You are not the first to notice!

Take a look at

Unexplained change to direct debits | The OVO Forum

 

How are you being notified? And how regularly?

It’s a bit surprising that your balance is forecast to be negative in March 2026. This shouldn’t be possible if, as you say, you’re ‘consistently in credit’. 

If you look at the Direct Debit calculator, you’ll see that at some stage your account would dip into debt with the current DD amount. How reasonable this may be rather depends on whether you’re on a fixed-rate or variable tariff. If you’re on a fixed-rate tariff, the point where your balance crosses the line should not be before the contract’s end date. On a variable tariff, the account should remain in credit until a year hence. Apart from that, your forecast balance at the end of September should be high enough to see you through the following winter; if it isn’t, the recommendation to increase the DD is probably justified. 
  

Not likely, I’m afraid. The ones with the biggest crystal balls* are currently saying that next April’s price cap will probably be a bit higher than today’s, but by less than 1%. OVO’s DD calculator takes no account of predicted price changes. If there’s any change to standing charges, it’s not likely to take effect until October next year - and of course there’s nothing to say whether any change that does happen will be to your advantage.
  

*   

Price cap predictions and insights | EDF
Price Cap Predictions and Changes - British Gas

 

Hey @Sanka14 

Sorry for the issues you’re having

Like Firedog I’m surprised you’re being notified to increase your direct debit if you’re consistently in credit. Have your rates recently increased? Is there any out of line readings in your meter reading history? Are we in regular communications with your smart meter or getting reguar readings from you (if you have a traditional meter)?

 

 

When you use the direct debit calculator does it make more sense?

 

 

@Emmanuelle_OVO I have the same notification when accessing my account from computer. My account is always in credit. My credit is enough to cover six month payments. I have never delayed any payment ever. Despite all of this my account says:

“You’re paying £tan amount] on the Âdate] of each month.

Your balance is set to be -Âan amount] by 31 March 2026. Your minimum monthly payment is £pan amount].â€�

Just why? Why I should I think about the March 2026 if we are in the 2024 right now? Too alarmy for no reason.

Hey @costeek 

 

I understand your frustration, 

 

It’s hard for me to comment on account specific scenarios without more information. I’m surprised you’re being notified to increase your direct debit if you’re consistently in credit. Have your rates recently increased? Is there any out of line readings in your meter reading history? Are we in regular communications with your smart meter or getting regular readings from you (if you have a traditional meter)?

 

 

​@Emmanuelle_OVO 

I’m having a smart meter that is set up to send half hourly readings. From the technical view, it has been completely the same, nothing has been changed. I mean, if there is a network issue, it should be there right from the beginning. And if it didn’t affect my DD before, it shouldn’t now. As I understood, sometimes my meter has troubles with sending data, but by the end of the day you have it all. In other words, no any change at all from my side. 

Hey ​@costeek 

 

If your meter isn’t sending in meter readings this would mean your bills & estimated annual consumption would be incorrect. If your EAC is incorrect this would affect your direct debit calculation.

 

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​@Emmanuelle_OVO No, it’s not there case. OVO has all my readings. With estimate readings I wouldn’t be able participate in the Power Move, but I do (and do it well). There is network issues - sometimes, it doesn’t affect the accuracy of my readings. 

Am I going to have that annoying warning all the time? 

Can we please remove some of the confusion here?

• Notification to me means something like a letter or an email to tell me, for example, ‘Put your DD up or we’ll do it for you.’
• A warning on the website to the effect that the current DD would leave you in debt in a year and a half’s time is - for the time being - just that. The Continue button will show you a suggested DD to avoid that debt. At this stage, it’s just a recommendation. It may trigger a notification at some stage, but until it does, nothing will change unless you do it yourself.

So, have you had a notification, or have you just seen a warning?