterly bill with my usage on?

Slider wrote:
> Earlier this year I changed the way I pay my gas and elec bills to
> monthly direct debit (to take advantage of the annual discount).
> Prior to this, I would just pay the bills as they came in every
> quarter. Since changing to DD (Feb I think), I do not get a quarterly
> bill.  I would have thought I would still get a quarterly bill with
> my usage on?

It might be quicker to phone your supplier, eh?

Si

On 17/09/2008 11:11, Slider wrote:

> Since changing to DD (Feb I think), I do not get a quarterly bill.

You didn't switch to paperless billing at the same time did you?

"Andy Burns"  wrote in message 
news:ePidnRetoc95Rk3VnZ2dnUVZ8uWdnZ2d@posted.plusnet...
> On 17/09/2008 11:11, Slider wrote:
>
>> Since changing to DD (Feb I think), I do not get a quarterly bill.
>
> You didn't switch to paperless billing at the same time did you?

No, I rang them during my lunch hour.  When you pay a fixed amount per month 
by direct debit, you only get a bill once every six months (or at least 
that's what my energy provider do)

On Sep 17, 11:11 am, "Slider"  wrote:
> Earlier this year I changed the way I pay my gas and elec bills to monthly
> direct debit (to take advantage of the annual discount).

expect those bills to get higher and higher then, common problem with
DD.

I still cant see a reason to give companies free access to my bank
account. I've heard the sales talk but none of it really adds up imho.

NT

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:40:22 -0700 (PDT), meow2222@care2.com wrote:

>On Sep 17, 11:11 am, "Slider"  wrote:
>> Earlier this year I changed the way I pay my gas and elec bills to monthly
>> direct debit (to take advantage of the annual discount).
>
>expect those bills to get higher and higher then, common problem with
>DD.
>
>I still cant see a reason to give companies free access to my bank
>account. I've heard the sales talk but none of it really adds up imho.
>
>NT

Southern Electric were fine and kept them on track and also rebated excesses.

I've just moved my electricity to BG and am now worried by CS complaints of
enormous and unjustified inreases in DDs and when one person complained, they
apparently said ' WE set the amouint '

I know within a penny or two what my monthly DD should be and if they push it up
by more than a £1 or two, I'll be gone because as you say, we're not here to
increase BG's savings account.

Andy C

"Andy Cap"  wrote in message 
news:e552d49l8l6v4enceoevqc8keco7bsaomc@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:40:22 -0700 (PDT), meow2222@care2.com wrote:
>
>>On Sep 17, 11:11 am, "Slider"  wrote:
>>> Earlier this year I changed the way I pay my gas and elec bills to 
>>> monthly
>>> direct debit (to take advantage of the annual discount).
>>
>>expect those bills to get higher and higher then, common problem with
>>DD.
>>
>>I still cant see a reason to give companies free access to my bank
>>account. I've heard the sales talk but none of it really adds up imho.
>>
>>NT
>
> Southern Electric were fine and kept them on track and also rebated 
> excesses.
>
> I've just moved my electricity to BG and am now worried by CS complaints 
> of
> enormous and unjustified inreases in DDs and when one person complained, 
> they
> apparently said ' WE set the amouint '
>
> I know within a penny or two what my monthly DD should be and if they push 
> it up
> by more than a £1 or two, I'll be gone because as you say, we're not here 
> to
> increase BG's savings account.
>
> Andy C

Your meter must be read at least once a year. Any changes to the DD will 
depend on average readings. It has nothing to do with cheating you.
>

