Gas Bill Questions - DD not being collected

shopper150 · 7 Oct 2014 at 23:31

I've just noticed that my gas and electricity payments by direct debit have not been collected for a couple of years. I have just checked the bills and they all say "We'll take £XXX.XX on or immediately after DD/MMM/YYYY"

I'm really quite busy and don't check bills etc and put everything on Direct Debit.

The amount owing now is quite large. I haven't budgeted for this large amount now. Does anyone know if I can get the amount written off?

Ragnahex · 7 Oct 2014 at 23:39

have a look through the back billing code. The major companies have signed up to it

Haggisman · 7 Oct 2014 at 23:46

NPower?

They seem to be ****ing useless at taking DD. I seem to have to phone them every single month because they take the wrong amount (if they take it at all...)

Sliver · 7 Oct 2014 at 23:50

Haggisman said:
NPower?

They seem to be ****ing useless at taking DD. I seem to have to phone them every single month because they take the wrong amount (if they take it at all...)

Yes they are crap. I use their website and just pay online every time they screw up.

Gazanimal · 7 Oct 2014 at 23:51

http://cleardirectdebit.co.uk/npowe...oided-take-note-if-you-collect-direct-debits/

Interesting bit in there is regards the 13 month rule, but it doesn't imply you won't have to pay, just that DD's become dormant after 13 months if not used.

Caged · 7 Oct 2014 at 23:52

Haggisman said:
NPower?

They seem to be ****ing useless at taking DD. I seem to have to phone them every single month because they take the wrong amount (if they take it at all...)

Just phone your bank in future. If the DD doesn't match the statement then they've broken the DD Guarantee and you'll get the money back and they'll get a fine.

Hxc · 7 Oct 2014 at 23:52

NPower are totally useless. It took me almost 2 years to get £100 they owed me given back, was utterly ridiculous.

shopper150 · 7 Oct 2014 at 23:53

I've had a look at the back billing code, it seems a little confusing. Are there any experts here that can assist?

Zenduri · 8 Oct 2014 at 00:20

The long and short of it is if its he Energy companies fault that they haven't claimed the payments and they haven't bothered to address the issue with you then back billing applies and they can't bill you for anything over 12 months.

If they have tried to make you aware of the issue and you haven't responded or haven't paid or stopped them from checking the meter readings to be able to bill you correctly to take the right amounts then it doesn't apply.

If you have just buried your head in the sand and they have sent you increasing bills but they at the same time haven't been taking the money due to their error then its a 50/50 scenario where they might wipe half fo the balance over 12 months old.

If all balance is within the last 12 months then it doesn't apply but you may have a case to get some knocked off if they have been to fault and not claiming but only through their complaints process/team.

I work for one of the big six btw

The Geezer · 8 Oct 2014 at 00:27

According to CAB they can collect upto 6 years in arrears.

Not sure where you stand if they can't manage the DDs you setup, do you have the original application forms etc it will strengthen your case

muon · 8 Oct 2014 at 00:28

Surely they'd just offer to let you pay in instalments.

Similar to what they do when fixed payments underestimate usage.

Tuppy_Glossop · 8 Oct 2014 at 00:34

Work out a monthly repayment...by DD :cool:

Zenduri · 8 Oct 2014 at 00:39

The Geezer said:
According to CAB they can collect upto 6 years in arrears.

Not sure where you stand if they can't manage the DDs you setup, do you have the original application forms etc it will strengthen your case

Business they can not residential

Zenduri · 8 Oct 2014 at 00:41

The whole situation revolves around the point of is this the energy companies fault or the Op's. Either way it wont look good as it looks like he's failed on his responsibility to manage his finance because hes too "busy" to manage everyday bills.

willhub · 8 Oct 2014 at 00:41

Whilst it's not your fault, I'm amazed that you've not noticed it over a couple of years, if I had bills not being collected I'd be like "wait a minute, I've got more money than I should have here" and look into my account.

Zenduri · 8 Oct 2014 at 00:50

willhub said:
Whilst it's not your fault, I'm amazed that you've not noticed it over a couple of years, if I had bills not being collected I'd be like "wait a minute, I've got more money than I should have here" and look into my account.

Welcome to people and energy suppliers.

For some reason when people deal with energy supplier they naturally drop their common sense off at the door and claim pure ignorance to everything. Like customers who don't give access to their property for a meter reading then moan like a whore that they haven't had a bill to an actual reading in 2 years.

You as the end user have a responsibility to ensure you pay your bills on time and that within reason what you are being charged is correct and inline with the readings at your property. I'm massively surprised you haven't had a DCA on the door or forceful entry to install a prepayment meter if you havens paid in 2 years.

I suspect there more to this story than being told, EG your owe a bomb and are trying to find ways to get it written off. (People really do try it)

Haggisman · 8 Oct 2014 at 00:57

Caged said:
Just phone your bank in future. If the DD doesn't match the statement then they've broken the DD Guarantee and you'll get the money back and they'll get a fine.

Unfortunately they're actually not taking enough. In fact they're not even taking enough to cover my usage, never mind the huge balance that's on my account due to their previous **** ups!

Haggisman · 8 Oct 2014 at 01:01

HybridX said:
You as the end user have a responsibility to ensure you pay your bills on time and that within reason what you are being charged is correct and inline with the readings at your property.

Conversely, why should the customer have to phone up every single month, wasting time and money to argue about their direct debit, be passed from department to department, and have to make a manual payment, purely because the company is incompetent?

Zenduri · 8 Oct 2014 at 01:08

Haggisman said:
Conversely, why should the customer have to phone up every single month, wasting time and money to argue about their direct debit, be passed from department to department, and have to make a manual payment, purely because the company is incompetent?

I'm not saying that. if the company is to fault they are to fault. but often people cant be arsed to sort their own affairs out if its their fault or not but instead expect it to be magically fixed.

If you don't like your current supplier then move as soon as you can. The majority of the suppliers offer online account services for entering readings and checking bills and even making or adjusting payments. I bet the majority of people here check online banking so why not check that what your paying to your energy company is correct?

No real excuses.... just laziness I'm afraid.

Haggisman · 8 Oct 2014 at 01:18

I would love to change supplier, but due to a previous **** up I unfortunately have a large debit balance on my account (I'm 99% sure I've actually already paid it, but since I can't prove it, there's not much I can do). My online npower account just doesn't work, they "accidentally closed it" a few months ago (first I heard of it was when I received a payment card) and since they've reopened it nothing works. I don't have the time or inclination to spend hours on the phone to get it sorted, and quite frankly, since I'm not on their payroll, why should I spend my time sorting out their problems? I've not dealt with such a useless company since pipex was bought by tiscali!

If "not spending my free time doing someone else's job because they're incapable" is classed as laziness, then sure, I'm lazy