OVO’s ‘OVO-Charging’ policy – have you been affected?

Are you about to be ‘OVO-Charged’? OVO customer? Pay by Direct Debit? Has your monthly payment been increased? And for no obvious reason? Many in the Marlborough area are. OVO are the main energy retailer for this area and have been since SSE (Scottish & Southern) relinquished this responsibility and passed it to OVO. OVO have very recently changed their ‘Direct Debit Policy’. Rather than be ‘in credit’ – i.e. a projected zero balance by the following March, their policy has now changed to make every customer have at least ‘one month credit’ in their account by the following March. What does this mean? Without increasing their prices, or without the customer using more electricity it means they can increase the monthly Direct Debit for all customers by at least 10% – for no reason other than their ‘Change of Policy’. And this proposed required amount of credit will be related to their new direct debit amount. A price increase where no prices are increased.

It’s a way of getting more in for OVO without increasing prices. Another element of inflation – a ‘ghost Inflation’ – pay out more for something that doesn’t go up in price.

This has been relayed to us by a regular Marlborough.news viewer who lives in the West Kennet Valley. They were informed by OVO that their monthly direct debit was going to increase by about 15%, even though they had the equivalent of months of credit as a balance in their account and their record of regular monthly use – at their normal rate – was less than this new demanded monthly payment so the extra they paid would just go to increase the credit balance on their account.

This OVO customer contacted OVO and asked why. The reply was this change of policy, whilst their level of usage was accepted as not having increased. They were offered a Smart Meter, but the customer had already discussed this possibility with a member of the OVO technical team who confirmed that the meter would not work in their property as there was no coverage for the dedicated data system (operated by DCC – Data Communications Company). So a Smart Meter wouldn’t work. They are also in a ‘dead’ area for mobile phone signal. But OVO still pushed for them to take a meter that wouldn’t be able to work.

Have you, as an OVO customer been informed about this OVO-Charging’? Pay more, get nothing.