"Mary Fisher"  wrote in message 
news:48d118fa$0$763$4c56ba96@master.news.zetnet.net...
>
> "Andy Cap"  wrote in message 
> news:e552d49l8l6v4enceoevqc8keco7bsaomc@4ax.com...
>> On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 06:40:22 -0700 (PDT), meow2222@care2.com wrote:
>>
>>>On Sep 17, 11:11 am, "Slider"  wrote:
>>>> Earlier this year I changed the way I pay my gas and elec bills to 
>>>> monthly
>>>> direct debit (to take advantage of the annual discount).
>>>
>>>expect those bills to get higher and higher then, common problem with
>>>DD.
>>>
>>>I still cant see a reason to give companies free access to my bank
>>>account. I've heard the sales talk but none of it really adds up imho.
>>>
>>>NT
>>
>> Southern Electric were fine and kept them on track and also rebated 
>> excesses.
>>
>> I've just moved my electricity to BG and am now worried by CS complaints 
>> of
>> enormous and unjustified inreases in DDs and when one person complained, 
>> they
>> apparently said ' WE set the amouint '
>>
>> I know within a penny or two what my monthly DD should be and if they 
>> push it up
>> by more than a £1 or two, I'll be gone because as you say, we're not here 
>> to
>> increase BG's savings account.
>>
>> Andy C
>
> Your meter must be read at least once a year. Any changes to the DD will 
> depend on average readings. It has nothing to do with cheating you.
>>

It depends on your definition of cheated. Over periods in excess of a year 
you will not lose actual cash (ie not "cheated"). As with myself they are 
guilty of sharp practice, for example setting DD levels to suit winter usage 
so you are always in credit (ie they get the benefit of your money for a 
while - although you get it back eventually). They make estimated readings 
way over and then demand cash payments (£235 in my case). We are profligate 
non-green users  and their estimate was 50% higher than we were actually 
using in winter, which no-one can excuse (if we were extremely frugal, I 
could understand an over-estimate of that nature).

I rang them (SE) with the correct reading and told them they couldn't have 
their cash and that was that - a more nervous person may have paid the 
demand. With a DD, be reasonable and set a figure which will cover the year 
(or a little over but not much) and tell them that's what it should be and 
will be or you'll go elsewhere. Clearly trying to set your payments at 
summer levels and reap the benefit from them in the winter isn't going to 
fly though.


-- 
Bob Mannix
(anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)
>

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:46:31 +0100, "Mary Fisher" 
wrote:

>Your meter must be read at least once a year. Any changes to the DD will 
>depend on average readings. It has nothing to do with cheating you.

I admire your simple faith in the utilities, however I fear it is misplaced.
Also I prefer to adjust the DD as I go along, rather than waiting to find out I
owe £100 or so, which make moving far more inconvenient.
(Yes I appreciate there will usually be a seasonal discrepency  ;-) )

"Bob Mannix"  wrote in message 
news:gar6h9$ofq$1@south.jnrs.ja.net...

>>
>> Your meter must be read at least once a year. Any changes to the DD will 
>> depend on average readings. It has nothing to do with cheating you.
>>>
>
> It depends on your definition of cheated. Over periods in excess of a year 
> you will not lose actual cash (ie not "cheated"). As with myself they are 
> guilty of sharp practice, for example setting DD levels to suit winter 
> usage so you are always in credit (ie they get the benefit of your money 
> for a while - although you get it back eventually). They make estimated 
> readings way over and then demand cash payments (£235 in my case).

Not always. If they make an estimted reading and you don't like it you can 
send in your own or get them to come when you'll be in.

> We are profligate non-green users  and their estimate was 50% higher than 
> we were actually using in winter, which no-one can excuse (if we were 
> extremely frugal, I could understand an over-estimate of that nature).
>
> I rang them (SE) with the correct reading and told them they couldn't have 
> their cash and that was that - a more nervous person may have paid the 
> demand. With a DD, be reasonable and set a figure which will cover the 
> year (or a little over but not much) and tell them that's what it should 
> be and will be or you'll go elsewhere.

That's the way to do it - not accuse anyone of cheating, which it isn't.

> Clearly trying to set your payments at summer levels and reap the benefit 
> from them in the winter isn't going to fly though.

Of course not. That WOULD be cheating.

Mary
>
>
> -- 
> Bob Mannix
> (anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)
>>
>
>

"Andy Cap"  wrote in message 
news:2392d4tg47k5n8v3mrsagepvndv3esnkuq@4ax.com...
> On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:46:31 +0100, "Mary Fisher" 
> 
> wrote:
>
>>Your meter must be read at least once a year. Any changes to the DD will
>>depend on average readings. It has nothing to do with cheating you.
>
> I admire your simple faith in the utilities, however I fear it is 
> misplaced.

