Meter readings

[oddoneout]

because everybody has got cushions....and I guess the comfort blankets are sent when it gets a little nippy....

Permanently attached to their bodies in too many cases...

[smittims]

I had this Direct Debit hike a couple of years ago, and their nonsensical 'explanation' for doing it. I was afraid to stop paying in case they cut me off, but eventually I discovered that if I did stop the payments I'd go onto 'monthly cash' terms, which of course they had sedulously avoided telling me - an aspect of 'corporate deceit' which is spreading these days.

[antongould]

I had this Direct Debit hike a couple of years ago, and their nonsensical 'explanation' for doing it. I was afraid to stop paying in case they cut me off, but eventually I discovered that if I did stop the payments I'd go onto 'monthly cash' terms, which of course they had sedulously avoided telling me - an aspect of 'corporate deceit' which is spreading these days.

indeed it is smittims

[antongould]

Continuing the story of the neighbour with the monthly direct debit reassessment which ignored her sizeable credit ….. we queried it and received this in reply “

Hello there, Your estimated consumption will be on the billing for you, and the annual cost however this is subject to change with the price cap at the moment. In regards to credit on the account, you do not have to keep credit on the account and this can be refunded but we normally advise 1 month and half usage as a backup. In regards to direct debits your credit has been adjusted the rate should be £172.98 per month but it has been lowered to £166.87. We do also offer fixed tariffs if you would like to discuss these over the phone to see if there is any cheaper options. Many Thanks, Carly- E.ON Next Energy Specialist⚡

Anyone understand a word of it …… ??????

[smittims]

Something needs to be done, doesn't it? I see and hear more and more examples of this sort of thing. Sometimes I can understand only about half of what is said even on Radio 4. Is the 'Plain English' campaign still in existence? Maybe we need to start some sort of campaign to make these people understand that they're failing to communicate.

[french frank]

Anyone understand a word of it …… ??????

I suspect it means you can have a full refund now if you ask for it but your monthly DD will need to be 'adjusted'. "We do also offer fixed tariffs if you would like to discuss these over the phone to see if there is [sic] any cheaper options" seems clear if it means you can speak to a human being.

And does EON not offer a variable DD? My supplier said they wouldn't take anything on the (variable) DD until my credit was used up - and they aren't.

[Serial_Apologist]

]Something needs to be done, doesn't it? I see and hear more and more examples of this sort of thing[/B]. Sometimes I can understand only about half of what is said even on Radio 4. Is the 'Plain English' campaign still in existence? Maybe we need to start some sort of campaign to make these people understand that they're failing to communicate.

Too true. Last week I noticed that a £14.95 "banking fee" had been taken from my account. The same had occurred the previous month, and I assumed that had been for exceeding my overdraft threshold, though I had thought that 24 hours' grace was allowed to rectify the position. Was this second deduction because I'd delayed rectifying for 3 days and the bank decided to delay double charging me? By chance a staff member at the Streatham branch rang me to ask how things were going and did I have anything I'd wish to discuss with her. This came as a considerable surprise, as I hadn't been contacted by a real Lloyds human employee for at least 10 years. On mention of the deductions she checked my account and having confirmed the aforementioned deductions informed me that these deductions were part of the account arrangements and had been for some years, expressing surprise this had not been previously applied in my case! Half-seriously I joked that I hoped this would not mean that they would now go back to the origin of this change and make all the overlooked £14.95 deductions, to which she answered that I could go onto another account which did not make any such charge, but which also did not include any of the benefits, such as reduced flight rates, car and household insurance. I replied that I would be happy with that, and she said she would mail me the details. Three days later an envelope arrived from Lloyds containing a leaflet advertising a special Mastercard, which had naff all to do with the account she'd been talking about. Since then I have heard nothing further.

[oddoneout]

Too true. Last week I noticed that a £14.95 "banking fee" had been taken from my account. The same had occurred the previous month, and I assumed that had been for exceeding my overdraft threshold, though I had thought that 24 hours' grace was allowed to rectify the position. Was this second deduction because I'd delayed rectifying for 3 days and the bank decided to delay double charging me? By chance a staff member at the Streatham branch rang me to ask how things were going and did I have anything I'd wish to discuss with her. This came as a considerable surprise, as I hadn't been contacted by a real Lloyds human employee for at least 10 years. On mention of the deductions she checked my account and having confirmed the aforementioned deductions informed me that these deductions were part of the account arrangements and had been for some years, expressing surprise this had not been previously applied in my case! Half-seriously I joked that I hoped this would not mean that they would now go back to the origin of this change and make all the overlooked £14.95 deductions, to which she answered that I could go onto another account which did not make any such charge, but which also did not include any of the benefits, such as reduced flight rates, car and household insurance. I replied that I would be happy with that, and she said she would mail me the details. Three days later an envelope arrived from Lloyds containing a leaflet advertising a special Mastercard, which had naff all to do with the account she'd been talking about. Since then I have heard nothing further.

How did you know it was a staff member from that branch?
Did you not notice that you had signed up to a fee-paying with benefits account originally - or is this a mistake on their part, and you had actually opened a straight no extras current account?

[oddoneout]

Replying to AG's question - which doesn't work as a quote reply - you aren't meant to understand it. The idea is to send out a cut and paste reply containing a few bits of key phrases(but not necessarily in the right order...) to give the impression your query is being dealt with. The real purpose though is to discourage you from pursuing matters without actually saying "go away", and at the same time tick the box marked "response".

[french frank]

Half-seriously I joked that I hoped this would not mean that they would now go back to the origin of this change and make all the overlooked £14.95 deductions, to which she answered that I could go onto another account which did not make any such charge, but which also did not include any of the benefits, such as reduced flight rates, car and household insurance.

I 'upgraded' to a Lloyds account for which I now pay £3 per month, usually waived, but I use none of the benefits (magazines, cinema tickets, gourmet dining at places I don't want to go). On balance the monthly interest is slightly more that than the (usually waived) £3 per month. But this is not the world of high finance.

[antongould]

Replying to AG's question - which doesn't work as a quote reply - you aren't meant to understand it. The idea is to send out a cut and paste reply containing a few bits of key phrases(but not necessarily in the right order...) to give the impression your query is being dealt with. The real purpose though is to discourage you from pursuing matters without actually saying "go away", and at the same time tick the box marked "response".

absolutely true IMVVHO OOO and basically disgraceful ….. but we will fight on …..

[antongould]

Let’s see what this brings



I am trying very hard to understand what you are doing so can you answer these questions

1) The annual cost you have used in the calculation of my instalment is not the figure shown on my bill but a different figure estimated so as to incorporate what you assume the price cap changes over the year will be???

2) You are retaining on my account out of my credit balance an amount equal to 1.5 months consumption as a "credit cushion”???


3) The amount of my credit over this credit cushion is used to reduce my instalment???

Please advise if this what you do you your reassessment process.

[antongould]

Let’s see what this brings



I am trying very hard to understand what you are doing so can you answer these questions

1) The annual cost you have used in the calculation of my instalment is not the figure shown on my bill but a different figure estimated so as to incorporate what you assume the price cap changes over the year will be???

2) You are retaining on my account out of my credit balance an amount equal to 1.5 months consumption as a "credit cushion”???


3) The amount of my credit over this credit cushion is used to reduce my instalment???

Please advise if this what you do you your reassessment process.

scarily we have had a response ……. Jean has been asked to confirm her address ….. ???????

[oddoneout]

Please advise if this what you do you your reassessment process.

Was this playing them at their own game - a random selection of words some or none of which might be relevant?

[antongould]

Was this playing them at their own game - a random selection of words some or none of which might be relevant?

Indeed