LOL! You don't know me :-)

> Also I prefer to adjust the DD as I go along, rather than waiting to find 
> out I
> owe £100 or so, which make moving far more inconvenient.

So what's your complaint?

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:30:08 +0100, "Mary Fisher" 
wrote:

>
>"Andy Cap"  wrote in message 
>news:2392d4tg47k5n8v3mrsagepvndv3esnkuq@4ax.com...
>> On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 15:46:31 +0100, "Mary Fisher" 
>> 
>> wrote:
>>
>>>Your meter must be read at least once a year. Any changes to the DD will
>>>depend on average readings. It has nothing to do with cheating you.
>>
>> I admire your simple faith in the utilities, however I fear it is 
>> misplaced.
>
>LOL! You don't know me :-)
>
>> Also I prefer to adjust the DD as I go along, rather than waiting to find 
>> out I
>> owe £100 or so, which make moving far more inconvenient.
>
>So what's your complaint?
>

All I said was, "I've just moved my electricity to BG and am now worried by CS
complaints of enormous and unjustified inreases in DDs....."

See 
http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/utilities/suppliers/british-gas/reviews/1/0/1/1/0/

Sure I don't know you but I do know you appear to be entertained by looking for
an argument. Takes all sorts I guess !

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:29:32 +0100, "Mary Fisher" 
wrote:


>Of course not. That WOULD be cheating.
>
>Mary


That's why I use a rolling 12 months !

On Wed, 17 Sep 2008 17:29:32 +0100, "Mary Fisher"
 wrote:

>
>"Bob Mannix"  wrote in message 
>news:gar6h9$ofq$1@south.jnrs.ja.net...
>
>>>
>>> Your meter must be read at least once a year. Any changes to the DD will 
>>> depend on average readings. It has nothing to do with cheating you.
>>>>
>>
>> It depends on your definition of cheated. Over periods in excess of a year 
>> you will not lose actual cash (ie not "cheated"). As with myself they are 
>> guilty of sharp practice, for example setting DD levels to suit winter 
>> usage so you are always in credit (ie they get the benefit of your money 
>> for a while - although you get it back eventually). They make estimated 
>> readings way over and then demand cash payments (£235 in my case).
>
>Not always. If they make an estimted reading and you don't like it you can 
>send in your own or get them to come when you'll be in.
>
>> We are profligate non-green users  and their estimate was 50% higher than 
>> we were actually using in winter, which no-one can excuse (if we were 
>> extremely frugal, I could understand an over-estimate of that nature).
>>
>> I rang them (SE) with the correct reading and told them they couldn't have 
>> their cash and that was that - a more nervous person may have paid the 
>> demand. With a DD, be reasonable and set a figure which will cover the 
>> year (or a little over but not much) and tell them that's what it should 
>> be and will be or you'll go elsewhere.
>
>That's the way to do it - not accuse anyone of cheating, which it isn't.
>
>> Clearly trying to set your payments at summer levels and reap the benefit 
>> from them in the winter isn't going to fly though.
>
>Of course not. That WOULD be cheating.
>
>Mary
>>
>>
>> -- 
>> Bob Mannix
>> (anti-spam is as easy as 1-2-3 - not)

I was involved in this about six years ago.  There is also a danger in
paying too little.  A salesman will visit, and will ask what your
monthly payments are.  He will then tell you that if you sign with
him, he will reduce your payments by 25%.  "Great", you think. 

What he doesn't say is that his gas/electricity is only 10% cheaper
than your present supplier, so after a year, when the meter reading is
done, you're several hundred quid in the red.

If you can't pay what you owe in a lump, you'll not be allowed to
switch supplier, and your payments for year two will be substantially
higher than year one.

There are good deals, but the bottom line is you must know how much
you use, and the price per unit.

John Armstrong